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mines

Started by: GOLDEN BEAR (6555) 

g/b

Started: 6th Aug 2014 at 17:58
Last edited by GOLDEN BEAR: 15th Apr 2015 at 18:26:06

Posted by: dodger (3414)

I remember the pond and the footpath, but the entrance to Summerscales was between the next two rows of houses, not Merton road.

Replied: 6th Aug 2014 at 19:16

Posted by: graneyjoseph (4618) 

GOLDEN BEAR good memories the Venture not been in there for years.

Replied: 6th Aug 2014 at 19:16

Posted by: upthetims (6591)




No estates round there when I worked at Summerscales

Replied: 7th Aug 2014 at 20:25

Posted by: graneyjoseph (4618) 

is that progress or regress,?

Replied: 8th Aug 2014 at 06:47

Posted by: geoff zx9 (inactive)

same here upthetims,no Estates when I worked there.in 1958.

Replied: 10th Aug 2014 at 12:28

Posted by: kathpressey (5590) 

I remember a big gate in the hillside at Summersale where the bogeyman lived. if I went past with my dad I would get past it as quick as possible. I think it must have been an entry to a pit shaft because it was pitch black behind. If we were under mum's feet she would tell us to take the roller skates down to Summerale and play on the big tarmac road. I assume that was Sundays! I also remember going to an office with mum so I think she must have been after dad's wages.

Replied: 10th Aug 2014 at 13:01

Posted by: GOLDEN BEAR (6555) 

g/b

Replied: 11th Aug 2014 at 16:56
Last edited by GOLDEN BEAR: 15th Apr 2015 at 18:26:34

Posted by: britboy (6794)

I left Old Boston apprentice training centre in the summer of 1963, went to summersales, first assigned colliery as a wet behind the ears apprentice electrician. Jack Shaw was electrical engineer at the time, I can just about remember one or two electricians there, Alf Barnes was one and Eric Rosco.
Eric later worked at Reeds Paper.
It's one of the last places of its time that had pillar and stall working, never saw it ever again.

Replied: 9th Sep 2014 at 03:27

Posted by: PeterP (11223)

Britboy the salt mines in Cheshire still use the pillar and stall system

Replied: 9th Sep 2014 at 09:05

Posted by: britboy (6794)

Yes about 30 foot square base, Large pillars are left in because the salt rock is very soft.I've been down them in a Ford transit van, very large operation, roadways and traffic lights plus enormous front loaders and dumpers. I believe they used Foden dumpers which were made in Sandbach Cheshire. The Foden dumpers were just left in the mine after their useful life, all repairs were done underground. They tried to bring one out for repair, in a very short time it rusted away in normal atmosphere combine with the salt, it was sat on the surface when I went there just a rotted shell.

Replied: 9th Sep 2014 at 14:27
Last edited by britboy: 9th Sep 2014 at 14:41:47

Posted by: britboy (6794)

I did the rounds as an apprentice...Summersales, Chisnel Hall, Kirkless Central Works, Parsonage and finally back at Kirkless.
Left NCB to work at British Aerospace at Lostock Bolton.

Replied: 9th Sep 2014 at 14:49

Posted by: graneyjoseph (4618) 

fred dibnah did a programme which featured open cast mining and they uncovered a pillar and stall set up.

Replied: 9th Sep 2014 at 17:50

Posted by: britboy (6794)

There's very few people nowadays have witnessed pillar and stall working in action, I always thought I was very lucky to have seen it in use.
My greatest advantage of that time was that I got a first class further education from the NCB.
Also had the greatest admiration for all people who worked so dammed hard underground.

Replied: 9th Sep 2014 at 18:29
Last edited by britboy: 9th Sep 2014 at 18:36:00

Posted by: graneyjoseph (4618) 

britboy you are right there best people I have ever had the pleasure and honour to work with.

Replied: 9th Sep 2014 at 18:44

Posted by: Handsomeminer (2706)

when they where opencasting the site of the alexander pit at whelley they exposed some of the old pillar & stall workings very interesting to see

Replied: 10th Sep 2014 at 06:25

Posted by: phred (352) 

Almost all of Sasol's coal mined in South Africa is by pillar and stall with JCM's and shuttle cars,very productive pulling up to 3000tonnes per shift with about 8 peple per shift!

Replied: 10th Sep 2014 at 07:30

Posted by: GOLDEN BEAR (6555) 

g/b

Replied: 15th Sep 2014 at 16:25
Last edited by GOLDEN BEAR: 15th Apr 2015 at 18:27:36

Posted by: nephro (29)

Standish Hall Drift was mainly 7 ft pillar and stall mining. They did have one longwall face which was 4 ft.The pillar and stall were all dry, but the longwall face was absolutely chucking it down 24/7. We put a large pump in which emptied in Arbour Lane Shevington

I worked there for about 21/2 years from 1954 to57 before moving on to other pits during my apprenticeship.

Replied: 2nd Oct 2014 at 15:46
Last edited by nephro: 3rd Oct 2014 at 13:36:57

Posted by: graneyjoseph (4618) 

fred dibnah did a programme on wigan mines, opencast near ashton unearthed pillar and stall workings.

Replied: 2nd Oct 2014 at 16:20

Posted by: tonker (27835) 

And Shevington's nowhere near the sea, so how do they get the boats in?

Replied: 2nd Oct 2014 at 22:33

Posted by: geoff zx9 (inactive)

I worked down Winsford Salt Mine repairing the Gradall scraping Machines they were used for cutting out the roof,it was really weird seeing Land Rovers and Trucks running past all day 200m below ground,didn't take our own tools down as they would just rust away,left Companys tools down there all the time.

Replied: 3rd Oct 2014 at 10:43

Posted by: nephro (29)

Explane your comment Tonker Who's mentioned the sea ?

Replied: 3rd Oct 2014 at 13:35

Posted by: graneyjoseph (4618) 

arbour lane shevington,tonkers sense of humour.

Replied: 3rd Oct 2014 at 16:27

Posted by: tonker (27835) 

Replied: 3rd Oct 2014 at 19:00

Posted by: graneyjoseph (4618) 

arbour(harbour).

Replied: 4th Oct 2014 at 07:04

 

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