Very, very interesting David,
But before you decide to put your frogman’s suit on ebay perhaps you might want to read the following which I have very kindly referenced for you this afternoon.
I have highlighted the sections relevant to you in red.
Now don’t ask me how I know the size of the lake because I am only reporting the written word to you. I haven’t actually seen it personally but I believe it. Similarly I did not see the beheading of Anne Boleyn but I have read about it and I believe that too.
I wasn’t on the moon when Neil Armstrong landed but I have seen film of that so I believe that too. Well almost.
You will see we both agree on the depth of the White Ash seam.
So rather than getting rid of some of your swimming gear, if I were you I’d invest in some new stuff and stuff that works 500 feet down because mark my words you are going to need it one day. And as for sand bags; well they will only speed your descent into those deep and dark waters below your cosy abode.
Key dates and events in local Mining History:
1815 The Waterloo coal pit was opened. This became known as the Gisborne Pit after the family which owned it.
1853 March 17. There was a turn out for wages at Hockerley Pit.
John and William Shrigley were masters.
1853 Mr John W. Boothman, master of the Furness Clough Colliery died.
1855 Thomas Rhodes and William Cotterill began sinking the Boothmans Wharf Pit.
1862 Jan 31. George Ollerenshaw was killed in Furness Clough coal pit.
1872 Ringstones pit and plant sold.
1896 Ringstones pit closed down because the workings were flooded.
1900 Wharf pit and Railway pits closed.
1907 Shallcross Hall Colliery (White Ash Seam) workings commenced by Buxton Lime Firms. This was a drift mine.
1909 Shallcross Hall Colliery (Yard Seam) known as Brickbarn Colliery workings commenced by Buxton Lime firms.
1911 Gisborne Colliery closed.
1925 February 28. Shallcross Hall Colliery closed.
1963 July 7. Furness Clough Colliery closed ending all mining in this area. Approximately eleven men and two ponies finished work.
DIGLEE COLLIERY Furness Vale - R.E. Knowles Ltd.
Drift Mines
Yard Mine Coal worked from 1938 to Oct 1948 by R.E. Knowles Ltd, but many Old Workings previously existed.
FURNESS CLOUGH COLLIERY - R.E. Knowles Ltd.
First lease of Colliery was in 1802.
Second lease was in 1823.
Third lease was made in 1844.
In 1895, when some workings were abandoned, pit was in the possession of Messrs Levi and Elijah Hall.
In 1963 the last 5 colliers left the pit; the pumps stopped working and created an underground lake nearly 1000' wide and 500' deep.
Mining of coal was on Red & White Ash seams and fireclay was also mined.
No 1 Shaft Red Ash Seam - 17" thick at 74 feet deep
White Ash Seam - 11½" thick at 149 feet deep
No 2 Shaft Red Ash Seam - 17" thick at 87 feet deep
White Ash Seam - 11½" thick at 162 feet deep
No 3 Shaft Red Ash Seam - 17" thick at 74 feet deep
White Ash Seam - 11½ thick at 157 feet deep
Big Mine was worked to 1859 and included old workings "gotten in the year 1810."
R. S-S
