The Snedshill Forge was serviced by the Lilleshall Company railway which was a major factor in the industrial life of the district. The railway formed part of a network from the Lower Field Pits, Granville, Freehold, Grange, to the various coal wharves and railway sidings, to the New Yard, Gower Street, Ryders Brickworks, Snedshill Brickworks to Priorsfee Furnaces and Steel Mill, then to Woodhouse, Stafford and Lawn Pits. It was a busy world of traffic. Several locomotives, each with its own number and its own peculiar type of whistle, was manned by a driver and a "shunter". The shunters were to couple and uncouple the wagons when necessary. This was a risky job. The shunter used a long pole with a kind of hook on the end, which he would, with great dexterity, fix around the couplings (link-chain) of a wagon and join it to another type of hook on the adjoining wagon. Then even when the wagon was on the move, after he had blown his whistle, he would thrust the end of his pole under the coupling and sit on the other end of it. Quite a hair-raising performance, and so adroitly done that there were very few accidents. The sidings near the Greyhound Island were always a busy place. It was the clearing ground for coal, steel and other products of the local works. A feature which also served the railway was the "Watch Box", a small building sometimes built like a beehive, which was situated at every place where the lines crossed a road, for example, Station Hill, Canon Gate, Holyhead Road, Hollinswood Road and several more places. This was the responsibility of one man, who at the whistle from the approaching engine, would stand in the middle of the road waving a red flag to stop the traffic. When it was dark he would use a lantern. There were certain occasions when no-one would be in the Watch Box, then it would be the responsibility of the shunter to stop the traffic.

These little "Watch Boxes" were snug affairs. A big fireplace, plenty of coal, a seat along each side, and to get in there in the winter was indeed a pleasure. It was really warm, a drink of tea out of the watchman's bottle - who could ask for greater comfort, much better than getting pushed out of your seat alongside the fire in your own home. Sitting on the hob (part of the fireplace) was the coveted place when one could get on it. Dogs were kept outside in kennels, little room on the hearth for them. It was a common sight to see a dog on a lead out with his owner, out for some sport such as poaching or as I have seen, a dog fight, two dogs set about each other. Mad dogs were taken to the Bone Mill to be disposed of, several of them would be fastened to posts and it would be an awful sight to see them shot.

About this period one would see a gang of men travelling on a flat type of truck (no sides on it) on the Lilleshall Mineral Line. They were called 'Plate-Layers' and their duties were to service the railway line. They could be seen with oil-cans in one hand and a long-stailed hammer in the other, looking for anything that had gone adrift and putting oil or grease on the points where the direction of wagons had to be changed. It was a common sight to see wagons off the rails, and occasionally an engine would be derailed. The plate-layers often helped by pulling them back on the rails.

A WALK ALONG THE LINES 1914-1919 - LILLESHALL CO. RAILWAY

From about 8 years of age until 1 was 31 I lived at Forge Place, situated a few yards from the Lilleshall Company railway lines. Here I got familiar with the engines (locomotives) the noise they made and a glad recipient of the lumps of coal provided by some of the engine drivers. One small engine was named "Constance" the others were numbered, they totalled about five. Now, at the age of 77 and living at what is now Willows Road it appeals to me to write what I know of those days when Willow Road was part of the Lilleshall Company Railway. So I commence my walk along the "Lines" from Willows Road situated about halfway up Station Hill, Oakengates. Here was a "watch box" (cabin) manned by the crossing keeper, he was usually an elderly man who would stand in the middle of the road waving a red flag to warn passers by of the approach of an engine, usually drawing trucks of coal on slack from the pits on other products of the New Yard (The Lilleshall Company Engineering Works).

On the extreme left of the railway (after leaving Station Hill) was the remaining part of the disused Shropshire Canal (1788). Nearby, was a path which went near some cottages, then down some stone steps and turned to the right to continue past a partly covered in old mine shaft. On the right was a pit mound which at that point partly covered in the canal. A short distance farther on were the remains of the canal which continued past Wrockwardine Wood, while pedestrians used the tow path.

Back to the "watch box" again, and I followed the railway line coming to a sign which in large print says "Whistle". That means the driver of the oncoming locomotive (engine) must warn the crossing keeper of their approach. That sign whistle was just at the end of the present Willows Road. Just beyong that was a bridge which joined the two halves of the Nabb. Mr. Troop (an official of the Lilleshall Company) had a cottage on the right, while over on the left some distance away was a pit mound which today is known as "Panorama" a modern housing estate. Nearby, is a row of old houses which are being preserved, beyond these the road continues past some cottages, the church and the Bird in Hand.

Continuing down the line I come to a deep railway cutting with trees growing on each side, but now it is slowly being filled in with debris of all sorts. Coming to the end of the cutting on the right were the engine sheds and the Lilleshall Company New Yard Works. Further on I came to the plate lay6rs'cabin and the bridge over Moss Road. Off this road is a rough way which leads to some houses called the "Rookery" then goes over the mineral line to Donnington Brickworks (Lilleshall Company). From the bridge over Moss Road, the line carries on past the turning to the brickworks to a rather busy part of the district. Here is a branch line to a waste tip (from the Grange and Granville Pits) while on the right a branch line goes to Donnington Brickworks. Cottages are dotted about even between the surrounding pit banks. My father took me several times to people who lived in them. The line continues and comes to a weigh bridge, while on the left it goes to what was the Lodge Furnace (1888), then carries on to the derelict "Freehold Pits", going past the weigh bridge which was usually very busy with trucks of coal from the nearby Granville and Grange Pits the line comes to the crossroads, one road (on the left) goes past the Granville Mission Church then down the lane to Muxton and the then derelict Freehold Pits. The righthand road goes to the Grange Pits and the Red,Hill, St. Georges. A short distance away I come to the Granville Pit. Here is a large pit mound, while beyond this is a row of houses and a pool of water and few lovely old cottages. These comprise the village of the Granville at the end of which is the Mission Church. Here, my father played the organ for many years, and the minister at that time was Brother Dicken from St. Georges. The Mission Church is now in the museum at Blists Hill.

I now return to the "watch box" at Oakengates Hill and continue my walk along the lines (in the opposite direction). A short distance away from Oakengates Hill was a branch line which went down to the Flag Plant (concrete works) while another section of the line went across the Hydraulic Bank Road and through to the end of the Snedshill Forge. Another section of the branch line then continues under the bridge, past the Snedshill Forge then the derelict old canal tunnel and joins the build-up of traffic in the Greyhound sidings. Adjoining this is the main LMS railway line used by the local train known as "The Dodger" which went to Dark Lane - Coalport. Here at the Greyhound siding was quite a large marshalling of trucks filled with products of the Lilleshall Company while another branch line leaves the Greyhound sidings, goes past the Bone Mill and comes to the Priorslee Furnaces.

Now back to the main line which I left just past Oakengates Hill. Here on the right was another small siding and a weigh bridge manned by a Mr. Waiter Barrow, who was responsible for weighing trucks of coal and slack brought there from the pits. The main line continues past the plate layers' cabin and the nearby two cottages, then comes to the cabin (watch box) and crosses the road (Hydraulic Bank). Here is another small branch line where trucks of coal and slack are for the use of J. Maddock and Company, while on the left just before reaching the main road is a very tall water tower where the engine can be replenished with water, and nearby is a kind of sluice for the use of Snedshill Forge. The main line continues past two cottages on the right (Forge Place) while a path on the left goes past a disused cottage, the main Forge offices, Mrs. Barrow's cottage and then on to Snedshill Brickworks. The main line continues past a gutter on the right, usually filled with water from the Brick houses. Passing on the right is a gate which leads over a bridge to the Forge, while on the left is a gateway which leads to the Forge offices. A short distance, then I came to where I lived, Forge Place. The house in which I lived then was one of three these had been a warehouse for the canal, converted into cottages. Here a branch line went to the Brickworks and also formed the nearby Coal Wharf, which was at the bottom of Wright's Buildings, where I lived for a few years.

The main line continues past Forge Place to the Watch Box (A5 Road) on the left of this was Corfield's Grocery Shop which was burnt down when I was 9 years old. A few yards away and on the same side was Bladen's General Store where paraffin was sold. Crossing the A5 road was a path which goes past a warehouse and leads to a group of houses known as Mumpton Hill. Across the line is another rough road which goes to the Bone Mill (dead houses). This was a very busy place as the horse flesh was boiled three or four days a week then taken to the GWR sidings for dispatch to various customers. Near the Bone Mill was the outlet to the GWR tunnel, nearby were two houses which must have been built before the railway was thought of. Beyond this railway was the Briar Shepherd pit mounds, these had recently become derelict.

Now back to the main line again. As the railway approached Priorslee Steel Works here dotted about were piles of pig iron from the nearby furnaces. The I come to the watch box and the road which led to Hollinswood, a small group of houses, a few very old stone cottages and also the remains of an old methodist chapel, together with a nearby water tap to serve the community. This just about explains the Hollinswood village of my day. My journey, however, takes me straight on past the Priorslee watch box, beyond the Steel Mill, past the huge slag heap on the right which became a place of extra-ordinary interest because of the number of German prisoners (1915-18) whose task was to break up the slag so that it could be used on the roads.

There was, here, a sharp left turn of the line which led to the A5, crossing the road to a large coal wharf. Here, was another watch box, while on the left, on the main A5 road was a blacksmiths shop where horses were brought to be shod. I have, myself, taken horses there. The line went through the coal wharf then a branch line went to Priorslee Village, crossed the road and continued towards the Woodhouse Pits, passing on the right and pumping engine house, which was near the Hangman's Pool. This was a grand place to go in the summer for it was ideally suited for swimmers. About here was a parth for Snedshill which joined the way along side the railway to the Woodhouse Pits. It was a very busy place, and I did see two women engaged in picking basses out of the coal, and while the noise of the tubs of coal moving about and the shouts of men and boys, the shunting of the nearby engines and the creaking of the tubs taking the waste up the pit bank went on, it did make one small boy wonder at it all? My interest however, was to look down the pit shaft.

From a safe distance I was allowed to watch the tubs of coal being brought up and occasionally men who had finished their shift. Nearby the coal was being sorted and then it went into trucks which were later collected by one of the company engines. To visit the Woodhouse Pits and walk round the nearby lanes become a regular pastime of mine, to go over the pit bank then up the lane, past a bigh house on the right and on the left a road went to a farm and the back of Priorslee Hall, and then on the right to Snedshill. It was here the line crossed the road to the Lawn Pits, passing on the right "Stable Row", a row of houses where my friend lived. Near the pits was a pool of warm water and I have often swam there, despite its green, yellow look which was called OCHRE. Leaving the pool I followed the path which led to the A5 road, passing on the right a huge pit bank, under which, I understood was the remains of the old Priorslee church and burial ground. The church was rebuilt in 1836. Today it overlooks the Priorslee Furnaces while the priest's house still remains near the Lion Pub a short distance up the road.

Between the blasted rocks which now divide the Priorslee Village from the Priorsice Square I came to the Crossroads, with the one road leading past Lee's farm back to the railway line from which I started my walk to the Woodhouse. This line continued to the Stafford Pits, passing on its way part of the old Roman road, which is now extinct. I have gone to the Stafford Pits many a time with a friend of mine to fetch his father's wages, a round metal disc with his cheek number on and being used for this purpose. The Stafford Pits were only a short distance away from the main road to Shifnal practically opposite was the Lodge and drive which led to Priorslee Hall. It was in a field near here (the Lodge) where I saw my first aeroplane, and I still recall the pilot shouting "contact" to the fellow who swung the propeller - the date was about 1916-17. Another of these planes dropped in a field at Knowles Bank.

So I end my walk along the lines, and my tribute to the Lilleshall Company, who for a while dominated this district which this quotation from "A short account of the history of Priorslee" by J.E. Gorden Cartlidge relates.

"Then on a bright frosty morning in November 1862, Mrs. Horton, accompanied by a number of officials of the Lilleshall Company, and other gentleman, strolled out of the gates of Priorslee Hall, crossed a field, sprinkled a few silver dewdrops in a bigh circle from which the turf had been removed, and there stands the Stafford Pit whose mounds have buried yet a little more of the old orest trackway of our remote ancestors".

This brings me to the end of my journeyings, the places I have mentioned have gone - or changed cornpletely. No engines, no railways, no trucks, no pits, very few of the men who worked long hours at their irksome tasks are left. But life goes on and we may look at the remains of the canals, the railway (mineral lines) the pit banks, they have told their story. May the spirit of our forbears still remain to tell a more eloquent story from those who are yet to come.

NOTE: Stafford Pits ceased production in 1926 but remained open for drainage purposes until 1937. Snedshill Forge ceased production in 1925.

Copyright:  Estate of  Moses Evans