Moorends Peat Works

The Moorends Peat works is interesting, as in addition to be supplied with peat from the moors by tramway it also received peat by means of a specially built canal.

In 1894 Dutch immigrant workers introduced the ‘Dutch graving’ method of peat extraction. The peat thus extracted was then transported by horse drawn barge on a network of canals to the Moorends Peat Works (Paraffin Mill). This system of transport lasted from 1895 to 1922.

The canal passed over the warping drain by means of an aqueduct.

The extract from the 1906 OS map shows the work. I have coloured the map for clarity. The mill is coloured red, the canal in light blue and all other drains shown in  dark blue. One can also make out the railway branch line at the west end of the works.

A large fire in January 1922 signalled the end of the peat works and operation of the canal system. Some buildings were retained as maintenance workshops and used to 1956.

The remains of the mill are still quite visible and it is possible to make out many of the features of the original buildings and the canal.

The book ‘Peat Railways of Thorne and Hatfield Moors” has some photographs of the peat works, the aqueduct and canal boats.

Moorends Peat Moss Works, 1906 Ordnance Survey Map

Moorends Peat Works – remains of aqueduct

Moorends Peat Works – remains of aqueduct

Moorends Peat Works – remains of aqueduct

Moorends Peat Works – remains of aqueduct

Moorends Peat Works – remains of aqueduct

Moorends Peat Works – remains of aqueduct

Moorends Peat Works – looking along bed of canal towards peat works

Moorends Peat Works – End Wall of Peat Works

Moorends Peat Works – Peat Works Wall

Moorends Peat Works – Peat Works Wall

Moorends Peat Works – Peat Works

Moorends Peat Works – Brick – Pease, Thorne

Moorends Peat Works – Brick – Nostell

Moorends Peat Works – View over ‘Canal Basin’ towards the peat works

Moorends Peat Works – Remains of sluice

Moorends Peat Works – Remains of sluice

Moorends Peat Works – View along tramway towards Durham’s Warping Drain – note canal on right.

Moorends Peat Works – New bridge over Durham’s Warping Drain

Moorends Peat Works – View towards peat works

A good source of reference is;

The Peat Railways of Thorne and Hatfield Moors by A.J. Booth. Published by the Industrial Railway Societyin 1998. ISBN 1 901556 05 0

Fire at the Moorends Mill in 1922