Local History Month – Walkden’s Coal Industry

Once one of Walkden’s most fruitful industries, Coal mining can be seen in the archives as far back as 1376 where it was first documented, however there’s every chance that the industry dates back a lot further.

Further documentation of formal leases for coal mining agreed in the 16th century, is where more details of the history comes to light and in the 17th century, the difficulties faced by miners removing gas and water was a leading restraint on any expansion.

As Manchester continued its rapid development, the need for coal also increased but with poor transport links, it was extremely difficult for those in Walkden to supply this demand.

Born in May 1736, Francis Egerton the then 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, identified this gap and suggested constructing a surface canal from Booth’s Bank to Worsley that would aid with the transportation of coal.

Francis Egerton – The 3rd Duke of        Bridgewater

This first act came into force in 1759 and in 1765, the extension finally reached Manchester.

Having learnt similar skills in other popular mining districts, The Duke of Bridgewater’s engineer John Gilbert and other renowned engineer James Brindley were largely responsible for this project and later on, a new underground canal or navigable level was directed North West towards Walkden and Farnworth from the old sandstone quarry known as Worsley Delph.

Known as the “father of the canals”, this            statue of James Brindley lies in Coventry

This canal then passed below Walkden by 1770 and furthermore Buckley Lane in Little Hulton by the turn of the century.

The main ground level canal masterminded by these two great engineers of their time, was responsible for the transportation of over 100,000 tonnes of coal per year to Worsley Delph, which was kept in operation until 1887.

Worsley Delph pictured in 2014

Since the first act was passed for the Duke of Bridgewater to develop a surface canal, plans for a small workshop had been in progress, so that they could continue to service the surface canal construction and maintain the works through the main drainage tunnel.

Later on, this was developed to be a part of the far-reaching underground canal transport system for the growing network of collieries in the area.

Map of the old navigable levels in the area

This surrounding area, known as Worsley Green was then home to hundreds of miners, mechanical engineers, labourers, boat makers and carpenters, who would all be working in or around this growing coal industry.

The mining system was then expanded even further from the late 18th century onwards, where the collieries nearby utilised Horse tram roads which led to the eventual disuse of the upper canal with regards to the transportation of coal by 1820.

The next step for the transportation was then stationary engine trams which served many of the local collieries until eventually, they hindered further expansion and therefore, these collieries were linked to railways.

One of Walkden’s most notable collieries was known as Ellesmere colliery and was located a short distance away from the town centre.

Ellesmere Colliery

Having been sunk in the late 1860’s, it finally ended its production of coal in 1923 and was instead used as water pumping station, transferring millions of gallons a year into one of the underground canals.