Leeds news on today's date (July 4) in 1827.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 04 Jul, 2012 12:28 pm

The following is reported in John Mayhall's 'Annals of Yorkshire' vol 1. It is long but I hope is of interest.July 4 1827. "For some weeks previous to this time indications of a fire beneath the surface of the ground, had been observed in St. Peter's-square, in Leeds; and on this day, the smoke issued in such quantities as to create considerable alarm in the neighbourhood. An excavation being made to discover the cause of this extraordinary phenomenon, a large body of fire was found, which on the accession of air, burst into a vivid flame. Engines were procured, and a quantity of water thrown into the excavation, which for the time appeared to have extinguished the fire; but on the two following days, the smoke was seen to issue in various places, in very considerable quantities, when a number of excavators were employed to remove the earth, and ascertain the cause, which was discovered to proceed from the ignition of a bed of coal, about two feet in thickness, and only five feet beneath the surface of the ground; a considerable portion of which was reduced to ashes. The ignition of the coal was produced by the furnace of a pipemaker, which had been erected immediately over it, which was cut out, and the space filled up with gravel, well saturated with water."It was a good thickness of coal so near the surface at about where the BBC centre and immediate area is now. I would guess the coal would have been mined but I wonder if there is still a coal seam there?

Post by **mhoulden** » Wed 04 Jul, 2012 8:43 pm

Just as well it wasn't anthracite or Leeds could be very different now: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia,_Pennsylvania

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 04 Jul, 2012 9:35 pm

mhoulden wrote: Just as well it wasn't anthracite or Leeds could be very different now: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia,_Pennsylvania That is an interesting report on the ghost town of Centralia in Pennsylvania.