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SALFORD AGECROFT COLLIERY TO BE CELEBRATED
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Star date: 21st July 2013 NEW MEMORIAL AT AGECROFT TO BE UNVEILED Saturday 27th July 12-2pm
Agecroft Road Ex miners and their families will be unveiling a new Agecroft Colliery memorial next Saturday afternoon, with the whole community invited to attend. Agecroft, opened in 1844, shut in 1990 and demolished in 1992, was Salford's last pit and the monument will include a small flower garden, an engraved stone and tiles made by children from St Augustine's Primary School. Besses Brass band will play at the ceremony. Further details here…
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For almost 150 years Agecroft Colliery stood as a landmark and powerhouse of Salford's contribution to the Industrial Revolution. Now there's nothing there, apart from a new industrial estate and a few well hidden caps for the old shafts. About a year ago, the Irwell Valley Mining Project, with involvement of ex Agecroft miners and the local community, decided that there should be a monument to the colliery, both to remember the workers who gave their lives toiling underground, and to mark the industrial heritage site which once supplied coal for the mills, docks and homes of the city. Next Saturday the monument on Agecroft Road will finally be unveiled by ex-miners and their families. Constructed by students from Salford City College and with decorative tiles made by children from St Augustine's Primary School, the monument will also include a small flower garden sponsored by North West TUC, which will be planted on the day by the children of ex miners and local young people. "This is a memorial to the coal miners of Salford and the Irwell Valley which is long overdue" says Paul Kelly, an ex Agecroft worker and co-founder of the Irwell Valley Mining Project "It's just recognition for the great contribution and toil of the miners who gave us the standard of living we have today, and it is fitting that the memorial will be unveiled by former miners from the colliery." Alice Searle, from the Irwell Valley Mining Project, adds: "The unveiling of the monument to the Agecroft Colliery is an important historical occasion. It is an acknowledgment of the importance of coal in the industrial development of Salford and even in the greatness of the nation. It reminds us of the efforts made and the dangers faced by the men, and previously women and children too, who worked far, far down in the earth, away from the sunshine and the greenery we all enjoy. This monument is a small legacy of appreciation from ex miners and working people of Salford." The monument is just one part of the wider Irwell Valley Mining Project, which has been supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. From September 7th there's also going to be an exhibition at St Augustine's Church featuring artefacts, photos and memories from Agecroft Colliery, and titled The Last Pit In The Valley. Celebrating Agecroft Colliery
Saturday 27th July 12-2pm
Agecroft Road, near the original entrance to the colliery.
The ceremony will be accompanied by Besses Brass Band.
Everyone is welcome to attend. * Contributors from the Salford Star have been involved in the Irwell Valley Mining Project, and we are proud to support this project.
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John Rogers wrote
at 16:02:05 on 24 June 2015 |
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| does anyone remember my grandfather Fred Rogers or my Dad Peter Rogers both worked at the agecroft colliery
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elaine newcombe wrote
at 07:40:44 on 24 March 2014 |
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| My. Dad jimmy newcombe worked at agecroft he passed away 1988 he was 52, i will be attending the memorial next month |
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Alex Channon wrote
at 07:20:44 on 06 February 2014 |
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| Hi All, we're doing a similar thing on Saturday 26th April. We're having a Dedication of the Memorial Garden which has been created at the site of the Memorial Stone. There will be a few short speeches and the North Ashton Prize Band which consists of several ex-miners will be performing for us. The event takes place on at 12 noon on Saturday 26th April and all are invited. Later the same day we will be having a reunion at Swinton Royal British Legion for all former Agecroft workers and their families and friends. |
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Pam Smith wrote
at 06:01:00 on 13 November 2013 |
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| I'm sorry I missed this, my dad Andy Smoith worked at Agecroft from the late 40's until he died at Christmas 1973. He was a collier for many years, then worked on the surface after he had a heart attack aged only 40. He was only 49 when he died. I've always been very proud of my Dad's job.
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Sue Taylor wrote
at 19:28:44 on 03 August 2013 |
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| My grandfather, James (Jim) Tristram worked at Agecroft in the 60's. I live in America now, but next time I am home, I will make a point of visiting. Thank you for doing this memorial, it will be an honour to come by and remember. We lived in the flats in Salford. My grandfather died of TB in 1970. I can't wait to bring my son's. Thanks again. |
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David Meehan wrote
at 12:46:41 on 31 July 2013 |
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| Hope all went well. I was one of the last apprentices at Agecroft stating in 87 then moving to Parsonage in 1990 when it closed. Couldn't make it on Saturday as I was away but remember some of the names on here. I remember Alex Channon teaching me some rather rude sign language in the loco sheds at pit bottom haha. I was 18 then... I am 42 now. Oh dear.... Well done IVMP.... Wonder what Albert Square looks like now!! |
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james lord ex num branch sec agecroft wrote
at 09:51:30 on 28 July 2013 |
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| THE AGECROFT MEMORIAL CEREMONY HELD ON SAT.27th JULY WAS FANTASTIC.AGAIN I WOULD LIKE ON BEHALF OF THE EX MINERS OF AGECROFT TO THANK PAUL KELLY AND HIS TEAM FOR THEIR ORGANISATION AND PERSISTANCE
IN FINALLY GETTING THE MEMORIAL ERECTED.
IT WAS WONDERFUL TO MEET UP WITH MY OLD WORKMATES WHO WERE ALL PROUD OF THE MEMORIAL.
JAMES LORD EX MINER AND N.U.M. SEC. |
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Terry Alberts wrote
at 18:54:39 on 25 July 2013 |
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| Looking forward to meeting some of the great ex workmates I spent most of my working life with. 27 years man and boy and don't regret a day. |
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Peter Bradshaw wrote
at 13:22:00 on 25 July 2013 |
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| Well done maFantastic project. Everytime I go past Agecroft I think there should be some sort of monument to the miners who worked and died there.
I will be there on Saturday and hope to meet up with some old colleagues. |
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John Connor (chunk) wrote
at 11:20:29 on 25 July 2013 |
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| I've just heard of this brilliant event and so sorry that I won't be able to be there because I won't be back from a long holiday until the first of August. I spent the best tears of my life at Agecroft from 62 87 - 25 great years and the friends I made there are still a big part of my life. I hope you all have a wonderful day - and if there's a bar on, somebody buy me a drink. Chunky |
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Alex Channon wrote
at 11:19:35 on 25 July 2013 |
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| Hello Alice Searle. No need to feel sensitive about Saturday and you've every right to feel proud of your involvement with the IVMP and the Agecroft Memorial. I for one am very grateful for the efforts of yourself, Paul Kelly and others at the IVMP. I remember at the time of the pit closure that people were saying something ought to be done on the site to acknowledge Agecroft Colliery's contribution to Salford and the wider mining community. I suppose many like myself just sat back and hoped somebody else would do something. Well you've done something and I'm sure many other ex-miners like myself will say "well done lass" and thank you for everything. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday and the unveiling of the Memorial. |
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Alice Searle wrote
at 23:00:18 on 24 July 2013 |
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| I am feeling a bit sensitive about Sat., especially as there will be many ex miners at the unveiling. I will be MC of the event and someone may say, ' What has she got to do with mining and Salford?' True I was never a miner and wasn't even born in Salford. But I enjoyed the benefits of coal and appreciate the effort and the dangers faced by miners on my behalf. I am a writer and a retired teacher, interested in local history. My role, therefore, has been to assist others with more knowledge about coal, get this project going and brought to fruition. I am proud of my involvement and in my association with the Irwell Valley Mining Project. So please don't 'have a go' at me on Sat. Alice |
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James wrote
at 06:36:51 on 24 July 2013 |
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| My dad it's 90 he worked at another Salford pit called Wheatsheaf then went to work at Barton power station, I will take him to this event atbAgecroft what a great idea |
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Alex Channon wrote
at 06:36:47 on 24 July 2013 |
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| Hope Angela Walker accepts the invitation from the Irwell Valley Mining Project. Perhaps an opportunity on Saturday for someone from the IVMP to collect contact details from ex-miners and their families for future occasions. I'm sure there must be others like me who would like some involvement.
I'm getting a bit giddy about this Saturday. I've dug out some of my old pit clothes and a cap lamp I bought from the National Mining Museum. I'm thinking of wearing them on Saturday.
Wonderful that the IVMP have got children from St Augustine's Primary School involved. The school church is also known as the Miners Cathedral, partly because Swinton was largely built on coal and more specifically because many of the men and boys who perished in the Clifton Hall Colliery disaster are buried in St Augustine's Church Yard, there is also a memorial stone in the church yard.
Hoping people reading this thread will contact anybody they know from Agecroft Colliery and make them aware of Saturday's unveiling of THE AGECROFT MEMORIAL. |
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Tony haslam wrote
at 17:06:25 on 23 July 2013 |
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| I was the Colliery Safety Engineer from 1978 to 1990 and have many fond memories of the pit. The most striking feature was the coal seams which were inclined to 1 in 1.7 similar to your stairs at home. There was also a water problem which had been contained and controlled very efficiently. I witnessed the involvement of two fatalities one being to a 19 year old man. It was a cosmopolitan colliery with men being employed from other local collieries which had closed. During my period there we had four different Managers. There is millions of pounds worth of machinery both electrical and mechanical left down there. I look forward to Saturday and hope to see some of the men who worked there when I did. |
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Alex Channon wrote
at 23:14:38 on 22 July 2013 |
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| I knew Ken Chandler from my time at Agecroft, he was a gentleman. Everyone is invited and I've been ringing round lots of old pit mates to tell them about this Saturday. My thanks go to Paul Kelly and everybody else who has been involved in this project.
I'm excited at the prospect of a good turn out from ex-Agecroft lads and anybody else who wants to come.
Kind regards to all
Alex Channon |
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Geoff Kirkham wrote
at 23:14:33 on 22 July 2013 |
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| I remember your Dad Ken very well, I worked with him some of the 26 years & 5 weeks I worked at Agecroft (1964 - 19900. Will be there on Saturday, hope to see some of my old pals. |
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ANDREW ARNOTT wrote
at 20:05:55 on 22 July 2013 |
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| I was a miner at Agecroft from 1964 until 1975(although latterly working on the surface due to injury underground).Having recently been re-acquainted with Paul Kelly and his dad Ivor( worked with Ivor all those years ago) and will travel down from Scotland where I have lived for the past 38 years.I think this is a wonderful gesture and will mark the passing of coal mining in the area for the benefit of future generations. |
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Fan of M Felse (AKA Mr Bandwagon) wrote
at 20:05:35 on 22 July 2013 |
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| Michael just waiting for you to claim you are the father of the royal baby. Go on put the icing on the cake, give us a laugh. |
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Michael Felse wrote
at 15:13:14 on 22 July 2013 |
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| I was a coal miner in South Yorkshire and I welcome this tribute. I would like our Mayor to pledge that when the Dock Cranes are finally removed they will become crafted into a Memorial Statue to honor the Salford hard working families that lived and built the Salford Dock-Land community. |
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Irwell Valley Mining Project wrote
at 13:22:54 on 22 July 2013 |
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| Angela - the IVMP has been trying to track down ex Agecroft miners and their families to be involved in the project. You are definitely invited and we would be honoured if you or your mother would help unveil the monument along with other ex miners and their families! |
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Angela walker wrote
at 13:19:11 on 22 July 2013 |
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| My dad was a bevan boy and was called up during the war, he was a miner for over 40 years, he retired from Agecroft as an overman and worked at Agecroft for many years his name was Ken Chandler sadly he died in 2003 however my mum is still alive and she is 84 years old it would have been appreciated if we had been invited to this as we think it is a wonderful idea. |
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