Was Coal Mined in the Wigan Area during Roman Times?
I find it rather surprising that the answer is "yes". During the excavations in the Wiend in 1982 there was good evidence to show that the coal was used in the Roman era work shops found there. Good quality coal would have been fairly easily accessible from local outcrops.
According to Edward Hull (1873) the burning properties of coal were known to the Ancient Greeks well before the birth of Christ. It is necessary to exercise caution when talking about early use of coal because, even as late as early modern times, the word was applied to "charcoal" and a "collier" could have been a charcoal burner. Hull, however, quotes the Ancient Greek writer, Theophrastus,(from about 238 BC? ) who seems to compare the uses of both coal and charcoal. This is what Theophrastus wrote:-
"They call those fossil substances anthracite (or coal) ... nevertheless they inflame and burn even like charcoal and are used by the smiths."
Even more intriguing, however, is the account by Edward Hull (1873) of unusual and elaborate mining operations discovered at Arley a few miles north of Wigan. It seems that, during the construction of a tunnel to divert the river, a 6ft coal seam "was found to have been mined in a manner altogether unknown". Hull continues to describe the workings in this way:-
"It was found to have excavated into a series of polygonal chambers, with vertical walls opening into each other by short passages, and on the whole presenting a ground plan something of the appearance of a honey comb. The chambers were stated to be regular both in size and form over an area of a least 100 yards in one direction, and were altogether different from anything within the experience of the miners of the district."
Despite local traditions that these were the work of the Danes, Hull makes the supposition that they were Roman on the evidence of their design patterns. He states:-
"There is something in the symmetrical arrangement and regularity of the works peculiary Roman, reminding one of their tessellated pavements, or the ground plans of their baths and villas, in which symmetry of form appears to be the guiding spirit."
Intriguing though all this is Hull does not appear to have seen the mines himself and bemoans the absence of dating material found there. There do not appear to be any illustrations of the workings and nothing of the site now remains. Hull himself makes it clear that his account is merely supposition. It's interesting though.
For more information try the Wigan Archaeological Society website.