tarboat's photos with the keyword: plateway

Today it is hard to imagine that this spot was once a bustling wharf from which coal, clay and bricks were exported in large quantities. All that now remains are these timbers that formed part of the quay. A quay developed at Lower, or King's Ferry on the River Dee, for the shipment of coal from about 1740 when the Mancot Tramway was built to link Big Mancot Colliery with the Dee at Mancot Mark. Around 1793 this was replaced by an iron plateway. Aston Quay, as it came to be known, expanded further following the construction of a second tramway, or in fact a system of tramways, which extended from Pentrobin Colliery, Buckley. The various sections of the tramway had different names but are generally referred to as the Aston Tramroad. The south section was built by Rigby, the Hawarden Ironmaster, and Hancock, the Buckley brick manufacturer, after the formation of a partnership in 1792. The lower 1¼ miles was replaced by an iron plateway around 1799, which served a number of businesses including Lane End brickworks at Buckley and Aston Hall Colliery. The plateway was eventually replaced by the standard gauge Aston Hall Colliery Railway. All that now remains are a few of the timbers that formed part of the quay.

This metal mine had the stone blocks for a plateway remaining in the floor of one of the main access levels. To check on the possible plates used we took a couple of Outram type plates into the mine and discovered that they fitted the blocks perfectly. This gave the opportunity to relay a short section by taking multiple shots from a fixed point as we moved the plates along the tunnel. This is a composite of five images blended together. I am extremely glad that we did not have to carry more than two plates into the mine, they are very heavy.

Early railway relics from the Cheshire coalfield. The lightweight plate at the top is from Poynton Collieries and may date from the late 1830s. The lower fragment was used on a line running from the Nelson Pit in Adlington. In neither place have any stone blocks been found and it may be that the lines were laid on wooden sleepers.

The Haytor Granite Tramway was opened in September 1820 by George Templer to carry stone from his quarries around Hay Tor down to the Stover Canal for onward shipping. It is remarkable for the rails being made of the same material as its intended traffic. It operated until the late 1850s when competition from rail served quarries caused a significant decline in demand. The large L shaped pieces of granite used for rails remain in situ and on the upper section owned by the Dartmoor National Park the line is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Here, where the line curves downhill through Yarner Wood, some five miles from the canal basin terminus, it looks as if it remains ready for traffic and a load of granite slabs might be appearing at any moment!

Sadly the exploration of this tramroad tunnel ended where the land beyond the portal had been infilled. Clearly others had been here before and had left behind their milk crate and plastic drum. The paved area for the horses walking between the plate rails can still be clearly seen.

Plateway track still in place 100+ years after the closure of Fussell's Lower Ironworks at Mells.

Went for an explore to see if it was possible to access a tramroad tunnel that has been out of use for nearly a century. A bit of detective work and a stealthy approach yielded success. Inside it's in fine condition and the raised stone pathway for the horses is clearly visible in this view. The plate rails were mounted on stone blocks either side of this.

A few of the objects to be surmounted on the approach to the abandoned tramway tunnel.