Coke Kilns, Church

We went for a short walk down the Leeds Liverpool Canal today, specifically to get a closer look at these intriguing structures which are along the side of the canal and are visible from the Accrington/Blackburn Road.

We thought they were brick kilns (having no idea what a brick kiln looks like, but knowing of Accrington brick, it made sense to us) but they are actually coke kilns for the former Aspen Colliery which was on this site and which closed in 1930. There's also a small and overgrown basin to one side.

Here's a bit more info, if you are interested
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal in this area was opened in 1810; a short basin 70ft x 14ft opens off it to serve three banks of coke ovens. The basin is now partially filled and has lost its towpath bridge, but is quite traceable. There are three banks of ovens parallel to the south west of it. Each bank has two back to back banks with 9 ovens apiece. The ovens themselves are of brick, encased with masonry. The bank nearest the basin is in the best state of preservation. This is an unusual survival not only of the ovens, but in association with both a colliery site (itself disused by 1930) and a canal.

I am becoming increasingly fascinated by the industrial heritage of this area of Lancashire and of the way that nature is reclaiming so many of the now unused sites.

I think we are going to take a lead from friends and start to walk stretches of the canal, probably starting with Oswaldwtistle to Blackburn.