Monument record 15534 - Coal Mining North of the Knott

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Summary

An area of bell pits and their associated spoil heaps surviving as earthworks. The bell pits were probably excavated to extract shallow coal deposits in this area. 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.

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Type and Period (1)

COLLIERY (AD 17th Century to AD 18th Century - 1600 AD? (between) to 1799 AD? (between))

Full Description

<1> Historic England & Archaeological Research Services, 2017, Cheshire National Mapping Programme and Lidar Mapping Project: Sampling the Peak Fringe, Cheshire Plain and Mersey Valley, 1598894 (Digital Archive). SCH8172.

A coal mining site of post medieval date is visible as earthworks centred at approximately SJ 9562 8241 on historic vertical photography. There are three shafts, two of which have accompanying spoil mounds, and also associated incised trackways. The features appear extant on the latest 2010 vertical photography (2-3).

<2> Royal Air Force, 1945-1979, RAF Aerial Photographs, RAF/540/561 RP 3044 26/07/1951 (Aerial Photograph). SCH8316.

<3> Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery (2010), SJ9582 24/10/2010 (Aerial Photograph). SCH8173.

<4> Bluesky International Ltd, 2010, 2010 Bluesky Survey, UXP_101024_8009, 24/10/2010 (Aerial Photograph). SCH5444.

An additional bell pit is visible on this image.

Sources/Archives (4)

<1> SCH8172 Digital Archive: Historic England & Archaeological Research Services. 2017. Cheshire National Mapping Programme and Lidar Mapping Project: Sampling the Peak Fringe, Cheshire Plain and Mersey Valley. N/A. 1598894.
<2> SCH8316 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945-1979. RAF Aerial Photographs. N/A. RAF/540/561 RP 3044 26/07/1951.
<3> SCH8173 Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery (2010). N/A. SJ9582 24/10/2010.
<4>XY SCH5444 Aerial Photograph: Bluesky International Ltd. 2010. 2010 Bluesky Survey. UXP_101024_8009, 24/10/2010. [Mapped features: #54439 UXP_101024_8009, 24/10/2010; #54440 UXP_101024_8009, 24/10/2010]

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Event - Survey: Cheshire National Mapping Programme and Lidar Mapping Project: Sampling the Peak Fringe, Cheshire Plain and Mersey Valley (Ref: NHPCP Project No.6923) (ECH6311)

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Location

Grid reference	Centred SJ 956 824 (137m by 96m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	SJ98SE
Civil Parish	LYME HANDLEY, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE EAST
Historic Township/Parish/County	LYME HANDLEY, PRESTBURY, CHESHIRE

Protected Status/Designation

Conservation Area (Active) 188: Lyme Park Conservation Area

Record last edited

May 6 2022 11:44AM