Elms colliery

Elms Colliery (also known as Middle Engine Pit) is a disused coal mine in Nailsea within the English County of Somerset. It has been scheduled as an ancient monument[1] and placed on the Heritage at Risk Register due to the risk of vandalism and further decay.[2]

Elms Colliery
The old winding tower
Location
Elms Colliery
LocationNailsea
Somerset
CountryEngland
Coordinates51°25′54″N 2°44′47″W
Production
ProductsCoal
History
Opened1829 (1829)
Closed1850 (1850)s

Nailsea's early economy relied on coal mining, which began as early as the 16th century. The earliest recorded date for coal mining in Nailsea was 1507 when coal was being transported to light fires at Yatton.[3] By the late 1700s the Golden Valley area of the town had a large number of pits run by a consortium by Peter Cox, Joseph Whitchurch and Isaac White which was formed in 1786 and known as White and Co. John Robert Lucas joined to obtain coal for the nearby Nailsea Glassworks.[4] Remains of the old pits, most of which had closed down by the late 19th century as mining capital migrated to the richer seams of South Wales, are still visible around the town.

Three buildings survive from the Elms Colliery.[4][5] The engine house of the rotative beam engine and associated buildings, including the remains of a horse whim and weighbridge house are Grade II listed buildings.[6]

The water tank above the engine house was used to supply water to Elms House after the mine closed.[7]

References
  1. Historic England. "Elms Colliery (1004533)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  2. "Elms Colliery, Nailsea — North Somerset (UA)". Heritage at Risk. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  3. "N&DLHS – Bottle Green & Coal Black". Nailsea and District Local History Society. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  4. "Middle Engine Pit, Nailsea". Avon Industrial Buildings Trust. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  5. "Heritage at Risk". Bristol Post. 11 July 2008. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  6. Historic England. "Engine house and associated buildings from the Middle Engine Pit, about 15 metres south east of the Elms (1320976)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  7. Smith, Terry. "The Hydrology of Nailsea" (PDF). Nailsea Nature. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
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