Trafalgar Colliery

United Kingdom / England / Lydbrook /
 colliery, historical layer / disappeared object
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A very old and well established colliery and famous as the first in Great Britain to use electricity underground for haulage and lighting supplied by the collieries own generator house.The 2 shafts were unusually close together at this mine and were worked by one engine house. Closed in 1925 due to increasing water problems although it was said the colliery had reserves of coal for another 30 or so years work. The seams worked were generally however very small with some being barely 15 inches high. Substantial remains were still to be seen in the mid 1980s including the impressive boiler house and many other derelict buildings. Of interest was a stone cut tunnel going through the hill to the neighbouring and strangely named 'Strip and at it' Colliery. Unfortunatley for reasons best known to themselves the Forestry Commission decided to completely demolish and level these remains around 1990 and to also obliterate the site of the 2 shafts although they have indicated where they each were with a marker stone. The spoil heaps remain to be seen as does the curious arch over the railway bridge at the bottom of the one spoil heap.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   51°49'36"N   2°32'46"W

Comments

  • The arch was put in place to extend the spoil tip over the railway,ultimately this didn't happen.It also served as a retaining wall to prevent the spoil tip from collapsing onto the line,which had happened on at least one occasion.
This article was last modified 13 years ago