Mining remains around Buxton - Orchard Common

 Although Buxton and its environs are better known for limestone quarrying there was at one time quite a number of coal mines in the area, mostly centred in the Goyt Valley and on Axe Edge. Although no mining has taken place for over 100 years there are still traces to be seen, and I thought it might be interesting to search out some of these remains whilst riding around the area on my mountain bike. I'm not going to post any history, there are more knowledgeable people than myself for that, but instead concentrate on the more obvious remains still to be seen.

I'm starting with Orchard Common, an area next to Axe Edge that I know well having ridden through it many many times in all weathers, and I also worked at Orchard Farm (a care home for children and young people) for a while. There are several pit remains in that area, it seems that shafts were dug, coal mined around the bottom of the shaft as far as practical then another shaft dug nearby with pick and shovel. This is just a guess, there's little written about these working that I can find although the nearby Axe Edge workings are covered in The Coal Mines of Buxton by A.F. Roberts and J.T. Leach.

The first pit that I photographed is in fact located in a field in front of Orchard Farm (SK 0210 6885), and is the most visible;

When I worked at Orchard the top of the shaft was covered in rubble and broken glass, now it's been cleared and you can see down into the flooded shaft;

The next few are a bit more difficult to spot, but the signs are there. A change in vegetation and small concrete pillars, similar to trig points, mark where the shafts once opened up. This one is at SK 0225 6920;

There is faded lettering on that pillar warning people to stay off the shaft head.

A little further along, protected by cows, is another pit;

This shows well how the vegetation changes around the shaft.

Note the round slightly raised bank close to the pillar - possible evidence of a horse gin?

All of the above shafts are marked on my 1:25 000 map (OL24). The next few aren't.

Further along, at SK 0250 6955 where two footpaths join, is another pillar;

I've walked and cycled past this many times without understanding its significance. Note my trusty fatbike.

A couple of weeks after taking the above photos I was walking on Drystone Edge, which overlooks Orchard Common, and from that vantage point another shaft site became obvious;

And again I'd noted the pillar in the past but not its significance! This is located at SK 0260 6970, close to a gate in a drystone wall. Note that the pillar had been upturned. All of these sites are on a straight line, with the last four alongside a well built stone track, obviously following a seam. Also of note is a quarry, at SK 0235 6940, which would have been well positioned to provide materials for lining the shafts being located between the 3rd and 4th shafts.

At the other side of the wall a depression in the ground might be the sight of another pit;

Or it might not. There are a lot of mine workings in the area, especially on nearby Axe Edge, some were even rail worked, with an incline for narrow gauge tubs.

All of the information above is my own conjecture based on the fact that coal was mined in the area, if any of it is wrong then only I am to blame.

Paul.