Higgins Clough (or Shaly Knowl) Swivel Bridge, c.1930.
The bridge is seen looking northwards towards Marple. There is still a swivel bridge at this point.
Upper Peak Forest Canal
Hag Bank Pit
Hag Bank Pit was situated on the offside of the canal adjacent to Higgins Clough (Disley or Shaley Knowl) Swivel Bridge. It stood on land owned by Thomas Legh (1792 - 1857) of Lyme Hall and it is likely that the sinking of the shaft was contemporary with the opening of the upper level of the canal on the 31 August 1796, although there no evidence for this.
This pit was originally worked by Messrs J & J Dodgson (John and James). Coal gained from it was used to fire the company's three lime kilns situated close by and an important customer was Samuel Oldknow who bought coal from them to fire his lime kilns at Marple. Coal was carried by boat to Marple, a distance of three miles.
By 1805, Hag Bank Pit was being worked by the Trustees of Messrs J & J Dodgson, so presumably they had died. In 1806 a newspaper advertisement was offering the pit and associated lime kilns for sale or letting.
Tithe Schedule
Township: Disley
Parish: Stockport
Landowner: Thomas Legh of Lyme Hall, Disley
| Plot | Plot Name | Occupier | Land Use | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Coalpit & Waste | James Clayton | Waste | 11 perches (0.069 acre) |
| 31 | House, Building, Yard & Garden | James Clayton | Building & Garden | 39 perches (0.244 acre) |
| 156 | Cottage & Garden | Samuel Pott | Building & Garden | 26 perches (0.163 acre) |
| 157 | Waste at Higgins Clough | James Clayton | Waste | 2 roods, 7 perches (0.544 acre) |
Square Measure
1 acre = 4 square roods or 160 square perches or 4,840 square yards
1 square rood = ¼ acre or 40 square perches or rods or 1,210 square yards
1 square perch = 5½ x 5½ yards = 30.25 square yards = 0.00625 square acre
Coal Bill
The above bill, dated 1 March 1805, is for 'Little Fire Coals' and 'Mixed' (Coals) bought by Samuel Oldknow & Company from the Trustees of J & J Dodgson.
10½ tons of Little Fire Coals at 9s 0d per ton = £4 14s 6d
13½ tons of Mixed (Coals) at 6s 0d per ton = £4 1s 0d
Total = £8 15s 6d
The bill was signed for at Marple Lime Works by the Clerk, R Goodwin.
Ridacre Colliery
Lyme Handley, Cheshire
This pit was once operated by the Trustees of J & J Dodgson and an unused coal bill, dating from the period 1800-1809, has survived.
Ridacre Colliery was situated in the township of Lyme Handley in the parish of Prestbury. At the time of the tithe map illustrated below (c.1850) the landowner was Thomas Legh and the occupier was William Barton. The number of seams (or mines) worked is unknown but one of them was the Bengee Mine.
The Macclesfield Canal (opened 1831) is just off the Tithe Map (shown below) to the east, and the colliery is close to Hagg (or Ryle's) Swivel and Foot Bridges (No. 16). If the Trustees of J & J Dodgson ever supplied coal from Ridacre Colliery to Marple Lime Works then at this time it would have been transported there by horse and cart.
