The underlying geology of the West Pennine Moors area is Carboniferous in origin and forms a part of the Lancashire coalfield. Millions of years ago the area was occupied by a large but shallow river delta or swamp on the edge of a tropical sea. As water levels varied over time, a repeating sequence of forestation and flooding formed layers of rock, shales, coal and clay.
The earliest mining remains identifiable on the surface are bell pits, an ancient mining technique where a single shaft is sunk straight down, probably using temporary wooden platforms and primitive ladders formed from notched tree trunks. Later mining was performed on an industrial scale using explosives but there are in some places evidence of tunnels carved by hand with picks. The coal has been extensively mined to the point where it was no longer viable to dig, but in some areas later open-cast has removed even those leavings.
A bed of clay is usually associated with each coal seam and many collieries had an on-site brick and tile or pipeworks attached to make use of the fireclay brought out of the mines. In fact several mines where re-opened to extract clay after the coal had been abandoned. In some places a bed of Gannister, a high-quality fireclay is found which often made continued mining viable.
There are many areas of disturbed or “made-ground” in the landscape but few upstanding structures associated with the mines, although there are several brick kilns and several collapsed Scotch Kilns and drying rooms from the fireclay industry. Below ground there are literally miles of mine tunnels, many flooded or blocked by rockfalls.
Below the Margery Flags in the mine image by munki-boy
An old mine that once followed the Margery coal seam below Montcliffe on the slopes of Winter Hill.
The ruins and remains of an old coal mining colliery and brickworks on the moorland below Burnt Edge.
Doffcocker Colliery seems to have come into existence sometime between the 1850s and 1890s. In 1896 the mine was owned by Samuel Rothwell and managed by James Herbert Rothwell. The colliery worked at least two known shafts, situated behind what was the Sportsman’s Arms pub on Chorley Old Road and worked the Lower Mountain Mine seams.
The site of a small hamlet and fireclay works high on Winter Hill, once housing families employed in the local quarrying, mining and fireclay industries. Often passed by walkers on their way up the hill, there are a number of interesting industrial remains hidden in the moorland grass.
A series of old Pit Kilns alongside a path across Wildersmoor on the slopes of Winter Hill above Horwich.
The site of an old coal mine or colliery on the slopes of Winter Hill above Horwich.
A noticeably post-industrial hill above Wayoh Reservoir and Whittlestone Head in Entwistle, complete with mines, mosses, more…
The remains of the buildings and kilns of the old Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works on Winter Hill
