The Dukinfield Coal-pits. 1 79 



into the Doncaster train, Wath is reached before long, ' 

 and from Wath there is a good carriage-road all the way. 

 Almost at the very point of departure, when taking 

 the Sheffield line, is a place of as great interest as any 

 that have been named, though all is below ground in- 

 stead of above. At DUKINFIELD, the immense coal- 

 deposit which extends from the north-west of Derby- 

 shire to the south-west of Lancashire, (forming a some- 

 what crescent-like figure, with a span of 40 miles,) has 

 had shafts carried into it of nearly 700 yards in depth. 

 This is deeper than has ever been attempted elsewhere; 

 and the visitor who may have the curiosity to go down, 

 is, when at the bottom of the shaft, at a lower point be- 

 neath the surface of the earth than is possible at present 

 in any other part of the world. The principal mine is 

 called the " Astley Deep Pit." The boring of this was 

 commenced in the year 1847, not at first with the idea 

 of pushing to so tremendous a depth, and when 476 

 yards had been accomplished, further movement down- 

 wards was suspended. In 1857, however, it was deter- 

 mined to try for a valuable and extensive seam of coal, 

 known as the " Black Mine ;" and at last, at the depth 

 of 686 yards, this was reached, to the great joy of all 

 concerned. This particular seam, it is calculated, will 

 last for upwards of thirty years, at the rate of 500 tons 

 per day, while the entire pit will supply coal for at 

 least a century. 



All the pits at Dukinfield, and in the neighbourho 



