Oswaldtwistle

Above is a small number of many Coking Ovens on this site, on the banks of the Leeds / Liverpool canal. It is a part of what was Aspen Colliery that closed down in 1930. The site was overgrown but with the help of grants it has been restored into an industrial heritage site. There used to be thousands of these Coke Ovens, known as Bee Hive Ovens throughout the British Coalfields. The process of Coking burnt off and released into the atmosphere the gasses and impurities in the coal. A by- product was coal tar. used extensively in road building. I used to get into trouble as a child for digging it out from between the cobbles on hot days.

                       Unfortunately it has now become a home for vagrants.

                    Oh I do apologise John, I didn't recognise you for a minute😀 

               

The branch off the canal (above), now bridged over by the towpath, was used in its day for loading the coke up to be taken to other industries. Coke was much cleaner and hotter to burn and was used extensively in steel making. The bridge crossing the canal is a railway bridge. In front and to the left used to be a railway siding. It is probable that with the coming of the railway, the coke barges would no longer be competative. 

In 1909 there was a disaster in the mine when it got flooded. Everyone escaped except a thirteen year old lad. Some of the employees were only kids eight year old upwards. On the day of the flooding some of the workers were two mile underground. The flood caused their lamps to go out so they had to find their way back in total darkness.

On the morning of 7 November 1883 an explosion in Moorfield Pit near Altham (Accrington) killed 68 men and boys injuring many more.

                                                             DK