*ARC TBC* - - Coal Mines in Darlaston
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*ARC TBC* - - Coal Mines in Darlaston
I suppose that it all started with a chance remark. Back in the early/mid 1960s three blocks of low rise flats were being built in Wolverhampton St quite near to Catherine's Cross in Darlaston: building was progessing well and all three blocks were upto the first floor when one night, the middle block all but disappeared into a hole in the ground. My old Uncle Elisha (known to all as Lish) said, "That'll be one of your grandfather's coal mines then" and for days after I thought that everyone was looking at me because "my family" had destroyed that building - how daft can you get?
However, when the dust had settled (literally), Uncle Lish told me that his grandfather had been a pit owner - I now believe this person to be his great grandfather (Thomas Dowen b.1815) although I am still seeking proof. For many years I have done nothing with this snippet but over the last few years, thanks to a document published on the internet by the Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd., I have become aware of a mine owned by Fullford, Cotterill, and Dowen and I am wondering whether there is a connection here.
Name of Mine .......... Kings's Hill
Situation ............... Wednesbury
Owner .................. Fullford, Cotterill, and Dowen
Postal Address ........ King's Hill, Wednesbury
Workers ............... (Underground) 6
......................... (Surface) 2
Minerals Worked ..... Coal & Manufacturing Coal
That is as much as I know ... does anyone have any idea how I can find out more? Who were the owners? Who were the workers both on the surface and underground? Are there any other records for this mine in existence??
Are there any mining experts reading this forum that may be able to help or point me in the right direction please?
Alan
However, when the dust had settled (literally), Uncle Lish told me that his grandfather had been a pit owner - I now believe this person to be his great grandfather (Thomas Dowen b.1815) although I am still seeking proof. For many years I have done nothing with this snippet but over the last few years, thanks to a document published on the internet by the Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd., I have become aware of a mine owned by Fullford, Cotterill, and Dowen and I am wondering whether there is a connection here.
Name of Mine .......... Kings's Hill
Situation ............... Wednesbury
Owner .................. Fullford, Cotterill, and Dowen
Postal Address ........ King's Hill, Wednesbury
Workers ............... (Underground) 6
......................... (Surface) 2
Minerals Worked ..... Coal & Manufacturing Coal
That is as much as I know ... does anyone have any idea how I can find out more? Who were the owners? Who were the workers both on the surface and underground? Are there any other records for this mine in existence??
Are there any mining experts reading this forum that may be able to help or point me in the right direction please?
Alan
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
I don't know what you might have tried yet but :
have you checked the trade directories of the area? did Pigot & Co do any for this area as they give information on important people/businesses in an area.
what about asking at the Black Country Museum?
have you checked the trade directories of the area? did Pigot & Co do any for this area as they give information on important people/businesses in an area.
what about asking at the Black Country Museum?
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
Linell flagged this the other day
it has some Dowens listed
http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/home/
http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/database/cm ... &Go=Search
it has some Dowens listed
http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/home/
http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/database/cm ... &Go=Search
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
Haven't had a chance to look in detail but have you seen this site?
http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/home/
http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/home/
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
Thanks for your input - I must follow up both of those Samuel Dowens on the accident list to see whether there is a direct connection and the idea of contacting the Black Country Museum is also a good one - it's been years since I last visited the place.
I've had a trawl through http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/home and found a number of references to mines in King's Hill, Wednesbury but none of them were associated with a Dowen as far as I could see - I have a feeling that the mine I am looking for may be too small to appear on most people's radars.
I understand that the local history centre in Walsall has some mining documents - does anyone know what they hold before I consider making a trek south?
I've had a trawl through http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/home and found a number of references to mines in King's Hill, Wednesbury but none of them were associated with a Dowen as far as I could see - I have a feeling that the mine I am looking for may be too small to appear on most people's radars.
I understand that the local history centre in Walsall has some mining documents - does anyone know what they hold before I consider making a trek south?
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
Might be worth contacting Sandwell archives in Smethwick library as I know Wednesbury churches are
under their collection
they might in their library section have some more detail in their indexes
under their collection
they might in their library section have some more detail in their indexes
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
Just a thought:
Owner .................. Fullford, Cotterill, and Dowen
As Dowen id the last name on the owners list maybe he was a junior partner and if you follow up on the other names you might come at the mine from another direction
Owner .................. Fullford, Cotterill, and Dowen
As Dowen id the last name on the owners list maybe he was a junior partner and if you follow up on the other names you might come at the mine from another direction
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
As Dowen id the last name on the owners list maybe he was a junior partner and if you follow up on the other names you might come at the mine from another direction
I thought of that one but I can't see the other two either. There is also a link by marriage between Dowen and Cotterell (which I have sometimes seen spelt as Cotterill) families but that may be a complete red herring.
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
Did a quick google search for King's Hill coal mine in Wednesbury and found this link
It doesn't mention the names you listed, but it does refer to a mine in Wednesbury, Old Park owned by Jas. and Jno. Hunt, King's Hill, employing 13 underground workers and 4 overground workers in 1896
Don't know weather it will help or not, but it might give a bit of background.
It doesn't mention the names you listed, but it does refer to a mine in Wednesbury, Old Park owned by Jas. and Jno. Hunt, King's Hill, employing 13 underground workers and 4 overground workers in 1896
Don't know weather it will help or not, but it might give a bit of background.
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
Just wondering whether the Land Registry or companies equivalent was around in the 19th Century so we could see if
Fullford, Cotterill, and Dowen sold it to Jas. and Jno. Hunt, or even someone who sold it to ...to...to...
Fullford, Cotterill, and Dowen sold it to Jas. and Jno. Hunt, or even someone who sold it to ...to...to...
- Northern Lass
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
Alan flagging to archive this now or move it to General discussion or Brick walls
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
Brick Walls please ... the ideas that were added yesterday were useful so would still like to keep in the public domain for a while.
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
1880 poss two mines at kings hill
221 King's. Hill, Wednesbury, Bayley and Hunt.
222 King's. Hill, Wednesbury, Joseph Springthorpe.
from here
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.anc ... .htm#NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE
221 King's. Hill, Wednesbury, Bayley and Hunt.
222 King's. Hill, Wednesbury, Joseph Springthorpe.
from here
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.anc ... .htm#NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE
A person should have an opinion on everything, It becomes tact whether you reveal that opinion or not.
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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
So two possible mines in 1880:
221 King's. Hill, Wednesbury, Bayley and Hunt.
222 King's. Hill, Wednesbury, Joseph Springthorpe.
and two possibles in 1896
Wednesbury, Old Park owned by Jas. and Jno. Hunt, King's Hill,
Situation ............... Wednesbury Owner .................. Fullford, Cotterill, and Dowen
The big question is whether they are the same one's and if so which is which.
Any idea where maps of old mines are kept? there must be some for surveying purposes. eg in case any one wants to build on top of them to make sure they don't cause a subsidence!!!
221 King's. Hill, Wednesbury, Bayley and Hunt.
222 King's. Hill, Wednesbury, Joseph Springthorpe.
and two possibles in 1896
Wednesbury, Old Park owned by Jas. and Jno. Hunt, King's Hill,
Situation ............... Wednesbury Owner .................. Fullford, Cotterill, and Dowen
The big question is whether they are the same one's and if so which is which.
Any idea where maps of old mines are kept? there must be some for surveying purposes. eg in case any one wants to build on top of them to make sure they don't cause a subsidence!!!

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Re: Coal Mines in Darlaston
i would of thought local council will haave maps of the old mine working because of planning permission
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