_The Forest Coal Works_--The earliest allusion to them--The original
method of mining for coal--Grants to the Earl of Pembroke in 1610,
&c.--First attempt to char coal for the furnace--Prices for which coal
was to be sold, as fixed by the "Orders" of the Court of Mine
Law--Contents of the existing documents belonging to that Court
described--State of the coal-works at the end of the last
century--Gradual improvements in the mode of working for coal--Mr.
Protheroe's collieries--The superior character of the most recent
coal-works--Amount raised in 1856 from the ten largest collieries.
There is a difficulty in determining which is to be considered the
earliest allusion to the working of coal in the Forest, since charcoal as
well as sea or pit coal was thus indifferently designated: not that the
latter was carried by sea, but only that it agreed in character with the
coal usually so conveyed. The first notice seems, however, to be that
supplied by the records of the Justice Seat held at Gloucester in 1282,
where it is stated that sea coal was claimed by six of the ten bailiffs
of the Forest of Dean.
The appellation of "Sea Coal Mine" as distinguished from "the Oare Mine,"
mentioned in the 29th section of "The Laws and Customs of the Miners in
the Forest of Dean," compiled about the year 1300, likewise proves that
sea-coal was known by name, and that a description of fuel closely
resembling it was then dug in this neighbourhood, to an extent entitling
it to be noticed "as free in all points" with the long celebrated iron
ore; that is, constituting the collier a free miner.
The original methods of getting coal in the locality probably conformed
to the modes then used for obtaining the iron mine, the veins of both
minerals showing themselves on the surface much in the same manner. So
that it is probable the old coal-workings, like those for iron, descended
only to a moderate depth, and for the same reason were frequently carried
on by driving levels, for which the position of several of the coal-seams
was highly favourable.
In the year 1610 "liberty to dig for and take, within any part of the
Forest or the precincts thereof, such and so much sea-coal as should be
necessary for carrying on the iron-works," was granted to William, Earl
of Pembroke, by James I. This is the earliest mention of coal being so
used, agreeably to the efforts then making by Simon Sturtevant and John
Ravenzon, Esqrs., to adapt it by baking for such a purpose. The same
grant, in omitting to mention coal amongst certain other productions
which "no person or persons were to take or carry out of the said
Forest," leads to the supposition that coal was then exported or carried
into the adjacent country, and that it was found desirable for this to
continue. Coal was included in Charles I.'s sale of the Forest timber,
iron, stone, &c., to Sir John Winter, who some years afterwards is
described by Evelyn as interested in a project for "charring sea-coal,"
so as to render it fit for the iron furnace. A scheme somewhat similar
was now tried in the Forest, Mr. Mushet tells us, by Captain Birch, Major
Wildman, and others, "where they erected large air furnaces, into which
they introduced large clay pots, resembling those used at glasshouses,
filled with various proportions of the necessary mixture of ores and
charcoal. The furnaces were heated by the flame of pit-coal, and it was
expected that, by tapping the pots below, the separated materials would
flow out. This rude process was found entirely impracticable; the heat
was inadequate to perfect separation, the pots cracked, and in a short
time the process was abandoned altogether."
The important Act of 1668 confirmed to persons digging for coal in the
Forest their lawful rights and privileges, as also to the Crown the
liberty to lease the coal-mines for a period not exceeding thirty-one
years. This latter provision was immediately acted upon, the coal-mines
and quarries of grindstones being granted to Francis Tyrringham, Esq.,
for thirty-one years, at a rental of 30 pounds per annum, a price which,
if it were fairly agreed upon, affords some intimation of the extent and
value of the Forest coal-works at that time.
By the first "Order" of the Court of Mine Law, dated March 18th of the
year last named (1668), it was fixed that a dozen bushels of lime-coal
should be disposed of for 3s. at the Lime Slad; for 5s. 6d. at the top of
the Little Doward; for 5s. 4d. at any other kilns thereon; for 5s. at the
Buckstones; for 5s. 6d. at Monmouth; for 4s. at the Weare over Wye; for
4s. if on this side; for 3s. 6d. at Coldwall; for 3s. at Lydbrook; and
for 4s. 4d. at Redbrook.
The second "Order" of the same Court, agreed to on the 9th of March,
1674, provides that "the servants of the Deputy Constable shall always be
first served at the pitts." In the same year a petition was presented to
the Crown by several gentlemen and freeholders of the parish of Newland
for leave to drain some coal-pits at Milkwall, stating that "the
inhabitants of the adjacent country were supplied from the collieries of
the Forest with coal for firing, and also for lime coal, without which
there would be little tillage."
The next Mine Law Court, held on the 8th of September, 1678, determined
that a barrel or three Winchester bushels should be the constant measure
for coal, four-pence being the smallest price allowed to be taken for "a
barrel" of fire coal. "And whereas the myners within this Forest are at
a very great charge to make surffes for the dreyning of their pitts to
get cole, wch when they have finished others sincke pitts so near them
that they are deprived of the benefit of their labour and charge, to
their very great loss and damage: To remedie whereof, it is now ordered
that after a surffe is made, noe myner shall come to work within 100
yards of that surffe to the prejudice of the undertakers without their
consents, and without being contributory to the making of the said
surffe, upon payne of forfeiting 100 dozen of good fire coale, the one
moiety to the King's Matie, and the other to the myner that shall sue for
the same." The fourth "Order" of the same Court, issued on the 27th
April, 1680, directs "that no fire cole, smith's cole, or lyme cole shall
be delivered upon the bankes of the Wye between Monmouth Bridge and
Huntsame Ferry for less than 8s. a dozen bushels for the two former
sorts, and 4s. 6d. for lyme cole, or if between Huntsame Ferry and Wilton
Bridge for less than 3s. 6d. a dozen."
On the 19th September, 1682, a fifth "Order" forbade "the transport of
lime coal to Hereford and Monmouthshire at lower rates than heretofore
have been set and agreed upon," and ordained that "whensoever any
collyers have fully wrought out a cole pitt through wch the gout water
must necessarily run for drayning of the worke, in such case the said
collyers shall secure the said pitt, upon payne to forfeite 100 dozen of
good fire cole." In the ensuing "Order," dated 1st December, 1685, the
jury agreed that, in raising money for any public purpose, "one half of
those who served should be cole myners, and the other half myners at iron
oare," both classes of operatives having at length become equally
numerous, in consequence of the rapid increase of the coal-works. The
next Court of the Mine, held on 5th April, 1687, decided that "all cole
pitts and dangerous mine pitts which are not in working, or wch
thereafter shall not be wrought in for one whole month together, shall be
sufficiently secured by a wall of stone, or by railing the same with
posts and railes placed above two feet distant from the mouth of such
pitt by the proprietor thereof, and likewise all pitts left open for a
grout way, upon paine of 10s. to be forfeited for every omission and
neglect."
According to the eighth verdict of the miners' jury, declared on the 13th
of January, 1692, the former space of 100 yards, within which all
colliers were prohibited from coming to work another pit, was now
extended to 300 yards. The next "Order," being that of the 25th of
April, 1694, directs that "the price of fire cole to the copper works
(Redbrook) shal bee henceforth 8s. per dozen, and smith cole 6s. per
dozen." That of the 10th of March, 1701, enacted that "every miner shall
keepe a paire of scales at their severall colepitts to weigh theire cole
wthall," that none should be sent away unweighed, and that the price of
it should not exceed 5s. a ton to the inhabitants of the hundred of St.
Briavel's, or less than 6s. a ton to foreigners. The next "Order," that
of the 1st of July, 1707, renewed the direction to fill or sufficiently
secure any dangerous coal-pits, within some reasonable time, under a
penalty of 20s. The "Order" dated 12th November, 1728, directs that the
distance of 300 yards between any adjoining works be "augmented to 500
yards in all levels." The "Order" bearing date 2nd March, 1741,
particularizes certain coal-works near Lydbrook called "Wyrrall Hill,"
another called "Dowler's Chambers," and likewise the coal-works called
"Speedwell," at Serridge, besides "the Hill Works" near Ruerdean. It
also forbade any coal to be sold in the city of Hereford under 13s. the
ton, fixing a horse-load at 2.25 cwt., for 6d. a bushel at the pit, one
cwt. of fire coal for 4d. a bushel, three bushels of smith's coal for
5d., and lime coal for 1d. a bushel, or 21 cwt. of fire coal for 7s. 6d.
"waid and delivered" at Lydney Pill or at Pyrton Pill, or at Gatcombe.
The same "Order" further directs that "the yearns belonging to the levels
which are between Drybrooke and Cannop's Bridge, and between Seridge and
Reuardean Town, shall get coal out of no more than two pitts at one time,
belonging to one level, till the said two pitts are worked quite out, and
those who keep two pitts in work on one level shall not sinke any other
new pitt till the old ones are quite worked out."
The last of the "Orders" of the Miners' Court, dated October 22nd, 1754,
provides that "none shall sink any water pit and get coal out of it
within the limits or bounds of 1,000 yards of any level, and that the
waterwheel ingine at the Oiling Green near Broadmore be taken to be a
level to all intents and purposes, as all other levels brought up from
the Grassmoore;" meaning probably, that they also were to enjoy the
protective distance of 1,000 yards in common with all "levels," otherwise
that distance would be no more than twelve yards radius, according to the
received custom. "The water-wheel engine," for working the pumps
belonging to the work at Oiling Green, is considered to have been the
first of the kind, and therefore marks the earliest of the successive
steps made within the last 100 years in improving the methods of raising
coal in this locality, by showing greater ingenuity in removing the water
from the pits, which were now evidently sunk much deeper than formerly.
A minute examination {235} of the numerous papers recording the then
ordinary proceedings of the Free Miners' Court, supplies the accompanying
dates to the following coal-works:--
1706. "Stay and Drink," under Serridge; "Dark Pitt," in Coverham.
1718. "Hopewell," at Park End; "Speedwell," Ruerdean Hill.
1720. "Sally Pitt," Coleford.
1721. "Broad Moore Grout;" "The Holly Pitt."
1722. "New Charity;" "The 9 Wells;" "Stand Fast;" "The Dry Tump."
1723. "Go on and Prosper;" "Monmouth Hill Work."
1724. "The Old Colliery," near Coleford.
1725. "Shute Castle Pitt;" "The Oiling Quab," in Bromley.
1726. "The Staple Pitt;" "Short Standing."
1735. "Gentlemen Colliers," or "Harbourne Oake."
1736. "The Little Suff," Serridge.
1737. "Major Wade's Suff," near Aywood; "The Broomy Knowle;" "Pluck
Penny," Nail Bridge; "Dowler's Chambers."
1739. "Bushes Pitt," at Berry Hill; "The Society."
1740. "Church way," or "Turn brook."
1741. "Cartway Pitt;" "Harrow Hill Pitt."
1743. "Mendall," at Yorkley; "True Blue," Ruerdean; "Littleworth;" "the
Windmill," near Ruerdean.
1744. "Rain Proof."
1745. "Church Hill," Coal Work, Park End.
1747. "The Golden Pippin;" "Little Scare Pitt."
1749. "Long looked for," near Yorkley.
1753. "Prosper."
1755. "The bold Defiance;" "The Ginn."
1757. "Now found out;" "Standfast."
1758. "Pigg Pitt."
Several of the above names closely resemble those by which many of the
existing coal-works are designated; as for instance--"Strip-and-at-it,"
"Winners," "Spero," "Prosper," "Never Fear," &c. One other interesting
fact preserved in these records is that the coal seams were called then
as now by the names of "Upper" and "Lower Rocky," the "Lower" and "Upper
High Delf," the "Starkey Delf," and the "Lowery Delf."
The Appendix to the Fourth Report of the Dean Forest Commissioners
relative to the mines, incidentally mentions the old coalwork called "the
Oiling Gin" as originally galed in 1766, and transferred by agreement,
dated 15th April, 1776, to a company, in consideration of 2,100 pounds,
at whose cost the first "fire-engine," constructed, probably, on Watt's
principle, patented in the previous year, is understood to have been put
up in this neighbourhood. It also specifies the "Brown's Green Colliery"
near Lydbrook, opened in 1772; the "Moorwood Coal Works" in 1773;
"Arthur's Folly" in 1774, begun in the "Thirty Acres," and brought up
into "Little Cross Hill;" and also the undertaking called "The Gentlemen
Colliers."
On the 26th August, 1777, the Court of Mine Law, by which the coal-works
in the Forest had been ever regulated, sat, as it proved, for the last
time, having been held according as business required three or four times
a year, with some few exceptions, since 1668. A memorandum with which
its last minute is endorsed is thus expressed:--"Mine Law Court, 26
August, 1777. There has been no Court holden for the miners since this
day, which is a great loss to the gaveller, and causes various disputes
amongst the colliers, which is owing to the neglect of the
Deputy-Constables."
A careful perusal of the papers in which the proceedings of the Court of
Mine Law are recorded from 30th April, 1706, supplies the following
particulars illustrative of the manner in which the miners of the first
half of the 18th century conducted their works, together with the usages
of the Court then in vogue. Nearly all the sittings were held at the
Speech-house, under the supervision of the deputies for the time being of
the Constable of St. Briavel's Castle, attended by the clerk of the
court, and the gaveller or his deputy. Rarely more than twelve, but
sometimes twenty-four miners constituted the jury; the suits they had to
try being mostly for debts and trespasses between miner and miner, such
as for leaving open dangerous pits, breaking "forbids," refusing to pay
tax for defending the rights of the mine, loading "foreigners'" teams at
the pits, for perjury, for keeping more than four horses in carrying
coal, or for removing pit lamps, scores or cowls, &c. Copies of two such
entries, with other proceedings of the Court as specimens, are given in
the Appendix No. VI.
As early as the year 1718 the proceedings of the Court were occasionally
disturbed by the persons attending it. Thus, on the 13th of May, the
following amercements were made and recorded:--
John Davis, for talking in Court 2_s._
John Kear, for talking in Court 2_s._
Wm. Budge, for disturbing ye 2_s._
Court
Nich. Whitstone, for the like 2_s._
Thomas Rudge, for the same 2_s._
John Griffiths, for disturbing 2_s._
the Court
Thomas Rudge, for the same 2_s._
offence
John Trigg, for the same offence 2_s._
Griffith Cooper, for talking in 2_s._
Court
Writing upon the subject of the Forest collieries, about the year 1779,
Mr. Rudder remarks in his History of the county,--"The pits are not deep,
for when the miners find themselves much incommoded with water, they sink
a new one, rather than erect a fire engine, which might answer the
expense very well, yet there is not one of them in all this division.
They have indeed two or three pumps worked by cranks, that in some
measure answer the intention."
In the year 1788 we are informed by the evidence of the Gaveller, that,
according to an account made out in the previous August, "there were then
within the Forest 121 coal-pits (thirty-one of which were not actually in
work), which pits produced 1,816 tons of coal per week; that there were
662 free miners concerned and employed therein; and that the annual
compositions paid by them amounted to 215 pounds 8s. or thereabouts,
although many of them were so poor that no money could be collected from
them." "At this time," says the same officer, "house-fire coal, on the
Mitcheldean side the Forest, is sold at the pit's mouth for 4s. 6d. per
ton of 20 cwt., smith's coal 3s. 3d., lime coal 2s. per ton. When sold
by the waggonload at the pit's mouth, and the purchaser brings victuals
and drink for the colliers, the price of a waggonload was 10s. of
house-fire coal, smith coal 6s. 6d., lime coal 4s. On the Coleford side
the Forest, house-fire coal was sold at the pit's mouth for 3s. 9d. per
ton of 20 cwt., smith coal 2s. 9d., lime coal 1s. 3d. By the waggonload
at the pit's mouth, house-fire coal 8s. 6d., smith coal 5s. 6d., lime
coal 2s. 6d."
In addition to the above, the Assistant Deputy Surveyor of the same
period reported,--"the parts of the Forest in which the principal
collieries are situate are these:--The Level of the Fire Engine Colliery,
which is one of the principal works, is in the bottom between Nail Bridge
and Cinderford Bridge, and there are pits all along the Bottom. There
are several Levels in the Bottom from Beechenhurst Hill along the Delves
quite up to Nail Bridge. Another large field of coal from Whitecroft
Bridge, at the back of White Mead Park along the Delves to Great Moseley
Green, and from thence through Old Vallet Tuft and Aures Glow, almost up
to Little Stapleage. These are the works which do the greatest mischief
to the Forest. There are some others on the Coleford side, from which a
great deal of coal is raised. Very little timber is growing in any of
these Delves; and enclosures might be made in the Forest, so as to
exclude all the principal coal-works. The coal-works in the Forest
supply with fuel the lower parts of Gloucestershire beyond Severn, and
some parts across the Severn about Berkeley, the greatest part of
Herefordshire, the town of Monmouth, and part of the county of Monmouth."
The existing remains of the coal-works of this period, combined with the
traditions of the oldest surviving colliers, enable us to form an
accurate idea of the way in which the workings were carried on.
"Levels," or slightly ascending passages, driven into the hill sides till
they struck the coal seam, appear to have been general. This was no
doubt owing to the facility with which they effected the getting of the
coal where it tended upwards into the higher lands forming the edge of
the Forest Coal Basin, since they required no winding apparatus, and
provided a discharge for the water which drained from the coal-beds. The
usages observed at the works entitled the proprietors of their respective
levels to so much of the corresponding seam of coal as they could drain,
extending right and left to the limits awarded by the gaveller. So far
this mode of procedure was satisfactory enough, and would no doubt have
long continued to go on amicably, had not the principle, highly judicious
in itself, that no workings were ever to intersect one another, but
always to stop when the mattocks met, been abused by driving "narrow
headings" up into different workings, whereby the rightful owner of the
coal was stopped, and the other party enabled to come in and take it from
him. Timber of considerable strength was required throughout the
underground excavations to support the roof, hence proving a serious
source of spoliation to the woods. Large slabs of it were also needed
for the flooring, in order that the small coal-trams might be the more
readily pushed forward over it, a space being left beneath for air to
circulate, and for the water to run out.
If the vein of coal proposed to be worked did not admit of being reached
by a level, then a pit was sunk to it, although rarely to a greater depth
than 25 yards, the water being raised in buckets, or by a water-wheel
engine, or else by a drain having its outlet in some distant but lower
spot, such as is found to have led from the Broad Moor Collieries to
Cinderford, a mile and upwards in length. The shaft of the pit was made
of a square form, in order that its otherwise insecure sides might be the
better supported by suitable woodwork, which being constructed in
successive stages was occasionally used as a ladder, the chief difficulty
being found in keeping the workings free from water, which in wet seasons
not unfrequently gained the mastery and drowned the men out. The skips
appear to have been always rectangular in shape, similar to the shafts.
Intermediately between the date of the above coal-works and the present
most approved collieries, Mr. Protheroe, in his evidence before the Dean
Forest Commissioners, in 1832, relative to his thirty-two coal-pits,
stated that "the depth of my principal pits at Park End and Bilson varies
from about 150 to 200 yards; that of my new gales, for which I have
engine licences, is estimated at from 250 to 300 yards. I have 12 steam
engines varying from 12 to 140 horse power, 9 or 10 of which are at work,
the whole amounting to 500 horse power; and I have licences for four more
engines, two of which must be of very great power. The amount of wages
paid by me, in the last twelve years, to colliers, hauliers, and
labourers, is upwards of 150,000 pounds, giving constant employment on
the average to from 400 to 500 individuals."
The coal-pits were now lined throughout with stone walling, leaving a
clear diameter of from 7 to 9 feet; greater regard was paid to their
drainage and ventilation, both of which required particular attention,
owing to the watery nature of the coal measures, and the abundance of
"choke-damp," although happily "fire damp" never appears. Horses were
now used underground for bringing the coal-trams to the foot of the pit,
and all the workings were accurately surveyed and recorded, agreeably to
the regulations instituted by the Dean Forest Mining Commissioners, under
the judicious Act of 27th July, 1838, to the effect that "the quantity of
coals sent daily from each colliery should be duly entered, and plans
made of the workings, for the information of the Gaveller, who might also
inspect any underground operations at all reasonable times," the whole
undertaking being required to be carried on according to the best and
most improved system.
[Picture: Light Moor Colliery]
In accordance with which excellent rules, each of the 105 re-awards of
coal seams applied for during the years 1838-41 were so ably set out by
Messrs. Sopwith, Buddle, and Probyn, as effectually to check the numerous
disputes which formerly arose, and ere long so to develop the coal-works
of the Forest of Dean as to render them worthy to be compared with some
of the finest collieries in the kingdom. As an instance of their present
excellence, Messrs. Crawshay's colliery at Light Moor may be mentioned,
for its great extent, completeness, powerful machinery, and size of its
pits. These last, four in number, are 291 feet deep, one of which,
measuring 9 feet 6 inches by 14 feet, contains pumps raising 88 gallons
of water per minute.
The number of coal-works in the Forest at the close of 1856 was 221,
yielding in that year to the public use upwards of 460,432 tons; the ten
largest collieries each producing as follows:--
Tons.
Park End Colliery 86,973
Light Moor ,, 86,508
Crump Meadow 41,507
Bix Slade 26,792
The Nelson 24,539
Hopewell in Whimberry 18,858
Valletts Level 17,918
Bilson 17,395
Arthur and Edward 12,857
New Strip and at it 11,502
-------
344,849
Probably a twentieth part of the above total should he added to the
amount charged, in consideration of the quantity consumed by the colliery
engines, thus making the gross annual produce a third of a million of
tons.