Save Bersham slag heap?
Post categories: Chirk, History & Memories, Hot Topics, Wrexham
| 11:38 UK time, Monday, 1 October 2007
You'll no doubt know it as that blot on the landscape as you shoot up or down the A483 at the Rhos turn-off near Wrexham [aka Little Chef turn off].
But would you miss the old Bersham Colliery flat-topped slag heap if it was flattened?
A renewed request was made to Wrexham Council to use the slag for industrial purposes, but this was rejected after the Welsh ancient monument preservation group, CADW, said it should be saved for posterity.
The Western Mail, for one, calls it "one of the many scars left by the Welsh coal industry".
Meanwhile, CADW officials have told Wrexham Council that the tip is a component of the most complete surviving complex of features and structures associated with the Denbighshire coalfield because it is part of the remains of Bersham Colliery.
BBC Local News carries the story 'Cadw wins coal tip 'heritage' bid', while website contributor 'samanthasquirrel' reflects what is perhaps a mixed local view on our messageboard: "It has great sentimental appeal to me as my grandfather was one of the bosses at the pit, but I can also see that to some it is an eyesore which needs to go."
What do you reckon?
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~38~RS~)
As I said on the messageboard I am very pleased with this decision and am glad that for once monetary reasoning did not win the day.
The pit yard as offices/ units I don't mind at all, Grandad wouldn't have either, but the "slag heap" is a memory of the local industry which was once there and is a reminder to our youngsters, mine included, of the daily lives of our miners and of the dangers faced by them.
Grandad suffered his own share of injuries down the pit and he was a Boss, goodness knows how the miners suffered, the middle of the night 'phone call was dreaded, in fact we had a telephone early on so Grandad could be reached by the pit when an accident or other emergency happened.
My own children aged 8 & 10 always ask about Grandad Peter, who they never met,when they see the slag heap & I like it that way
I think it should be kept. If it was flattened all they would do is build as many badly designed houses as possible on it. At least if it is kept, there is some landscaping. There are plenty of plant species taking root on it now, in a few years it will look quite green! and yes it does keep some of our old heritage, god knows the rest is slowly disappearing!
Although I cant think of many positive qualities for the tip , I would certainly miss it if it weren't there. Some years ago someone erected three crosses at Easter time on the summit which I thought was a nice idea. The Council removed them as " a potential hazard to distract drivers " If drivers are distracted by part of the scenery they shouldn't be on the road !
Within full view of the byepass the tip is now part of the scenery.Leave it alone.
I am glad the Bersham tip is being kept. As a boy, memories of going into Wrexham were milestoned by the colliery slag-heaps. Later, I watched Hafod in the morning mist from the bus from Cefn climbing over the Packsaddle, looking like Kilimanjaro.
This is our only remaining 'preserved' heap and is as significant to our period as the tumuli to earlier generations.
It is also a wild area in what will soon be Wrexham sprawl. I am sad for today's kids who don't have all the Delph wasteland we enjoyed (pausing only for pop and crisps from the Bluebell), and many more such dangerous but wonderful adventure playgrounds.
It is great news that the Bersham Colliery tip has been saved. However, can't we find a better name for the old slag heap. and if we really want to secure its long term future, we should give it a welsh name.
When the mine at Bersham first opened and as the Slagheap Grew in height no doubt the people of Wrexham and visitors to the town were not over the moon about this mountain casting a shadow over the area.The towns mining heritage should not be forgotten,but then again should it be remembered by keeping a mass of what was and still is waste matter (which can now be recycled).
As far as CADW is concerned, i cant believe that they have stepped in to preserve the waste mountain. yet the Grade II Listed Winding Shed next to the Bersham Headgear is disintegrating by the day.
Meanwhile do i think the land should be cleard and developed, the simple answer is no, i beleive the land should be clear of the great blot on our landscape.
past is past but keeping this is silly there are better things to save
I think it s a good that they have kept Bersham Bank although i think it should be lowered slightly, It s part of our history of our once working mines which my grandfather worked in and many of my family members too.Rhostyllen would not be same without it and if it were removed they would only build houses there. Bersham Bank is part of alot of peoples lives and part of our community and that s how it should stay.