The Best Guide for the Neston Area

Neston's mining history on display

Information boards telling the story of Neston's former coal mines have been erected on the site of the collieries.

Information board sited at Marshlands Road,
Little Neston

Two boards, carrying maps, photographs and information, have been placed in Little Neston - one at Denhall Quay where the earliest colliery mine operated, the other at the bottom of Marshlands Road.

In a separate move, display folders of information on the collieries have been given to all local primary and secondary schools to help pupils learn about this important aspect of Neston's story. The information was organised by the Burton & Neston History Society.

Anthony Annakin-Smith from the Society said: "We know from past events we have organised that there is an enormous amount of interest in the collieries. The boards enable locals and passers-by in this popular walking area to learn more about them, and the schools information will help bring to life a time and way of working that seems very remote from today's local children.

"Many Nestonians had relatives who worked at the mines and would like to know more. But there are many other people - both locals and visitors - who don't know the mines existed know and who are astonished and fascinated to learn about them."

The Society has previously organised guided walks and public talks on the collieries which have often been oversubscribed. An exhibition was held in Neston Library 2009, the 250th anniversary of the collieries' opening, which attracted large numbers. A ‘Neston Collieries Trail' leaflet is available locally and an audio trail for downloading to MP3 players is being prepared.

The information boards were part-funded by Cheshire Community Action.

Information board situated at Denhall Quay - site of the earliest coal mining activities in Neston.

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Comments

Rob Ward

At 08:25 on 2nd January 2011, Rob Ward commented:

The two noticeboards are really informative and attractive. Well done to Anthony Annakin-Smith and the Burton and Neston History Society! At the Denhall Quay board I met a couple who'd been researching their family, some of whom moved from Yorkshire to Ness to work as blacksmiths after the first colliery opened. They were fascinated by the information on the noticeboards.
Perhaps other groups will put up informative noticeboards? Ideally each would give just a snippet of information, as most of us can't take in too much at one go!

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