Coal under West Street
- GVHeritage Groups
- Dec 1, 2024
- 1 min read
by the West Street Heritage Group for Futures Past
In 1748, the first shafts were sunk by Tory MP for Bristol from 1756 to 1768 Sir Jarrit Smyth of Ashton Court. These were at South Liberty Lane - the last pit to close in 1925.
By the end of the century, there were eighteen pits operating in the Bedminster and Ashton Vale coalfield.
In 1868, a UK wide report stated that coal worked in Bedminster was 3,776,587 tons and coal unworked 127,354,300 tons. The Malago and Argus shafts on West Street were opened in the 1840’s and closed in 1898.
A working day at these - worked as one mine - averaged 10 to 12 hours.
Rock Cottage on West Street, the home of the mine’s Managing Director Mr Bennett, and the Mine Manager’s cottage on the corner of Argus Road remain to this day.
