AGECROFT COLLIERY PROJECT GETS LOTTERY BACKING - Salford Star

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AGECROFT COLLIERY PROJECT GETS LOTTERY BACKING

Star date: 25th November 2012

AGECROFT MINERS' MEMORIES TO BE PRESERVED

The Irwell Valley Mining Project has just won a Heritage Lottery grant to preserve memories of the Agecroft Colliery. The site of the former pit, now Agecroft Business Park, has no sign or anything to remind future generations of what was once there. The Heritage grant will hopefully remedy this and anyone with any connections to the pit is urged to get involved…

Full details here…

click image to enlarge

"Many children do not know what coal is. In fact, some have never seen it!"

Agecroft Colliery and the adjacent Agecroft Power Station used to dominate the landscape of Pendleton and Lower Kersal. Now there's nothing but a prison and Agecroft Business Park. It's like this huge part of Salford's history never happened.

The Irwell Valley Mining Project aims to put this right, with long term plans for a monument, a sign and a permanent online archive. In the meantime, the Project is collecting memories and photos from former miners and their families in an effort to keep this valuable piece of the city's heritage alive.

The Project has also just won a Heritage Lottery Funded `All Our Stories' grant of just under £10,000 to tell the story of Salford's mining past. Pupils from St Augustine's Primary School will trace the mining history of the area and be involved in the creation of a memorial garden on the site of the old pit. There will also be an exhibition of photos and mining equipment from Agecroft, a website and a DVD.

"It's great that we have been awarded this grant" says Paul Kelly ex-Agecroft miner and Chair of the Irwell Valley Mining Project "Many children do not know what coal is. In fact, some have never seen it! This is surprising when one remembers that coal was the foundation of our industrial greatness and once the source of warmth in our homes. There is nothing in Salford left to remind us of this history and this project hopes to right this omission."

`All our Stories' is a national programme launched by historian Michael Wood to get everyone involved in their heritage, and the Agecroft project is one of the first in the country to receive such a Heritage grant.

"Clearly the success of `All our Stories' has reinforced the fact that we are indeed a nation of storytellers, and we want to explore and dig deeper into our past and discover more about what really matters to us" says Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery North West "This is exactly what the grant will do for the Irwell Valley Mining Project as it embarks on a real journey of discovery."

The Project leaders are keen to hear from ex-miners and their families. If anyone has any great memories, photos or just wants to be involved, just contact Paul Kelly on 07887 903616.

You can also email us any scans of interesting artefacts or photos and we'll pass them on info@salfordstar.com

JAMES LORD wrote
at 15:22:05 on 27 July 2013

I WORKED ON THE COAL FACE AT AGRCROFT AND LATER BECAME THE NUM BRANCH SEC, FOR 15 YEARS I HAVE MANY HAPPY AND SAD MEMORIES OF AGECROFT AND THE MEMORIAL IS A FITTING TRIBUTE TO THE EX MINERS WHO WORKED THERE

Salford Star wrote
at 07:19:19 on 01 July 2013

See Alex's comment below...Nice one Alex. The monument is going to be officially opened on Saturday July 27th between 12 and 2pm, and we're going to be doing a huge feature on it nearer the time. The Project is eager for everyone, partic those with memories of Agecroft, to get involved. If you drop us an email info@salfordstar.com we'll pass it on to the Project organisers - they'd be delighted!

Alex Channon wrote
at 07:13:19 on 01 July 2013

Just heard about the Irwell Valley Mining Project after seeing the very nice raised memorial garden which isn't fully completed yet. My congratulations to all involved for keeping the memory alive of Agecroft Colliery and all mining folk. I was a fitter at Agecroft from 1965 until 1990. I would like to get involved in some small way if possible. A few years ago I attended a very nice service at St Augustine's church. The Y6 children were a credit to the school and I was please to lend the school some of my mining stuff.

vanessa wrote
at 11:25:58 on 05 May 2013

I'm working on a project documenting the men who returned to work during the '84-'85 strike. If you worked at Agecroft colliery or down another pit and would like to share your account please get in touch and visit my website. http://www.othersideoftheline.co.uk/ Maybe you were a miners wife and remember seeing your husband off to work that first day back. These memories are as important to the history of the strike as any other documented so far. I believe they should be recorded and shared.

Michael Snape wrote
at 16:59:08 on 02 April 2013

I served as an electrical apprentice at Agecroft, 1960 to 1965. My father Joe Snape, was an underground Engineer there and my uncle Andrew Mooney, was the Safety Officer in the 60s and 70s. If I can help in any please let me know.

Brian F Kirkham wrote
at 12:29:08 on 01 March 2013

I wander if anyone on this board remembers the Lancashire Mining Museum - Once Located in Buile Hill Park? - Mothballed and now awaiting its fate at speculators grubby hands. If so, would there be a chance any of the artefacts and other contents of this place being transferred to the new site?

Anthony haslam wrote
at 06:34:30 on 01 March 2013

I was the colliery safety engineer from 1978 to 1990 and I would be more than happy to get holed with this project. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Alice Searle wrote
at 07:19:33 on 30 November 2012

THANKs LEE for the congratulations. As you may know it is not easy to get a lottery grant and takes real perseverance with the application. We are a dedicated group of individuals determined to get the history of Salford recognised and for our children to learn about their heritage. If it is not done by the Council there are ways in which it can be achieved and this is where a strong community with enthusiasm can be successful. We maybe concentrating on Agecroft now but the Project is called 'the Irwell Valley Mining Project' so we will continue to explore and record 'all the sories' of mining. If you have an interest do join this group. We only want serious folk willing to give time and support. Contact Paul or SS to give your name and we will come back to you.

Merv wrote
at 09:59:04 on 27 November 2012

True , White . Their gross ineptitude and mismanagement of this Dead City is indeed Salford wide ! 35 years to turn a Dump City into a Dead City , whilst robbing us all through the obscenity of clowncil tax to fund their Muppet Capers , and stuff their fat , greedy faces at our expense .

White wrote
at 20:40:08 on 26 November 2012

Oi Merv! Stop associating them with Swinton. They are as much your cretins as our’s.

Merv wrote
at 18:18:10 on 26 November 2012

I sincerely hope the Swinetown Cretins have no access to this funding , as it will swiftly disappear into the same financial black hole our tax money is squandered into .

White wrote
at 12:40:27 on 26 November 2012

There are other coal mines in the area which disappeared ‘without trace’ in the 60’s, namely Wheatsheaf, Newtown and Sandhole. What is not generally known is that many areas of present day Salford, Pendlebury, Clifton, Walkden, Little Hulton, were once thriving mining settlements. And how many in ‘old Salford’ remember that there was Pendleton Colliery on Whit Lane

Lee Craven MBE wrote
at 12:40:21 on 26 November 2012

Great News for Salford, preserving the history of Agecroft and memories of the mining days, a piece of great Salford history that's not been lost, " Congratulations on your Lottery Grant"

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