Mining Industry

Coal Mining in Morley

The construction of the Morley Railway Tunnel showed that there were massive deposits of coal under the town. In particular, three families, the Ackroyds, the Haighs and the Hollidays made profit from this and major pits were set up in Gildersome, Bruntcliffe, near the Morley Low Station and in Ardsley.

Here are some of the main pits in the area:

Morley Main Colliery : Worked 1865-1908

William Ackroyd was a founder of the pit. It closed shortly after this photo was taken ca 1909.

Bruntcliffe Victoria Pit : Worked 1882-1932

Joseph Haigh — Joseph Haigh was the son of the founder of the pit. He was the Mayor of Morley in 1911 and died while he was in office. The houses in front of the pit were for mining families.

Topcliffe Pit : Worked 1888-1932c

Andrew Brown Fraser, owner of Tingley Hall and manager of Topcliffe Pit. — Andrew Brown Fraser, owner of Tingley Hall, was also the manager at Topcliffe Pit.

East Ardsley Pit : 1888-1967

The Holliday family had mining interests in Gildersome and East Ardsley for over 100 years.

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Accidents in pits were frequent. It was a dangerous job.

We highlight the following :

24-November-1874 : Explosion at Morley Main

London Illustrated News view of the Morley Main Disaster

34 were killed and this included 7 aged 16 years old or less.

1-May-1882: Accident at the Victoria Colliery

7 men were killed

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Further information: Anyone wanting to know more about Coal Mining in Morley should read Jim Thorp’s book ‘Coal Mining in Morley‘, a monograph published by the Northern Mine Research Society in 2009.

Cover of Jim Thorp’s book on Coal Mining in Morley

You can get a preview of the book here.

Related Images: