Monument record 15454 - Coal Mining at Rushley Walls

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ9378, 1871-1873 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts four shafts and associated earthworks, labelled Old Shaft (Coal), with the exception of the north eastern shaft which is labelled Shaft (Coal).

<2> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 06/01/2022 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The bell pits were probably excavated to extract shallow coal deposits. The shaft was dug to the level of the coal which was them extracted by cutting out from the base of the shaft and hand winched to the surface. Typically no supports (props) were used which limited the depth and the extent of the workings. Therefore it is quite typical to encounter sequences of bell pits which follow the line of the coal seam. This method of mining coal was in use from the medieval period till at least the eighteenth century, though in sthis instance it is likely to be post medieval in date. Further features of this type survive as earthworks c.250 metres to the north-east (see CHER 7830) and c.250 metres to the east (CHER 15453).