The Development of the Mining Industry.

~ The Development of the ~ Mining Industry ALTHOUGH IRON ORE had been mined in Furness for centuries, until the middle of the 19th century it was done on a comparatively small scale, and a general appraisal of the economy of the whole of Low Furness would unquestionably have defined it as being principally agricultural. Problems confronting the early iron industry resulted largely from an acute shortage of local charcoal for smelting, and primitive techniques and condition in the mines which made the industry very labour intensive and inefficient. Some smelting had always been done locally, but the industry received a substantial boost with the opening of furnaces at Backbarrow (1712), and later at Duddon Bridge and Newland. Because of the superior quality of the Furness ore, the merchants experienced little difficulty in finding markets and the demand increased accordingly. Eventually, ironworks¹ were established at Barrow¹ (1859), Askam¹ (1865) and Ulverston¹ (1874).
Even though there was a constant demand for the mineral in the early 19th century, there were still several problems facing the mine owners. Pumping equipment was almost unknown, with the result that only shallow mining¹ could be contemplated, and then only in the dry season, because of flooding. Transport¹ was also a problem. Before the opening of the Furness Railway¹ in 1846, the ore had to be transported in horse-drawn carts, each of which held between a half and three-quarters of a ton, and the number needed was quite incredible. This created a bottleneck which effectively inhibited any rapid expansion of the industry until the coming of the railway opened the flood gates and paved the way for the boom period which was soon to follow.

According to J. D. Marshall, in 1839 there were three main firms in the district: Harrison, Ainslie & Co. (Lindal¹ Moor), the Ulverston² Mining² Company (Lindal Cote) and Thomas Fisher (Butts Beck, Whitriggs). By 1855, the number of mining companies in Furness had increased to eight. They were:

Harrison, Ainslie & Co. Lindal Moor, Whitriggs, Gillbrow

Schneider, Hannay & Co. Park, Mouzell, Whitriggs, Old Hills, Newton.

C. S. Kennedy Roanhead.

J. Rawlinson. Crossgates¹, Carr Kettle, Rickett Hills.

H. Kennedy & Co. Lindal Cote, Eure Pits.

Brogden & Co Stainton¹, Adgarley, Bolton Heads.

J. & G. Fell Stainton.

G. B. Ashburner Elliscales.

It is clear from this that by the middle of the century Dalton was surrounded by mine workings, and it is not surprising that its population¹ tripled between 1841 and 1871, thus creating a new Dalton - the principal mining³ town of Furness.

Mining areas round Dalton

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Mining⁴ areas around Dalton. 19th-early 20th century.
The picture, however, was not static. Prospecting for new orebodies was continuous and new pits were opened as older ones closed down either through being worked-out or because of flooding. Only the largest pits had surface installations with any degree of permanence, thus it was not uncommon for miners to have to walk several miles from their homes to their place of work, as new pits were developed. Machinery was slowly introduced, particularly to the larger mines; but in many places ancient methods were still being employed. Sometimes a hand windlass sufficed, and often a horse walking in circles around a drum served to raise the mineral. Life was hard for miners and horses.

Mention has already been made of the fact that working conditions in the mines around Dalton were primitive, particularly in the early part of the 19th century when industrial safety matters were left largely in the hands of the mine owners. What legislation there was to protect the workforce was cumbersome and easily evaded by the employers, with the result that working conditions were often extremely hazardous. The following extracts from the diary of William Fisher¹, a Furness yeoman farmer paints a fascinating picture of life and death in the local mines.

March 1827 Thomas Sowerbuts killd at the Iron Ore Pits by the roof of the pit falling in.

Nov. 25, 1828 James Benson of Ireleth & John Brockbank of Dalton wear sufacated by the foul air at Crossgates² Iron Ore pit there was two other in at the same time which escaped with difficulty by accending the shaft in the bucket both the unfortunate men have left widdows and small famileys to bewail there loss.

May 26, 1838 Two men named Anthony Wall and David Parkinson was suffocated at Stainton² Iron Ore works by the cabbin taking fire and the smook decending down the shaft Wall has left a widow and seven Childer Parkinson has left a widow but no family.

Mar.5, 1840 As William Thompson and James Kendal of Martin were sitting upon a plank at Lindal² Iron Ore works the ground fell in and buried them about 3 yards deep the[y] were dug out immediately but quite dead several others were upon the same place but all escaped unhurt.

Oct.11, 1841 Thos. Lowrey of Dalton Killd at Buttsbeck Iron Ore works by aporshon of the roof coming down upon him two or three more had a narrow escape it was two days and a night before the[y] got him out.

Nov.28, 1848 a boy lost his Life at Orgrave Mill Iron works by his close getting entangled in the Masenery he was drown in and killd instantinely aged 15 years.

Jul. 25, 1850 Thos Dixon of Dalton met with his death under the following sircumstances he was carting Iron Ore from Eliscales to wate Flat and in desinding the steep hill at St. Hellins the stays of one of the horses broke and the animal took fright and diseased in is attempt to stop it was thrown backward on the road and the Cart passed over him nearly severing his hed from his body and killing him instantly he was 51 years of age.

Feb. 18, 1854 Five men blocked up in a Iron Ore Pit at Park near Dalton by the bursting in of a pond of Water three was drowned and two taken out alive but one died the following day.
By the end of the 19th century it is clear that the once peaceful countryside around the town was spoiled and cluttered with unsightly mineworkings, and an intricate web of mineral railway lines for transporting the ore to the Furness Railway² depots. It was not only the countryside which was affected, but the character of the town itself which was changed almost beyond recognition by the upheaval of this last half century.
Next Part: (The Emergence of the Modern Town):- 'The Effects of the Mining Industry on Town Size and the Local Economy'

Harrison, Ainslie & Co.	Lindal Moor, Whitriggs, Gillbrow
Schneider, Hannay & Co.	Park, Mouzell, Whitriggs, Old Hills, Newton.
C. S. Kennedy	Roanhead.
J. Rawlinson.	Crossgates¹, Carr Kettle, Rickett Hills.
H. Kennedy & Co.	Lindal Cote, Eure Pits.
Brogden & Co	Stainton¹, Adgarley, Bolton Heads.
J. & G. Fell	Stainton.
G. B. Ashburner	Elliscales.

March 1827	Thomas Sowerbuts killd at the Iron Ore Pits by the roof of the pit falling in.
Nov. 25, 1828	James Benson of Ireleth & John Brockbank of Dalton wear sufacated by the foul air at Crossgates² Iron Ore pit there was two other in at the same time which escaped with difficulty by accending the shaft in the bucket both the unfortunate men have left widdows and small famileys to bewail there loss.
May 26, 1838	Two men named Anthony Wall and David Parkinson was suffocated at Stainton² Iron Ore works by the cabbin taking fire and the smook decending down the shaft Wall has left a widow and seven Childer Parkinson has left a widow but no family.
Mar.5, 1840	As William Thompson and James Kendal of Martin were sitting upon a plank at Lindal² Iron Ore works the ground fell in and buried them about 3 yards deep the[y] were dug out immediately but quite dead several others were upon the same place but all escaped unhurt.
Oct.11, 1841	Thos. Lowrey of Dalton Killd at Buttsbeck Iron Ore works by aporshon of the roof coming down upon him two or three more had a narrow escape it was two days and a night before the[y] got him out.
Nov.28, 1848	a boy lost his Life at Orgrave Mill Iron works by his close getting entangled in the Masenery he was drown in and killd instantinely aged 15 years.
Jul. 25, 1850	Thos Dixon of Dalton met with his death under the following sircumstances he was carting Iron Ore from Eliscales to wate Flat and in desinding the steep hill at St. Hellins the stays of one of the horses broke and the animal took fright and diseased in is attempt to stop it was thrown backward on the road and the Cart passed over him nearly severing his hed from his body and killing him instantly he was 51 years of age.
Feb. 18, 1854	Five men blocked up in a Iron Ore Pit at Park near Dalton by the bursting in of a pond of Water three was drowned and two taken out alive but one died the following day.