Hag Bank Colliery
Hag Bank Colliery was situated on the offside of the Upper Peak Forest Canal adjacent to Higgins Clough (Disley or Shaley Knowl) Swing Bridge (Bridge 25). 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.
It was originally worked by Messrs. J & J Dodgson about whom little is known. Coal gained from this mine was principally 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 over the three miles to Marple. Two Permits of the Peak Forest Canal Company have survived, which were issued for Hag Bank Colliery, these being dated the 26 February 1805 and 13 May 1805, respectively. These show that the Wharfinger at Hag Bank Colliery at this time was Richard Latham and, interestingly, they only show the cost of transporting the coal, the cost of the coal being omitted. This is in contrast to Permits for limestone that show both the transportation cost as well as the cost of the stone. The February Permit was for 25 tons of coal at 6s 3d and the May permit was for 27 tons at 6s 9d. In both examples, the cost per ton of coal for transport was 3d.
By 1805 something had happened to Messrs. J & J Dodgson and the colliery was being worked by the Trustees of Messrs. J & J Dodgson. In 1806 a newspaper advertisement was offering the colliery and associated lime kilns for sale or letting.
The Tithe Schedule and Map of the locality for 1851 imply that the mine was disused by this time.
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) |
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
