Rowgill Coal pit at Jail House corner Alston Cumbria. Field Study

Short field Study done on the mobile phone , so sorry about the wind noise on parts.
Alston is best known for its mineral mines but coal is prevalent on the moor but it is Anthracite and so it was unsuitable for domestic use back in the past. They did get around this by mixing it with clay to form 'Cats'. However the old mining engineers saw it as of little importance and it was given the rather derogatory name of 'Crow Coal. As such many of the old great mining works about Alston moor barely mention it and many historians almost completely dismiss reference to it.
In today's field study we look into the old coal pits on the Hartside road near Jail House Corner. The road is a Mecca for bikers who usually pass by the old coal heaps almost as quickly as the historians. We have a wander around the old pits and archive maps in an attempt to shed some light on these isolated collieries than undoubtedly had quite a significance 200 years ago. We also have an intriguing archive map that gives some insite into the old Hartside colliery and land ownership.

[@johnsmiles4329]

Great video, I spent a day wandering this hillside/bog last year trying to understand these remains. Your explanation sticks it all together nicely. Cheers!

[@rossendalecollieries7995]

thanks John. It would be great if some actual documents showed up and we could put a few names to these places

[@BrianHardwick-dg1cr]

Clive. I just stumbled into one of your videos as a consequence of looking at the Bell Pits near Raegill ( using lidar not a pair of wellies). You remarked in the video on the absence of LIDAR, in fact DEFRA have released the 2022 survey and they show the features well.
I must admit I had assumed everything was just sinkholes ( They were swinging a pick in carboniferous limestone) but now I can see the very modest spoil heaps. The old lads didn’t waste too much energy moving useless stone.
Thank you for an informative video . I will have a look at your back catalogue now.
Regards
Brian Hardwick

[@rossendalecollieries7995]

Thanks for that Brian. I did a bit of drone footage and it looked like an old shaft but it was hard to place on the ground, but the old map shows the old pits and the level as separate. i must admit after going in the level it didn't strike me as a coal pit. how do I find the survey?

[@garyalderson1056]

Very informative I enjoy your videos Clive keep them coming... Gary.Spain...

[@danhall4145]

If you would like to date an area I would love to offer my services metal detecting free of charge of course. I have public liability insurance and am a registered member of the national council of metal detecting. Love finding out things about local history. Can provide local references too with regard to doing a neat and tidy job of it too.

[@grahampartridge9335]

Hello. Great video, i love the out and about stuff you do.

[@rossendalecollieries7995]

Thanks Graham. Much apreciated.

[@DaysofHorror]

Just getting round to catching up on your videos Clive. Hope you are having a nice break over Xmas and New Year 👍

[@rossendalecollieries7995]

Hi Chris. Im very well thanks. we hopefuly get a meet up this year

[@keithrimmer3]

Thanks, Clive I always thought they were something to do with old pits along there and that old building must be connected to the mines I've often stopped there with my binoculars trying to way everything up and make sense of it all coal or lead now I know cheers bud

[@rossendalecollieries7995]

Im wondering about the old Rowgill level Keith that it may be more mineral. looking on the Turnpike map it shows Rowgill pits as shafts by the side of the now building and on exploration nearly 30 years ago although you could see coal, there was a large sump in the floor. There were some stopped off roadways...so could be a bit of both...get coal whilst exploring the vein?

[@davidbuchan2214]

@@rossendalecollieries7995 i cant make out the lettering on the map , but with there being a vein running down westbank of the stream , would the 4 letter word be hush ?, typically the lidar ive got runs out just below it

[@davidbuchan2214]

i did a bit walking over there years back from hartside , think melmerby or glasonby rings bell , but somewhere below hartside i remember the path having a green flourite glint like graveyard gravel , been few times in latter years but have never found again

[@keithrimmer3]

@@davidbuchan2214 Yes most likely