Some Industrial Archaeology

Furness Clough, although quite a compact location, allows a fascinating insight into the industrial archeology of Furness Vale. 

Coal mining had started in the 18th Century although only on a very small scale. Even at the height of production this was a small mine; in 1928 30 men were working underground..  Early ownership of the mine is not recorded although by the mid 19th Century both the mine and a local limekiln were owned by Mr Boothman of Bothams Hall.  By the 1860's Mr West was the owner followed by Levi and Elijah Hall.  

Messrs. J.Nall, Levi Hall, Elijah Bridge

Two seams of coal were mined known as the White Ash and the Red Ash. The former also contained large quantities of fireclay and in 1890 it was decided to exploit this by establishing the Furness Vale Brick and Tile Works.  ( The Ordnance Survey map of 1899 shows an earlier brickworks further along Buxton Road; opposite the track leading to Carr Farm).  Both the colliery and brickworks were purchased by Richard Knowles in 1905.  From that time, coal was usually produced only for firing the kilns, most of the output being clay.  The colliery suffered increasing problems with water and eventually the quality of the clay was diminishing. The mine finally closed in July 1963.


In common with most mines, Furness Clough was served by a narrow gauge railway; the flanged tubs being hauled from the mine by pit pony.  The tramway at Furness was to a gauge of 19 inches and reached the surface at a gradient of 1 in 6. 


The tracks continued through the clough towards the village and the brickyard was served by several sidings.  The line descended steeply alongside Williamson's greengrocer and chip shop in order to tunnel under Buxton Road also passing under the small building opposite and which is the present day "chippy".  A bridge carried the Buxton railway line over the tramway and adjoining footpath.  Immediately after the bridge a short spur branched sharply to the left to serve Knowles standard gauge private siding. Here finished products from the brickworks such as fire backs were loaded on to main line wagons.  At times fire clay was brought in, presumably to suppliment the output from the mine. The main route of the tramway continued just a short way further to the canal wharf.  Here it turned to the left to terminate alongside the water.  The dock was spanned by a small stone warehouse which by 1960 had become  derelict and roofless.  The building had at one time been occupied by Mr Fox, boatbuilder and painter of Whaley Bridge. Today a larger boatshed has replaced it and is still used for painting canal boats.
Furness Vale Wharf

In 1903 the Chancery Court in Manchester ordered the sale of The Furness Vale Silica and Firebrick Company Ltd.  The Company had been in the ownership of Levi and Elijah Hall . Levi had died in 1872 and Elijah in 1886.  The sale by Edward Rushton, Son & Kenyon was held on 21st June 1904 at the Thatched House Hotel, Newmarket Place in Manchester.
The property comprised Mines, beds, veins or seams of fireclay or white earth and gannister lying under the Whiteash and Gannister coal seams under lands of about 28 acres in the parishes of Yeardsley-cum-Whaley and Disley. Land forming the site of a tramway and wharf called Furness Wharf and 2 acres of land close to the turnpike road.  Plant machinery and effects and stock in trade at valuatioin.
Existing contracts were to be fulfilled by the purchaser.
An annual rent of £20 was payable for "liberties, powers and authorities" in respect of working the fireclay and gannister, an arrangement which had commenced in 1898 for a period of 9 years.
Other parties had right to use the wharf subject to payment of fees.



The auction in Manchester received no bids and the lease of the property , for 20 years was taken by Hall and Sons of Dukinfield.  It is not known whether the new operators had any connection to L & E Hall.  The arrangement was short lived for Richard Knowles purchased the business on 11th March 1905.


 The earliest map showing the tramway through Furness Clough was published in 1909.  The route, however, proves to be much older.  John Farey (1766-1826) was a notable geologist and a prolific writer.  His book "A general view of the agriculture and minerals of Derbyshire "  was published in 1811.   Farey describes a railway branch which proceeds under the turnpike road 1 mile to Diglee Colliery with tipplers on the canal wharf for loading carts as well as boats with coal.  The canal opened in 1796 and the turnpike (now Buxton Road, the A6) in 1804.  The tramway would therefore appear to have been constructed between these dates  .   



The tramway, at least in it's later days was cable hauled.  The cable was suspended from wooden overhead gantries, one of which may be seen in the photo above.



The brickyard specialised in fire bricks and fire backs and production continued until very recently.  The bricks were fired in large beehive shaped kilns. The last of these was replaced in the mid 1970's