SOUTH PENNINE ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP (SPAG)
THE end of the latest lockdown encouraged our members to enjoy two events in the last week of May.
Firstly, on a cold and wet Wednesday afternoon we were given access to both the interior of and the extensive graveyard at Goodshaw Chapel. Erected in 1760 by Baptists using local materials and with limited funds, the interior has been carefully refurbished by English Heritage.
The pulpit is built centrally on the wall because ‘The Word of God is the central focus of the service’ whilst the box-pews are believed to have been carried over the moors from an earlier chapel at Lumb. This would also have been the route that the Larks of Dean (an old established group of singers) used on a regular basis as they walked to worship in their new chapel. The graveyard is still used and offers a superb view of Cribden and Hameldon Hill.
On a warm, dry Saturday, 14 members assembled at Crawshawbooth for an interesting and informative walk around the Folly Clough area of Crawshawbooth. Packed with industrial heritage in a small area, the sites of two mills were viewed including Hawthorn Mill where, in 1855 a boiler exploded, killing six people.
Folly Clough was a local beauty spot (despite the mills!) which nature has pretty much reclaimed.
Traversing the stream we climbed the Southern bank to reach the site of the tramway which brought coal from both Swinshaw and Gambleside Collieries to Crawshawbooth, using an endless chain and gravity system. The rails have long since been removed but other remains make for some conjecture, although an interesting debate with no definite conclusion was reached about one of them!
Following the route down the hill past Folly Terrace, we soon found the cutting running down to the coal staithe where old pictures again helped explain how it was laid out.
Horse and cart were then used for the final leg of the journey to the mills, the major customer being Sunnyside Print Works.