Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan
Album Contents
Album Contents
Wigan Album
Bickershaw colliery
2 Comments
No.3 shaft bottom
Photo: John Taylor
Photo: John Taylor
Views: 3,063
Item #: 22475
Item #: 22475
. This picture and the following three views were taken underground at Bickershaw colliery and are believed to have been taken circa 1931/32. They were provided by a member at church, Mr. Harold Barrow who worked at the pit, and the pictures came to him via his brother-in-law. Harold has also provided the background information to each of the four views.
Given the age of the photos and the conditions under which they were taken they are in remarkably good condition all things considered. I would imagine that they formed part of a larger set produced at the time by the colliery company to record it’s workings both above and below the surface.
This then is No.4 shaft bottom being prepared in readiness for "skip working". “Skip working” was introduced just after this time in 1934, and replaced the earlier age-old method of winding individual tubs of coal up to the surface in the cage.
Given the age of the photos and the conditions under which they were taken they are in remarkably good condition all things considered. I would imagine that they formed part of a larger set produced at the time by the colliery company to record it’s workings both above and below the surface.
This then is No.4 shaft bottom being prepared in readiness for "skip working". “Skip working” was introduced just after this time in 1934, and replaced the earlier age-old method of winding individual tubs of coal up to the surface in the cage.
Comment by: AP on 26th January 2013 at 10:10
So, is it No 3 shaft bottom as in the title, or is it No 4 shaft bottom as in the narrative?
Comment by: John Taylor on 4th January 2014 at 11:02
Well spotted that man - it just goes to show that no matter how careful you think you've been, a second pair of eyes "to give it another dose of looking at" as one of the electrification instructors at Springs Branch depot always used to say; is always time well spent.
It should of course read the bottom of No.4 shaft as per the script, and not No.3 shaft as per the heading. Thanks for spotting that A.P.
Cheers, John
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