Dave's experience in the microlight and Arial photo's I have seen in other
parts of the country are the only reason I have not written bell pits off all
together.
Near Slaggyford drifts enter the Little Limestone coal every 20 yards or so
all along the crop edge for nearly 1 and half miles. They appear on first OS
map (1860) as working. They were also worked during the 1926 strike. The coal
dips from the crop and the drifts were only worked until they could no longer
be drained as they had only hand pumps at the most.
Around East Lancashire we also find the same scenario but they were all
clandestine strike activities, some were shallow shafts. Not all were worked
by miners, we have reports of young lads and girls working them resulting in
quite a few nasty accidents.
My thoughts being that the sort of Bell pit mining that looks so obvious from
these photo's could be more ancient activities on a similar basis where
locals may have access to mineral rights through some charter, or they got
away with it.. poaching as it were..... Only a thought.
Clive
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