Cockersdale watercourses and mills

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Sat 21 Jul, 2012 9:44 pm

Si wrote: tilly wrote: Si wrote: See you on Sunday, Jim.Anyone else want to come? Hi Si and Jim i would have loved to come but its only five weeks since my operation.Im walking about but i think it would be a bit too much i hope you have a great time. Don't worry, Tilly. I'll take some photos. Hi Si I was looking forward to meeting you will do sometime.Have a great day.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 23 Jul, 2012 1:25 pm

tilly wrote: Hi Si I was looking forward to meeting you will do sometime.Have a great day. Hi tilly. Yes, we had a good day. Luckily, after a dull start, the weather picked up and by afternoon, it was very pleasant. Luckily, it wasn't too muddy underfoot.I'll let Jim expand on his theories that we were there to investigate, but basically, we were looking for two things.Firstly, Jim has a book which suggests that there may have been iron smelting somewhere at the head of Cockersdale. On an old map which Jim has, the original road through the area meanders across the valley. Parts of it still exist, which we found, one part being named Old Lane. The most obvious part crosses the valley bottom directly south of the embankment which carries Whitehall Road, a turnpike built to replace the original lane, in the 1830s. On this old map, there is a colliery marked just south of Whitehall Road, to the west of the embankment. We were looking for evidence of this colliery, and a possible route for a trackway leading toward Cockersdale where smelting may have taken place. In fact, the parapet of the embankment has evidence of iron in the stones from which it is built. The rock is reddish with purplish-black rounded intrusions in it, which I take to be iron ore? Secondly, we walked down Cockersdale itself to photograph any evidence of the several mills which once populated the valley.This first picture gives an overview of the head of Cockersdale, with Whitehall Road crossing it on it's embankment. The picture is taken from the direction of the colliery marked on Jim's map, looking roughly north east. Part of the substantial south wall of the embankment can be seen. To the right of this, is an old mill, now converted into flats, with modern extensions. The original road passes between the embankment and the mill.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 23 Jul, 2012 1:52 pm

To try and make things clearer, here's a satellite pic of the area. Sorry about the poor quality, but I don't know how to do a proper screen grab (is that the right term?)The red line shows the original, pre-turnpike lane across the valley.The blue line shows the Whitehall Road embankment.The purple shows the still-existing mill site.The yellow shows the lane down into Cockersdale, which Jim thinks may be a gradient for a rope-powered rail bed for coal/iron ore.The colliery on the old map, was near the pond towards the bottom of the map.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 23 Jul, 2012 1:56 pm

We found this old trackway near to the colliery site. It's on a raised bed, made from rubble which could be seen at the eroded edges. The pond on the left is the one I mentioned in the previous post. There are various "lumps and bumps" in the fields either side, suggesting human activity - building platforms, possible coal mining, etc?

Si · Post by Si » Mon 23 Jul, 2012 2:02 pm

This area has been inhabited for a long time. An ancient cottage on Old Lane - possibly 1500s? Ex cruck-framed?

Si · Post by Si » Mon 23 Jul, 2012 2:06 pm

The trackway from colliery to Cockersdale may have crossed this field. Unfortunately, photographs tend to "flatten" the ground somewhat. A possible route could be seen by the naked eye! The brick building marks the west end of the Whitehall Road embankment. The gradient down into Cockersdale is on the other side of the road, directly opposite.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 23 Jul, 2012 2:09 pm

This is the south wall of the embankment. As you can see, it's quite a substantial effort! The road is the original lane. Nowadays, it climbs the hill to meet Whitehall Road, but it's original route branches left, just out of shot, and continues as a tree-lined bridleway, eventually joining the end of Old Lane, which leads to the possible colliery site.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 23 Jul, 2012 2:12 pm

The bricked-up steps on the south of the embankment. There are also steps on the north side, though these are still in use, and run at right angles to the road.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 23 Jul, 2012 2:15 pm

Now on the north side of the embankment. This is looking back up the gradient which is the access point into Cockersdale from Whitehall Road. The Valley pub is at the top.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 23 Jul, 2012 2:18 pm

A little further down, and there is a man-made platform, shored up with walls at front and back. This is looking back towards Whitehall Road.