Remains of Forest of Dean Beam Engine Unearthed

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squirrel
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

Interesting piece in the Gloucester Citizen today - the remains of a beam engine at New Fancy Colliery have been unearthed following a Coal Authority investigation at the site.
http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Pictures-Historic-beam-engine-uncovered-Forest/story-20253652-detail/story.html

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sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

Nice find. And a rather snazzy looking JS130 digging it out too! :thumbup:

Yma O Hyd....

simonrail
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

No it isn't!

Its a pair of iron quadrants from the top of a shaft which drove lift pumps at the bottom of the shaft. A sweep rod would have connected the two quadrants which were driven (most likely) by a horizontal engine.

Certainly worth preserving, but not a beam engine!

Yes, I'll have it - what is it?

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

I think the lack of a 'beam' should have been a clue.

Darran Cowd
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

Certainly exciting whatever it is, does remind me of another threads content 🔗Personal-Album-1228-Image-50973[linkphoto]Personal-Album-1228-Image-50973[/linkphoto][/link]
Gearded pumping engine with weights hanging from the cranks
over a pit to equalize resistance on the engine.
🔗Personal-Album-1228-Image-50974[linkphoto]Personal-Album-1228-Image-50974[/linkphoto][/link]
Vertical compound engine with pit work over the shaft, as used on some German collieries.
http://www.aditnow.co.uk/community/viewtopic.aspx?p=60897 )

squirrel
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?p=273444

simonrail
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

This structure at Parkend looks like something similar to New Fancy but a double quadrant with centre pivot rather than two quadrants; notice the double upright broken off and left leaning against it. There are three holes through this broken arm suggesting a drive from a horizontal engine and a rod to another quadrant, since lost, the other side of the shaft. Presumably the hefty weight cobbled onto the end of the beam is a counterbalance added later.

The black lever near the capped shaft looks like a keps lever.

Yes, I'll have it - what is it?

Aditaddict
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

"Forest of Dean historian John Belcher said the mine would simply have been filled in when it closed down in 1944 "

Seems strange that they were taking all the railings / gates from houses and parks to help the war effort
yet they left a whopping great chunk of iron there ?
I'm glad they didn't take it but it's funny why not 😉

AR
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

It all depends on the cost of recovery against the value of the metal. Most of the railing removal was done in the early stages of the war and it was as much about making people think they were contributing to the war effort as it was getting metal for recycling - I've heard a lot of the wrought iron collected got dumped later on. By 1944, I guess the need didn't seem so dire and they may just have pushed the engine house into the pit for the sake of expedience.

Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!

Aditaddict
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#10

"It all depends on the cost of recovery against the value of the metal. Most of the railing removal was done in the early stages of the war and it was as much about making people think they were contributing to the war effort as it was getting metal for recycling "

They never bloody put e'm back though ! 😉

Dark Prince
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#11

Popped over today to see whats going on. The article in the paper shows 2 quadrants. As far as i could see and also find there is now only one on site:

🔗Personal-Album-563-Image-92047[linkphoto]Personal-Album-563-Image-92047[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-563-Image-92049[linkphoto]Personal-Album-563-Image-92049[/linkphoto][/link]
(second pic with added dog for scale!)

There was also this as well. Any ideas what it may be?:

🔗Personal-Album-563-Image-92048[linkphoto]Personal-Album-563-Image-92048[/linkphoto][/link]

The shaft capping in progress. The small brick lined tunnel in the bank appears to be some kind of drainage set up. It had some metal pipes in it and headed toward a largish pond:
🔗Personal-Album-563-Image-92050[linkphoto]Personal-Album-563-Image-92050[/linkphoto][/link]

DP

staffordshirechina
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#12

The frame is the remains of the keps that support the cage whilst decking. Two sets of fingers that come out under the cage so that the rail height can be maintained and the cage made safe for loading/unloading. They are retracted by the large lever at the side before signalling movement of the winder.

Mr.C
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#13

"staffordshirechina" wrote:
The frame is the remains of the keps that support the cage whilst decking. Two sets of fingers that come out under the cage so that the rail height can be maintained and the cage made safe for loading/unloading. They are retracted by the large lever at the side before signalling movement of the winder.

Nice set too!
Certainly better than I've seen in some "museums".
Hope they won't be scrapped or dozed back in to the 'ole.

We inhabit an island made of coal, surrounded by a sea full of fish. How can we go wrong.......

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#14

If you visit the site again Dark Prince, could you see if the 'Pontypool' inscription that was reported to be on one of the quadrants is visible? I'd be intersted in learning the full wording of the inscription and whether it includes a date.

Many thanks for your informative posts.

Dark Prince
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#15

The Pontypool markings are there, gimme 10 mins to convince the PC it wants to work and i'll post it up.

DP

Dark Prince
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#16

Quite possibly the worst pic i ever taken!!

🔗Personal-Album-563-Image-92058[linkphoto]Personal-Album-563-Image-92058[/linkphoto][/link]

I think it reads "P?ENNETT & CO". I'll try and get a better shot of it but that won't be till next week now.

DP

Ty Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#17

Its T.Bennett & Co Pontypool.

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#18

Many thanks, Dark Prince.

http://www.pontypool.bravepages.com/ironcoal.html states that Thomas bennett acquired the former Pontymoile Tinplate Works in 1894 and converted it into a crucible steel and cast iron foundry. Kelly's Directory 1901 names the business as Thomas Bennett & Son - this suggests that the casting might date somewhere inbetween these two dates of 1894 and 1901.