6th May 2006
Cannel
Cannel is a very compact coal which burns well and leaves little ash, and is so hard it can easily be carved into ornaments. It was located in thick, easily accessible seams near the surface in parts of the Wigan area. The name is thought to derive from the word "candle" - a reference to its burning properties. Pigot's Commercial Directory of Wigan (1816) states that cannel is " ...supposed superior to any on the island, is in great demand, and much used throughout the country."
Ornaments which have been carved from cannel (see photo) are readily available in souvenir shops. However it is possible that the practice dates back to prehistoric times. Hull (1873) states that the "ancient Britons" made ornaments from cannel; but his sources seem unreliable and he makes the statement with little conviction.