The Best Guide for the Neston Area

Local society asks residents: "What did your Grandfather tell you about the Neston Coal Mines?"

Local residents are being asked if they have any memorabilia or tales from the coal mines at Neston.

The final shift - miners leave the colliery for the last time, in
1927

The move is part of a programme of events running throughout 2009 to mark the 250th anniversary of the start of mining there in 1759.

Local historian Anthony Annakin-Smith, from the Burton & Neston History Society, said ‘We are hoping that items from the old mines still exist, for example letters, plans, safety tags or lamps. The mine closed in 1927 but we also hope that people will have tales that have passed down the generations from family members who were miners.'

‘All items would, of course, be returned to their owners but we'd love to record them as part of the area's heritage. We'd also like to write down local mining memories before they are lost.'

The Society is planning a series of events throughout the year, including the launch of a Colliery Trail with interpretation boards, an audio trail, an exhibition at Neston Library and guided walks. The Society's members are also talking to local schools to help children learn about the area's heritage. The first event is a talk on the mines at Burton Village Hall at 8.00 p.m. on 12th February.

About the Neston coal mining operation

Railway sidings at Neston's Colliery

The first mine, Ness Colliery, was opened in 1759 and soon employed almost 200 people. For a while another mine operated in adjacent Little Neston and there was fierce antipathy between the owners leading to sabotage.

Both mines had closed by 1855 by when silting of the Dee Estuary had made it difficult to move coal in bulk. Operations restarted as Neston Colliery in 1874, using a newly built railway.

The business went through several hands before closing permanently in 1927. At its peak, in 1921, the final business - Wirral Colliery - employed about 350 people.

Annakin-Smith said, "The mines were remarkable in many ways. The earliest mine has underground canals to move the coal. It was also the first place in Wirral or west Cheshire to have a steam engine so, really, it is where the region's Industrial Revolution started. Connections with the great engineer George Stephenson and episodes of sabotage also make the mine's story extraordinary."

Residents who have information can contact Anthony on 0151 336 5697 or Edward Hilditch on 0151 336 4510.

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Comments

Rob Ward

At 12:14 on 17th October 2009, Rob Ward commented:

The play yesterday evening by Neston Players really brought to life the dispute between the owners of the two collieries in Ness and Little Neston. The talks by Anthony Annakin-Smith and Edward Hilditch were fascinating. The church was full, and the questions showed that a lot of people are interested in the history of the Neston area, and many of them have family memories. There is still time to see the exhibition in Little Neston Methodist Church. I hope that people with memories will get in touch with Anthony or Edward.

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