Coal Pits

Charlie Teasdale had heard the old people say that there had been open pit coal mines in Big Marsh. He believes that these sites on his land along Wallace Brook are examples of them. They do seem to be dug, and there is evidence of shale, but not of coal.

Both the Church Map and the Geological Survey Map of 1893 indicate coal pits and coal “borings” along the Glebe Road and in Big Marsh (some of these are now noted on the digital map). Neither of them indicates pits here.

In any case, the rest of the story, that these pits were dug by hand for local use rather than commercial purposes, is probably correct.

Charlie Teasdale, Big Marsh, May 20, 2008.