Timeline
1756
Spa water discovered in Moira
The first reference to spa water was in a vicars diary that was found in a field. He describes seeing people drinking water which spurted from a large natural spring. As they drank they walked in a large circle to let the healing waters flow through their body.
Spa water discovered in Moira
The first reference to Spa Water, found in the Ashby Woulds in 1757 and was recorded by a vicars as a diary entry. The water was found in a field situated between Donisthorpe lane, Moira and Acresford, appearing as a large circle similar to a fairy ring. The circle had a radius of 15 yards. One morning he saw people drinking water which spurted from a large natural spring. As they drank they walked around in a circle to let the healing waters flow through their bodies.
Later, around 1804, whilst digging for coal in one of the Moira pits, what seemed to be a large amount of water was seen springing from the strata underground. This particular water was found to be saline and therefore had healing qualities.
1756
1774
Woodville's wooden tollgate burnt down
It was reported in the Derby Telegraph that the wooden tollgate where ‘Box Junction’ lays today was ‘totally burnt to the ground by villains’.
Woodville's wooden tollgate burnt down
It was reported in the Derby Telegraph that the wooden tollgate where ‘Box Junction’ lays today was ‘totally burnt to the ground by villains’. Woodville still remains known as Wooden Box (or just ‘Box’) locally. The name Box can be found in use around the area today such as on the large imposing Box House, the cricket club and numerous businesses.
1787
Oakthorpe Deep Shaft Sunk
Joseph Wilkes sank the first deep shaft at Oakthorpe. Previous to that shallow mining had taken place since the 1600’s and possibly before.
1796
Ashby Canal built
The canal was built from the Moira end, and opened progressively, to take maximum advantage of transporting coal.
Ashby Canal built
The canal was built from the Moira end, and opened progressively, to take maximum advantage of transporting coal. There would have been little return trade. The canal was built to Market Bosworth by 1798 and opened throughout 1804.
1796
Railway decisions made
The decision to consider submitting railways was made, resulting from the Outram report.
1796
Coal exploration carried out at Sweethill Oak
Exploratory bores for coal were carried out at Sweethill Oak by the Earl of Moira but these were unsuccessful being on the east side of what is known as the Boothorpe Fault.
1800
Enclosure of the Woulds
Most land that was originally divided up in the Ashby Would Enclosure Plan which belonged to the Earl of Moira. After the Enclosure of the Woulds extraction of coal, ironstone and clay commenced.
1800
1802
Railway from Ticknall and Cloudhill to the Ashby Canal built
The railway from Ticknall and Cloudhill to the Ashby Canal was built by Benjamin Outram as a cost saving measure.
Railway from Ticknall and Cloudhill to the Ashby Canal built
The railway from Ticknall and Cloudhill to the Ashby Canal was built by Benjamin Outram as a cost saving measure to replace the canal and its many locks originally proposed by the engineer Robert Whitworth. It used the then standard L section plate rails. Lime was carried from Ticknall to the Ashby Canal at Willesley Basin, next to Thought It Pit in Oakthorpe.
1804
Moira double pit opened, also known as Spinney pit
Spinney Pit closed in 1819 once the coal was exhausted
1804
Ashby Canal opened
Ashby Canal opened throughout. It ran from Wadlands Wharf, Spring Cottage, and Overseal to the Coventry Canal at Marston Jabbet near Bedworth.
Ashby Canal opened
Ashby Canal opened throughout. It ran from Wadlands Wharf, Spring Cottage, and Overseal to the Coventry Canal at Marston Jabbet near Bedworth. It was built primarily to transport coal from the local coalfields. Although enjoying some success it never really fulfilled the expectation of the promoters or shareholders.
1804
Construction started on the Moira Blast Furnace
The original name was Warren Hill Furnace as indicated on an old map that pre-dates the OS era.
1805
Moira Spa opened
It was decided by the Marquis of Hastings, the owner of the land and mineral rights, to try to exploit this asset and according to a report by Edward Mammet, the Marquis’s Agent, they tried to extract Alkali and common salt, but failed.
Moira Spa opened
It was decided by the Marquis of Hastings, the owner of the land and mineral rights, to try to exploit this asset and according to a report by Edward Mammet, the Marquis’s Agent, they tried to extract Alkali and common salt, but failed.
They decided it might be desirable to apply the water for medicinal purposes. They apparently erected a bath on a small scale for the local people in the surrounding area to use as an experiment. The baths were popular and word had obviously spread for this to be a viable scheme. At this time Marquis was in considerable debt so he must have been either foolhardy or sure the plan would succeed.
1811
Stone Rows built
These homes were distinctive because they did not have front doors. Entrance to the houses was through a passage about halfway along the row and were built for the pit workers.
Stone Rows built
The Earl of Moira launched a programme of house building. Stone Rows was a double terrace of thirty-eight houses. Each had a parlour, kitchen, large front room, coal house and gardens. They were probably the finest colliery houses built at this time on any coalfield. These homes were distinctive because they did not have front doors. Entrance to the houses was through a passage about halfway along the row and were built for the pit workers. Several other housing developments were provided across the area including Overseal and Bath Yard.
1811
Furnace explosion leads to its closure
1813
Bath Pit sunk
1813
Earl of Moira
The Earl of Moira invested heavily in the area and built limeworks, dug claypits and set up kilns to fire pottery, pipes, tiles and bricks.
Earl of Moira
Joseph Wilkes, a local land owner who transformed Ashby Woulds, inspired the Earl of Moira, who also owned land in the area, to explore for coal. At first the Earl was unsuccessful, and was even stopped by saboteurs blocking one of his trial shafts with iron bars. In 1804 he struck the main seam at Spinney Pit, 600 feet below the surface. Coal was brought to the surface by a steam engine and the new pit was linked to a wharf on the new canal by a short railway for horse drawn wagons.
He also built Moira iron furnace at a reputed cost of £30,000. In 1806 he sunk his second pit, Furnace Pit. The iron works closed in 1807 having produced only a small amount of iron, due to low quality of the local ironstone. However his coal mining was a success at Bath Pit, Rawdon and Marquis collieries.
The Earl died off the coast of Naples in 1826. The village of Moira is named after his title, taken from his family’s estate in Moira, Ireland.
1815
Moira Furnace operated as a foundry
1816
Moira pit sunk
Moira pit sunk
In 1842 Moira Bath pit stated that there were no apprentices and no females employed in the mine. They did employ around 20 boys some as young as 7 or 8. Any children under 10 were brought down the pit by their father or other relatives. The youngest boys were employed to open doors, sweep the rails and run errands for the men.
Boys of 10 and 11 were trusted to guide the horses who were pulling the wagons. Boys older than 13 were allowed to load the wagons. Their day commenced at 6am and ended at 7pm when they had sent off all the coal that the miners had dug up.
1816
Marquis Pit sunk
Marquis Pit sunk
Courtesy of South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
Photo provided by the South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
1821
George Hallam Ashby Woulds Pot Works
1821
Rawdon Pit sunk
Rawdon Pit sunk
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
1827
Swadlincote railway line opened
The line used the modern edge rails, but this made it incompatible with the earlier Outram plateways.
1839
Newfield Colliery started production
1841
Plans lodged with Parliament for an Ashby Canal connection from Wadlands Wharf to Burton, but it was not pursued.
1844
The Moira Furnace and foundry finally ceased production and was abandoned
1846
Ashby Canal taken over by the Midland Railway
The canal was taken over by Midland Railway in 1846 with the expectation that the route would be converted to a railway. However the Ashby canal survived and the Ashby and Nuneaton Joint railway was built on a parallel route in 1873.
Ashby Canal taken over by the Midland Railway
The canal suffered from the effects of mining subsidence for many years, resulting in successive closures of the top 8 miles from Moira to Snarestone. The Moira stretch closed in 1944, the canal finally being abandoned from Snarestone in 1966.
1849
Leicester to Burton Railway including Moira Railway opened
On completion of this line, all the collieries except Oakthorpe and Measham were conected with the railway by private sidings.
1850
Moira Furnace began to be used for residential purposes
By 1861 there were 9 families including 65 individuals.
1851
Reservoir Colliery was sunk, also known as Cut End Pit
When the minerals at the old Bath Pit were nearly exhausted, Resevoir pit was sunk on another part of the estate, about 1 mile from Bath pit.
Reservoir Colliery was sunk, also known as Cut End Pit
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
1854
Bath Pit closed
1864
T G Green pottery
Whilst on his honeymoon in Scarborough, Thomas Goodwin Green met Henry Wileman and as a result of that meeting became the manager of what was then known as Bath Pottery, the name was changed to T G Green and Co Ltd following the death of Henry Wileman.
1868
Ashby Woulds
112,000 tons of coal for the earthenware industry
1870
Measham Ware
Traditionally associated with the canals and narrow boats, was produced until around 1914.
Measham Ware
Traditionally associated with the canals and narrow boats Measham Ware was produced until around 1914. It was not actually produced in Measham, but in nearby villages: primarily Church Gresley. Measham Ware is thought to have acquired its name as it was primarily sold by Mrs Anne Bonas, from her shop on High Street, Measham.
1871
5 families living in the Furnace
In 1861 there were 9 families (65 individuals) and by 1871 this was reduced to 5 families (34 individuals)
1871
Donisthorpe Pit was sunk
Sinking commenced on 1st March 1871 by father and son G. Checkland and G.E. Checkland. There were 2 shafts. Number 1 shaft-the downcast. Number 2 shaft-the upcast.
Donisthorpe Pit was sunk
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
Photo provided by South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
1873
Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway opened, from Overseal to Nuneaton
1883
Bretby Art Pottery
Bretby Art Pottery (Tooth & Co). A once thriving art pottery company opened by Henry Tooth in 1883 and later purchased by Frederick Parker a Manager of nearby T.G.Green pottery.
Bretby Art Pottery
Bretby Art Pottery (Tooth & Co). A once thriving art pottery company opened by Henry Tooth in 1883 and later purchased by Frederick Parker a Manager of nearby T.G.Green pottery. Bretby pottery closed in 1998 but the original Art Nouveau showroom still exists and is owned by The Heritage Trust for renovation. Sadly the 3 bottle kilns have been lost and there is now a modern housing estate surrounding the site.
1897
Robinson & Dowlers was established in Overseal
1900s
1907
Accident at Rawdon Pit
On 18th November there was an accident at Rawdon Pit involving the cage that carried miners down the shaft resulting in the loss of 1 miner’s life and injuries to 15 others.
Accident at Rawdon Pit
Leicestershire, 18th November, 1907. Report number Cd. 3979. 1 dead & 15 Injured.
‘Rawdon Colliery, Moira, Leicestershire, where on the 18th of November, through the racing of the winding engine, a cage containing sixteen men was over-run and dashed into the sump of the pit, injuring all the occupants, one of whom later succumbed to his injuries.
The Rawdon Colliery over-winding accident was due to the engineman, Smith, probably in a moment of mental aberration, over-running his engine and so causing the overwind.’
1911
The Red House opened
Moira and Donisthorpe Institute known as The Red House opened 29th July.
The Red House opened
Mr John Turner bult an institute at Moira and presented it for the use of Moira and Donisthorpe men.
It included caretaker quarters, gardens, lawns, tennis courts and a library and was managed by a committee who provided recreation and literature for its members.
1916
Ashby Woulds and Overseal bombed by Zeppelin
The Zeppelin was aiming to bomb the Pipe works by following the railway line and missed its intended target.
Ashby Woulds and Overseal bombed by Zeppelin
On 31st January/1st February 1916 several Zeppelins invaded the midlands.
Zeppelin L14 appeared over the east coast at 18.15,he flew west, further inland than any other Zeppelin that night, getting as far as Shrewsbury at 22.05. It then encountered thick cloud he turned back east when he was attracted by the light at Moira Furnace.
It released a bomb and incendiary device at 23.50, both landed on a cinder heap causing no damage. 4 further bombs were dropped at Overseal at midnight, 3 fell in a field and 1 in the canal. 3 bombs fell on Swadlincote where several windows were smashed.
L14 then dropped 21 bombs and 4 incendiary devices on Derby. 9 dropped on the Midland Railway works, 3 on Metalite Lamp Works. 2 on Rolls Royce, 2 on Litchurch Gas Works, 3 on Fletchers Lace factory, 4 on Horton Street and 2 on vacant land.
L14 headed east and left via the Lincolnshire coast at 02.10.
1922
Earthenware jam jars
On August 16th a partnership between Paul Mead Webster and Charles Barrett formed to engage in the manufacture of earthenware jam jars.
Earthenware jam jars
Moira pottery site was chosen as it was close to a plentiful supply of clay (the main raw material) and coal to fire the kilns.
The first customers were the Co-op in Reading and Robertson Preserves near Manchester. In 1923 Hartleys preserves ordered 288,000 7lb jam jars.
The discovery of large clay deposits on the company’s own land turned it from a purchaser of raw material to a supplier to others.
During WW11 production was concentrated on food storage jars, rum jars for the admiralty and drinking mugs for the army.
Over the next 3 years 200 staff, mainly women were employed.
1923
Moira Pottery Company started trading
On April 17th Moira Pottery Company commenced trading operations.
Moira Pottery Company started trading
The first two customers were Reading Co-operative Society where Paul Webster’s father was the manager who placed the first order for 500 2lb stoneware jars. Then in August that year Hartley’s Limited placed an order for 288,000 7lb jars. Locally Moira Pottery unsurprisingly became known as ‘Jampot’
1927
Moira Pottery fire
On October 30 a major fire broke out at Moira Pottery and production ceased for 4 months.
Moira Pottery fire
in the early hours of the morning on 31st October 1927, a fire broke out at the Moira Pottery jam jar factory. The fire was discovered by the night watchman, there were several men on the site tending to the gas ovens at the time.
The gas supply was turned off and the site hose reel was employed. The fire brigade was telephoned and the farmer who lived next door also used his motor cycle to ride to Swadlincote to alert the fire brigade.
Engines from Ashby, Swadlincote and Burton attended the blaze and reported it at the time as being ‘a raging furnace’. The heat was so fierce that it badly warped the large chimney. The fire became under control when the roof collapsed, the fire brigade stood down at 9am. The top storey of the building was completely gutted causing damage to the value of several thousand pounds. The floor between the upper and lower floors was made of concrete which saved a large amount of valuable machinery on the lower floor.
1929
Maurice Lea Memorial park
The site of where Maurice Lea Memorial park now stands was once a deep clay extraction hole and coal picking area.
Maurice Lea Memorial park
Men picking coal off the ground on the site of what is now Maurice Lea Memorial park.
Maurice Lea Memorial park
The site of where this park now stands was once a deep clay extraction hole and coal picking area. In 1929 the park was opened by Mr Herbert Lea who had financed the memorial to his son Lieutenant Maurice Bertram Lea who had been killed in action during WWI. The park has been awarded Green Flag status every year since 2014.
1930
Sanitary Ware
Moira Pottery ventured into sanitary ware but abandoned it due to too many difficulties.
Sanitary Ware
The 1930s brought a growth in the use of glass for containers and with it a drop in demand for stoneware jars.
Moira pottery experimented unsuccessfully in sanitary ware. A switch to decorated garden ware proved the companies saviour.
Plant pots, vases and bulb bowls were marketed under the trade names of Vitryware and Hillstonic.
1932
Ashby Canal bursts bank at Moira
1942
Donisthorpe was bombed
The bombs dropped on August Bank Holiday Monday. The plane approached from Acresford direction. The first bomb dropped in the Cunnery and the next on Seals Road. One or two bombs also fell on the colliery but as it was a bank holiday there was limited workforce. One man was killed on Seals Road.
In 1995 when workmen cleared the old colliery site ready for new building work they discovered an unexploded bomb. The bomb was detonated by the bomb disposal squad
1944
Moira canal abandoned
In 1944, the Moira collieries having ceased for many years to carry by canal, the top three miles of canal from Moira to Donisthorpe were abandoned, and a further section from Donisthorpe to Measham was closed in 1957. (from Ashby-de-la-Zouch canal and its railways Avon-Anglia publications 1978)
1946
Nationalisation of the mines
The NCB was the statutary corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdam. It officially took over all the collieries on 1st January 1947
1957
Ashby Canal abandoned from Donisthorpe to llott Wharf
1964
Moira Railway station closed
The line was built for Midland Railway and was opened in 1849.
Moira Railway station closed
In the 1990s British Rail planned to restore passenger services to the line as the second phase of its Ivanhoe Project. After privatisation of British Rail in 1995 this phase of the project was discontinued.
1965
Withdrawal of passenger trains
1967
Granville Pit closes
1968
Church Gresley Pit closes
1984
Miners Strike
The strike lasted from 1st March 1984 until 5th March 1985 and was the longest national dispute in British industrial history
Miners Strike
In the 12 months prior to the miners strike, the NCB had closed 23 pits with 21,000 jobs being lost. It was estimated that 100,000 jobs would be lost by 1988.
The catalyst for the strike came on 1st March 1984 when the NCB announced that Cortonwood colliery in Yorkshire was to close. The workforce of Cortonwood had previously been assured that the pit was safe from closure for a further 5 years.
Within days most of the country’s coal fields were idle, shut down by picketing miners from the most threatened pits.
More than half the UKs miners stayed out on strike from 15th March 1984 until 3rd March 1985.The miners who continued to work were ferried to and from work in ‘armoured’ buses.
On 5th March 1985 the strike was over and thousands of men marched back to the pits. This was the longest national dfispute in British industrial history.
1986
Budge bought Moira Pottery
The diverse operations of the Budge group of companies included open cast mining, civil engineering and plant hire.
Budge bought Moira Pottery
Budge Ltd was one of the largest contractors to the British coal open cast executive and an acknowledged leader in multi-seaming mining operations, land reclamation and the recovery of coal from colliery waste heaps.
1989
New Moira Pottery factory built
The factory was built at a cost of 2.5 million pounds and covering 50,000 square feet and was equipped with the most up-to-date facilities making it the most modern in Europe.
New Moira Pottery factory built
The building was opened by the Housing and Planning minister, Michael Spicer. It was capable of producing 4 million pieces a year employing 55 full time operatives.
The company also ran a spacious factory shop on site selling a vast range of products
1989
Rawdon Pit closed
Rawdon pit was sunk in 1821 and became one of 5 collieries in Moira owned by the Earl of Moira.
Rawdon Pit closed
Rawdon pit was troublesome for many years and operations stopped in 1844. The shaft was deepened in 1868 to reach the Stanhope seam and Rawdon reopened in 1874. Difficulties continued throughout the 18th century with ‘gob’ fires, flooding and strata problems. The long strike of 1893 was followed by the death of the then owner. The Moira Colliery Company Limited was formed on 1st October 1895. A programme of improvement was started for all the companies collieries which included Rawdon to ensure a more sustainable pit. Rawdon eventually closed in 1989
1990
Donisthorpe Pit closed
The pit officially closed at noon on Thursday 12th April 1990.
Donisthorpe Pit closed
In 1951 Donisthorpe was named ‘Britain’s Best Pit’ as it broke national records for coal production. By the mid 1960s the colliery’s output had reached over one million tons per year.
In 1990, despite miners’ protests that its seems had enough coal to last decades, they were told to work their last shifts underground. The pit winding gear was taken down on 7th March 1990. It was the end of 133 years of mining.
During the 1990s cheaper imports of coal from Russia and Poland created further pit closures. Pit closures continued into the 2000s.
Pit ponies were still being used until the 1960s. They lived entirely underground with their stables being 600 feet underground. Each year they enjoyed two weeks holiday at nearby Barrett Mill farm where they retired at the end of their working lives.
1990
National Forest first tree planted at Moira
1992
Moira Pottery closed for buisness
Moira pottery continued its decline throughout the 1980s until it was eventually sold.
The new owners demolished the pottery after excavating the site for its minerals and built a new pottery.
The new pottery opened in June 1990 but only survived for 2 years before finally closing for good.
1995
Albert Village lake opened
The lake is the site of a disused clay pit. there are now a wide range of birds and insects.
Albert Village lake opened
Albert Village grew in the 1870s, people came to dig clay and work in the kilnyards at Swadlincote. The name came from Albert Brick and Tile works, and before this the area was called Mushroom Lane. Albert Village was given the nick name of ‘Borra Nock’ from the local custom of knocking on a neighbour’s door to borrow anything they needed.
The clay in south Derbyshire was amongst the finest in the country and it is said that this small area produced more clay goods than the entire Staffordshire Potteries.
By the 1970s the clay industry had declined. The villages of ashby Woulds made up 75% of the derelict land in Leicestershire. Since 1990 the landscape has been transformed into an area attracting many varieties of wildlife.
1995
National Forest Company formed
2000
Ashby Canal re-watered from Bath Yard Basin to Donisthorpe
The restored length of canal between Moira and Donisthorpe was re-watered in 2000, as part of an overall scheme to reinstate the Ashby canal to it’s terminus at Snarestone.
Ashby Canal re-watered from Bath Yard Basin to Donisthorpe
Before the railway was constructed the Ashby Canal carried coal to the south. It was constructed in 1804, due to mining subsidence it closed in the 1940s.
Between 1999 and 2005, partnership projects saw the canal opened from Bath Yard Basin to Donisthorpe.
Water from the canal is extracted from a bore hole within the park and is then passed through a gravel and natural reed bed filtration system to maintain the desired water level.
The canal is now a haven for wildlife and is home to many waterfowl.
2001
First lock built on the Ashby Canal at Shortheath Road, Moira
2007
T G Green & Co Ltd closes
T.G. Green & Co LTD operated in Church Gresley from 1864 until June 2007.
T G Green & Co Ltd closes
At its peak T. G. Green & Co employed 1000 local people, making pottery for the domestic and international market. Its famous Cornish Ware stripes can be seen in kitchens around the world and on numerous films and television programmes. Although what remains of the old factory site is on private land and not accessible, a dedicated archive has opened in Church Gresley.
2007
Moira Pottery Company dissolved
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