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Local Mine
Information Page 1 (see
also timelines)
This
information in part is derived from an SBL related webpage,
copyright
holder unknown, contact us if it's you!
Goldney Pit
Located
near Roy King Gardens, Warmley
A pithead memorial
has been errected to show its location.
Siston Hill Pit
Located Siston Common near Norman Rd, Warmley
California Pit
Located
near Handford Way Cadbury Heath. Some original
buildings and boundary walls still remain.
In 1876 the Cowhorn Hill Colliery
was purchased by Abraham Fussell.
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He deepened the old Blowbottom Shaft to 640 yards
where he reached the valuable Smiths coal, only
18 inches thick but in great demand. He renamed
the shaft – CALIFORNIA. Fussell thought that, like
the gold mines in California, it would make his
fortune. The American connection is still seen in
the street names off Longbeach Rd.
The slag heap was in existence until recently
opposite Orchard Boulevard. An inclined branch
tramroad 650 yards long connected the mine to the
Avon and Gloucester dramway, which had ceased to
work in 1861 but which was quickly reopened – the
Peghouse shaft was reopened for ventilation – this
must be in the vicinity of Cradock Close. Until
the Longbeach Estate was built in the 1980s, you
could walk from California Pit and follow the dramway
to Willsbridge Valley. The last 100 metres is still
a pathway.
Unfortunately in 1904 a tremendous flood burst
through the workings and miners barely escaped with
their lives. One who was caught up in the
torrent and washed clear back to the shaft at pit
bottom bemoaned the loss of his silver pocket watch
left in his waistcoat pocket on a shelf in the workings
where it is meant to be to this day.
The catastrophe bankrupted the company and the
workshops were eventually purchased by the West
Gloucester Water Works for £6,000. The water
after chemical treatment, supplied a large area
of South Gloucestershire – 20,000 gallons an
hour could be pumped out.
| Coronation Pit
Located
near St Davids Ave, Cadbury Heath. Opened in an
attempt to get at the Parrot seam. The
shaft was renamed the Coronation Pit
in honour of Edward VII.
The only remaining
clue to its location is the coal yard
on Cadbury Heath Road with the suspiciously
large plot of land behind it which has
only recently been built on.
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More information on any local mine workings is
urgently required. (dates of operation, photo's
etc.) Use the link at foot of this page.
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