Lower Peak Forest Canal, Dukinfield Hall, Dog Lane Bridge and Dewsnap Basin

Introduction
The section of the Lower Peak Forest Canal between Dog Lane Bridge and the former Dewsnap Basin is steeped in history. The most ancient buildings were situated on the offside of the canal and these were Dukinfield Hall, home of the Duckenfield family, and its adjoining chapel, Dukinfield Hall Chapel (Dukinfield Hall Congregational Church). The hall is believed to date from the late 15th century and it is possible that it was built on the site of an earlier building. Originally it was a half-timbered building but parts of this were afterwards encased by brick walls.

Dukinfield Hall and its Chapel
Roundhead

The Duckenfield family were lords of Dukinfield from the 13th century until the mid-18th century. The most famous member of the family was Lieutenant Colonel Robert Duckenfield (1619 - 1689) who was a member of the Puritan faith. He distinguished himself in battle for Oliver Cromwell's parliamentary cause. He took part in the defence of Manchester in 1642 and he was appointed the commander of Cromwell's forces in the North West in 1648. In 1651 he commanded the forces that secured the Isle of Man and in 1653 he was appointed to Cromwell's Nominated Assembly, also known as the 'Parliament of the Saints' or 'Barebones Parliament'. The Nominated Assembly first met on the 4 July 1653 but it had a life of less than six months. There were 129 representatives for England and Wales, five for Scotland and six for Ireland. He also became a county High Sheriff. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Duckenfield died on the 18 September 1689 and was buried in the graveyard of St Lawrence's Church at nearby Denton, his grave having a stone memorial (there is also a blue plaque on the front of Dukinfield Town Hall in his honour). Over the years the family amassed much land and property throughout Cheshire and by the mid-17th century they owned the whole of Dukinfield, which is named after the family.

After years of neglect by its owners, the hall was divided into separate dwellings. After World War II it was in a very dilapidated condition and at this juncture it was declared unfit for human habitation. The National Trust was approached to see if they would take it but they refused and as a result it was demolished in 1950.

The chapel is also believed to date from the late 15th century but extensive additions were made to it during the 19th century. Ultimately, this too became dilapidated and unused and in c1980 a serious fire damaged the 19th century additions and most of the original building. These parts were demolished in 1981 to leave only a small part of the original late 15th century building still standing. These remains are still extant and they are best seen from the towpath of the Peak Forest Canal.

Dukinfield Hall Spinning Company
This cotton-spinning mill was situated on the offside of the canal close to Dog Lane Bridge.

Young's Mill and Well Bridge Bleach Works
Situated on the offside of the canal between Dukinfield Hall and the canal, was Young's Mill later known as Bannerman Company's Mill or Old Hall Mill. While cotton mills in this locality were mainly concerned with cotton spinning, it is understood that Young's also had a weaving shed here as well. A short distance further along is Dukinfield Hall (or Well) Bridge and on the opposite side of Dunkirk Lane was Well Bridge Bleach Works, which, curiously, was owned for a while by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company. There was a canal company wharf here.

Dukinfield Hall (or Well) Bridge, looking north west,
6 March 1978.
The roof of Dukinfield Congregational Chapel is
visible over the parapet on the right.

Dewsnap Pit, Astley Deep Pit and Dewsnap Basin
Next to the bleach works was the Dewsnap Basin Loading Stage of the Dukinfield Coal and Cannel Company. By 1850, Dewsnap Basin was newly built and was still awaiting connections to coal mines. The original Dewsnap Colliery was still extant but soon it was to be replaced by the Dewsnap Sidings of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company. This coal mine was connected to Dog Lane Basin by a tramway running down Globe Lane. Dewsnap New Pit (better known as Dewsnap Pit) had been sunk, as a replacement, 173 yards away from Dewsnap Basin and Astley's New Pit (better known as Astley Deep Pit) had been sunk 467 yards away on the north side of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway line off King Street. Eventually, there were tramway connections from both these pits to Dewsnap Basin where boats were loaded with coal.

The shaft of Dewsnap Pit was sunk in 1845/46 and it was situated on the opposite side of Globe Lane to the canal. As this mine was higher than the road, coal to be taken away by road transport was 'jigged' down to the road. In coal-mining vernacular a 'jig' was a self-acting inclined plane in which descending full tubs were used to haul up empty ones under the action of gravity. A 'jigger' (sometimes spelt 'jagger') was a workman who attended the brake at the top of the plane to prevent tubs from running away. The arrangement of the tramway down to Dewsnap Basin is obscure but it is understood that Globe Lane crossed over it on a bridge, which is odd considering that the mine was higher than the road. Its method of operation is unknown but it is likely that it was rope or chain operated.

In 1896, Dewsnap Pit was employing 347 underground workers and 48 surface workers. The manager was Richard Clay and the under-manager was William Hyde. The Great and Roger seams were worked and the types of coal mined were household and steam. The date of closure of Dewsnap Pit is uncertain but it is likely that it was around the same time as that of Astley Deep Pit, which was in 1901.

Astley Deep Pit was rather bigger than Dewsnap Pit and its shaft was sunk in 1847. As the name implies, coal was gained from a great depth. Little is known about the tramway that connected it to Dewsnap Basin buts its method of operation must have been similar to that of the Dewsnap Pit tramway.

In 1896, this pit was employing 487 underground workers and 123 surface workers. The manager was Richard Clay and the under-manager was Alfred Taylor. The Black, Cannel and Peacock seams were worked and the types of coal mined were gas, household and steam. Astley Deep Pit closed on the 7 August 1901 after a life of 54 years, which was far below estimates.

At this time, the Company Mining Engineer was William Mackenzie Reynolds, who was a Member of the Federated Institute of Mining Engineers, and he lived on Cheetham Hill Road, Dukinfield.

Following closure of these pits, operations to fill the shafts, together with those of Dog Lane Pit and Victoria Colliery (Lakes Pit), commenced in September 1903 and the work was undertaken by Underwood Brothers, Contractors. In the case of Dewsnap Pit, the work was done to prepare the site for the new Carriage and Waggon Works of the Great Central Railway Company. When this works was completed it was 28 acres in extent, including Dewsnap Sidings.

Astley Deep Pit Disaster, 1874
On Tuesday, 14 April 1874 it was the scene of a disaster in which 54 men and boys lost their lives to leave 18 survivors who were either injured or entombed until they were rescued. A previously 'burnt' tunnel was temporarily being repaired when the roof collapsed to release pockets of gas, generally known as 'damp'. As the men were working with open flame lamps the roof collapse triggered a huge explosion.

It had long been a widespread practice to make workings safe by deliberately burning off any damp present. The miner, whose job it was to do this highly dangerous and spectacular work, was known as a 'fireman' or 'penitent'. He would enter the workings before the shift started dressed in rags soaked in water. He carried a lighted candle on the end of a long pole with which to ignite any gas while lying face down on the floor. It was his appearance dressed in wet rags that gave rise to the name 'penitent'.

In the case of Astley Deep Pit, the workings had just been 'burnt' and were considered to be safe to work in using open flame lamps. However, the roof collapse allowed damp to enter the tunnel and so cause the fatal explosion.

For details of this disaster and the names of the men killed and injured click on the miner's check.

Barn Meadow Mill
On the towpath side of the canal the principal building was the large Barn Meadow Mill, opened in 1835, which had its own private branch canal. By 1918 the building was closed as a mill and converted to an electric accumulator works, known as the Tudor Accumulator Works and latterly owned by Messrs Courtney Pope. The building was demolished in the 1970s but the name of the accumulator works lives on in the Tudor Industrial Estate.

Sculpture commemorating Lieutenant Colonel Robert Duckenfield

Title of the work: Colonel Dukinfield.
Date: 1996.
Material: Stainless Steel.
Location: Dukinfield Park, King Street, Dukinfield.
Description: A three-metre high sculpture celebrating the English Civil War exploits of Colonel Robert Duckenfield.

The sculpture also incorporates a floor design and seats with educational reliefs telling the story of the Colonel and the town named after him.

It is sited within Dukinfield Park, in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside.

It was commissioned from the studio of Stephen Broadbent.

Soldiers of Colonel Edward Montagu's Regiment of Foote performed a march-past at the statue unveiling ceremony. This was led by an officer on horseback and it included flying standards and drums and finally a volley of musket fire.

The Regiment of Foote and the King's Army are part of the English Civil War Society.

	The memorial to Robert Duckenfield at St Lawrence's Church, Denton, 10 January 2007. ROBERT DUCKENFIELD 1619 - 1689 IN MEMORY OF ROBERT DUCKENFIELD OF THE DUCKENFIELD ESTATES A VALIANT SOLDIER WHO DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF IN BATTLE FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY PARTY CAUSE DURING THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR A BELOVED HUSBAND AND A FATHER OF EIGHT SONS AND SIX DAUGHTERS
	Description: A blue plaque commemorating Robert Duckenfield, 6 April 2007. Location: To the right of the main entrance to Dukinfield Town Hall. Inscription: TAMESIDE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT DUCKENFIELD 1619 - 1689 Robert Duckenfield of Dukinfield Hall, a man of great Puritan faith, distinguished himself in battle for the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War. In 1651 he commanded the forces which secured the Isle of Man and in 1653 was appointed to Cromwell's 'Little Parliament'
	Description and Location: A blue plaque commemorating St Lawrence's Church, Denton, 24 July 2005. In the churchyard. It records that Robert Duckenfield is buried here. Inscription: TAMESIDE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH CHURCH OF ST LAWRENCE Built early Sixteenth Century and originally dedicated to St James until the discovery in the mid-19th century of a stained glass window to St Lawrence. Affectionately known as 'Th' Owd Peg' because its framework was fastened together with wooden pegs. Resting place of John Angier, the famous Puritan divine and of Colonel Robert Duckenfield, Tameside's Civil War hero.


	Description: Plaque commemorating the unveiling of a bronze statue to Robert Duckenfield, 6 April 2007. Location: Outside Dukinfield Town Hall. Inscription: Lieutenant Colonel Robert Duckenfield 1619 - 1689 Unveiled 1st April 2007 by Councillor Jackie Lane

1889