Wigan Album
Mining
6 Comments
Photo: Dennis Seddon
Item #: 19874
When Lord Crawford took off for his unspoilt estates in Scotland shortly after the pits were Nationalised he left us a legacy of Haigh Hall at a knock down price, unfortunately he also left us a few hundred acres of derelict land from his mining activities. Land that as still not been totally cleaned up yet over sixty years later.
Must be a couple of years earlier, Dennis.
This pic shows the 27th Earl, who died in 1940. It was his son (also pictured) the 28th Earl, who handed Haigh Hall over in 1947.
Mick, I stand corrected, many thanks.
I often wonder why in slightly early,in the1900s to 1920s.When The Crawford's and there like were living like Kings,and less than a mile away,people didn't have enough to eat,there wasn't a revolution . The lesser mortals would be expected to doff there caps as the"lord" went by. I know The Crawford,s were certainly not the harshest of the landed gentry, and they did some good things for Wigan.However the unfairness of it all, dose rankles .
At the time of nationalisation, the Crawfords ceased to own any pits, so their income would have suddenly reduced. Add to that the fact that during WW2, Haigh Hall had been converted to a hospital for injured servicemen, and most of the staff had gone. So there was nothing to keep the Crawfords there.
The Crawford Family didn't just own pits, they also owned many houses and farms in Aspull and Blackrod all of which were sold off after nationalisation. none of the money from these sales went towards clearing up the mess or towards compensation to people effected by subsidence. The National Coal Board had to pay for it all.
Den, all of that is correct. It would have been difficult for the Crawfords to carry out remedial works to areas they no longer owned. The NCB were the new owners and they and their successors were responsible for the dereliction which abounded, not only around Haigh, but elsewhere, for many years. But, there are still some reminders of coal mining in activity in Haigh which existed long before the NCB - several old shafts, remains of bell pits, and not least - the Great Haigh Sough!