Newsletter 245

Lancashire Mining Museum

Good turnout for this hastily arranged trip with 11 of us turning up on the day. Our visit started with an entertaining talk by Steve Eckersley, the site director, who explained the history of the site and how it was saved from destruction to become the museum it is today. We were then let loose to explore the towering winding house and its splendid engine. On hand were volunteers to explain its workings such as the unusual valve gear. The 3300 hp engine drives the enormous winding drum at 58 rpm which was capable of lifting 15 tons of coal from 2000 feet in less than a minute.

The Museum is the site of Astley Green Colliery which closed in 1970, leaving the only intact mining head gear left in Lancashire. It started life in 1908 when a high demand for coal prompted the digging of deep shafts to exploit the coal reserves stretching out under the Chat Moss.

However it wasn't the head gear that saved the site from demolition but the magnificent steam winding engine. It's the largest still working engine in Europe - possibly the world (the Trencherfield Mill engine is a mere 2500 hp) and, thanks to the Red Rose Steam Society, is run at regular intervals throughout the year. Steve mentioned that his unpaid volunteers have worked hard over the years to breath new life into the site, however there is still much to do. The headgear alone is likely to cost in the region of 1 million pounds to restore and preserve it. So, although the museum is free, the museum trustees are welcome to any donation people can make. And, I must say, none of the money they receive is wasted as they are doing a great job of collecting, storing and preserving Lancashire's mining heritage (more details on our Blog site).

Burscough Progress

Not available in Online Edition

Next Meeting

Wednesday 1st September. - in our new venue the Real Crafty on Upper Dicconson Street (7.30pm as usual). This month we have our very own Ashley Brogan who will be giving us a talk on the recent community excavations at Rochdale Town Hall. The dig was run by Salford Archaeology who were investigating 'Packer Street', one of the most important routes through Rochdale during the medieval period. Ashley was one of the leading archaeologists on the site and will be giving us the history of the street as well as the results of the excavation.

Hope to see you then - B.A.