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Launch of 'Collieries Trail' in Neston

Published: 17th April 2009 09:54

An Exhibition and ‘Collieries Trail' launches later this month to mark the 250th Anniversary of Neston's coal mines

Coal wagons at the Neston Mine

The exhibition on the former collieries at Neston opens on April 27th. A ‘Collieries Trail' leaflet will also be launched, guiding people to key sites around the mining area. These moves are part of a programme of events running throughout 2009 to mark the 250th anniversary of the start of mining here in 1759.

The exhibition, titled ‘Blood, Sweat and Toil in Neston: a 250th anniversary Exhibition on the Collieries' includes copies of colliery plans, owners' correspondence and even accident record books. Family historians will be particularly interested in the listing of thousands of miners known to have worked at Neston, and may be able to trace some of their ancestors.

Local historian Anthony Annakin-Smith, from the Burton & Neston History Society, said: "Many people are not aware that there is a long history of coal mining in Neston.

"The mines and associated industries played a major role in the life of the town for decades and many local families today are descended from the early miners. We want to increase public awareness of the extraordinary story of the mines."

The ‘Collieries Trail' follows a two mile route in the Little Neston area looking at surviving traces of the mines. These include buildings, a shipping quay, spoil heaps and the line of the mine's railway.

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, "There are many reasons why the Neston mines were remarkable.

"The first steam engine anywhere in the region was here, and mile-long canals were built deep underground to move coal. Astonishingly, hatred between the owners of adjacent mines led to instances of sabotage by explosion and flooding. The exhibition and Trail leaflet tell these stories and much more."

The free exhibition runs from April 27th to June 1st at Neston Library on Parkgate Road. Free ‘Neston Collieries Trail' leaflets will be widely available locally from 27th April . Other 250th anniversary events are planned throughout this year.

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