tarboat's photos with the keyword: ventilation

When the 3.54 mile Totley Tunnel was being built for the Midland Railway between 1888 and 1893 the Duke of Rutland refused permission for more than one excavation and ventilation shaft to be dug on his land. Four shafts were initially sunk, all fairly close together at the Totley end, but after the line opened a fifth ventilation shaft was deemed necessary. Despite the Duke's previous objections this shaft was sunk from the Totley moors at a surface height of around 1250 feet. This shaft had to be sunk to the side of the existing tunnel and then connected to it at the side. The mounds of spoil associated with the sinking along with the circular engineering brick wall around the top can be seen from quite a distance away across the moors. Considerable quantities of water enter the shaft and when a train approaches the cross tunnel the air pressure is enough to force some water back up and out of the top, showering the area around with man-made rain.

Mersey Railway pumping and ventilation station at the bottom of James Street in Liverpool. When the tunnel from Hamilton Square to James Street was constructed, there was obviously a great concern that water would leak in from the river and the docks. Drainage tunnels were built into the design, and the water was then brought to the surface via two pumping stations on either side of the river. Whilst the steam pumps are long gone here, the Link and Loop tunnels have been added to the drainage requirements that are served by modern electric pumps.

Wynnstay Colliery was sunk by the New British Iron Company starting in 1856.By 1896 the ownership lay with Wynnstay Collieries Co. Ltd., Ruabon, and this company erected a 22ft Walker ventilation fan in 1902. Although the colliery closed in 1927 there are extensive remains to be found on the site including the winding enginehouse ( www.ipernity.com/doc/302581/35388203 ), and this building that housed the fan.

Compound steam engine driving the ventilation fan at Sutton Manor Colliery. Walker Brothers at Wigan made this engine and the fan to which it was attached in 1910. The cylinders of the 520hp engine were 23" and 36" diameter. At the time of my visit this engine was on standby only.

The ventilation chimney on Kerridge Hill has a long flue running up the hillside at a shallow depth. This is very steep and has clearly never seen use as the stonework is very clean. A significant investment in the 1840s for absolutely no return.

William Clayton bought the Endon Estate at Kerridge after the termination of his lease of the Poynton Collieries in 1832. He subsequently built Endon Hall as his residence and developed coal mining in the area. He marketed the product as ' Swanscoe Sweet Seam Coal ' . Whilst the mines were quite small and insignificant compared to those at Poynton, Clayton still erected this grand ventilation chimney which could easily have graced a much larger venture. To ensure that everyone knew who was responsible his initials are picked out above the pseudo loophole overlooking the Cheshire Plain.

The Unstone Coal & Coke Co Ltd sank two collieries in the village of that name during the late 1860s. Both had short lives and were closed in 1884. An exploration of the mineral line that served these collieries, and others, yielded plenty of remains on the ground even after 125 years of abandonment. On the site of Unstone Main Colliery this is the building that housed the ventilating fan. The curving brickwork on the right side is typical of the installation for a Guibal fan and the one located here was 20ft in diameter and 6½ ft wide. Air would have been drawn from the workings via a tunnel conected to the opening in the far wall with the evasee chimney rising up on the left side of the building. Photos of a surviving Guibal fan can be seen here . Drawing of a Guibal Fan here .