- Paperback: 128 pages
- Publisher: The History Press LTD (1 Dec 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 075241724X
- ISBN-13: 978-0752417240
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 16.5 x 1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 607,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Through documents, the Wigan area can trace its coal mining activities as far back as 650 years, and for a brief spell in the late nineteenth century Wigan itself was proudly known as 'Coalopolis'. Mining machinery such as ventilation fans, winding engines, air compressors, pumps and haulage engines were manufactured around Wigan, the products of Worsley Mesnes Ironworks, Woods & Sons or Walker Brothers. The closure of the Bickershaw, Golborne and Parsonage mining complex in 1992, however, brought to an end the Wigan Coalfield's great era. Over 700 million tons of coal have been produced in the Wigan coalfield over the last 600 years, while a similar amount still lies below the ground. The recent ill-advised rush to wipe out all trace of the British coal industry has temporarily closed the mines of the Wigan area, and sadly thousands of men with the specialist skills peculiar to the industry have found themselves without a career. The photographs in the compilation have been carefully selected from the collections of the Lancashire Mining Museum, Wigan Heritage Centre, and the Donald Anderson/Tony France Archive. It is a book that will provide an intriguing insight into the lives and working conditions of Wigan area miners, and is a testament to the region and its proud coal mining legacy.
From the Author
A FAMOUS COALMINING DISTRICT IN 200 PHOTOGRAPHS
Wigan and district can rightly be regarded as probably the most famous coalmining area the world has ever known. It became known as Coalopolis in the late 19th century as the finest mining engineers in the world set up base in the town and surrounding mining districts. Many inventions and breakthroughs in mining technology resulted from the setting up of the country's first coalmining college in 1857. Wigan's King Street became the mining surveying and legal hub of Britain. The major mining publishers, societies and associations based themselves at Wigan, a Wigan address becoming a status symbol in the mining world. The last colliery closed in 1992, 600 years after the first records of mining in the area. The photographic record along with archives and some buildings is all that is left. The photographs chosen for this book came from the collections of the Lancashire Mining Museum, Salford, also Wigan Archives and a large private collection belonging to Donald Anderson and Tony France. Many previously unpublished images are included in this largest ever collection of Wigan area coalmining photographs, 200 in all. Books of this nature can very soon be out of print and unobtainable so now is the time to acquire this reference work the like of which may not be seen for a long while.
Wigan and district can rightly be regarded as probably the most famous coalmining area the world has ever known. It became known as Coalopolis in the late 19th century as the finest mining engineers in the world set up base in the town and surrounding mining districts. Many inventions and breakthroughs in mining technology resulted from the setting up of the country's first coalmining college in 1857. Wigan's King Street became the mining surveying and legal hub of Britain. The major mining publishers, societies and associations based themselves at Wigan, a Wigan address becoming a status symbol in the mining world. The last colliery closed in 1992, 600 years after the first records of mining in the area. The photographic record along with archives and some buildings is all that is left. The photographs chosen for this book came from the collections of the Lancashire Mining Museum, Salford, also Wigan Archives and a large private collection belonging to Donald Anderson and Tony France. Many previously unpublished images are included in this largest ever collection of Wigan area coalmining photographs, 200 in all. Books of this nature can very soon be out of print and unobtainable so now is the time to acquire this reference work the like of which may not be seen for a long while.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an outstanding book by a man who really knows his stuff. (The author used to be a miner.) It covers Wigan pits as well as ones in Atherton and Leigh like Chanters and Gibfield. The photographs are excellent and the detail on each individual pit is most impressive. It covers areas such as methods of working, shafts as well as railways used to get coal from pit to user. This book is of interest to the general layman as well as mining enthusiasts.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The harsh reality of life underground, together with a portrayal of the social conditions which shaped the Wigan & District mining community, is superbly captured in this book. The improvements which have been achieved in safety and environmental standards can easily be measured by comparison with the remarkable photographic record contained in the book.
It is a chilling reminder to the younger generation of both the working conditions and social deprevation of the times. This glimpse into the past is a tribute to the men and women of a community and a way of life which is now lost forever.
An excellent record and a must for every 'Wigginer'.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A wonderful insight into the lives and working conditions of past coal mining generations. An excellent selection of photographs from a way of life that has now largely disappeared. The author's love of the subject shines through the book with concise and often witty captions accompanying the many photographs.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A local look back in time
A fascinating collection of photographs and knowledge covering the Wigan coalfield. It combines hard facts with pictures and intimate local knowledge. Read more
Published on 22 May 2010 by Mark Tighe
Excellent history of a by-gone generation
Having been brought up in the area, but now living in Germany since 1972 this is a brilliant book, bringing back memeories of the lives and working conditions of past coal mining... Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2000
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