HOUSE PURCHASE DEPARTMENT:
First National Housing Trust
Report by Mr C F Nightingale
of Messrs Fisher & Nightingale
regarding the possible result of mining to
houses on the Pheasey Estate, Great Barr
(NOTE: the plan referred to in this report was not found in the Bank's Archives)
T T Fisher & Nightingale,
145 Lichfield Street,
Birmingham.
27th
May 1937.
H J Manzoni, Esq, MICE,
City Engineer and Surveyor,
Birmingham.
Dear Sir,
City of Birmingham.
Pheasey Estate, Great Barr.
First National Housing Trust.
With reference to your letter of the 7th ult, I have carefully considered the matter and beg to report upon the possible result of
Mining to Houses etc which may be erected on land edged pink on the plan annexed hereto.
I beg to point out, for your information, that there are two different
interests in the ownership of the Mines.
(a) The trustees of the late Sir A D Bateman-Scott owned the whole of the mines, edged pink, on the plan annexed hereto,
with the exception of the part striped blue.
(b) Sir H J Waring, Bart owns the mines striped blue on the plan.
Of this area edged pink on the annexed plan, only the mines under the parts striped pink and blue are in lease at the present time.
Both Mining Leases are to the Hampstead Colliery Company Ltd for
a term of sixty years from September 29th 1929 subject to each of the Lessors (Scott's Trustees and Waring) paying reasonable compensation
for damage by mining to the surface or buildings erected on the land.
The line marked AB on the plan is the northerly point of the mines
in lease of the area edged pink, but you will please note that the mines south and east of the area edged pink are now in Lease to
the same company.
The proof headings referred to above, so
far as they have been driven, show that there is no serious dislocation of the strata by Force, and consequently the subsidence of
the surface should be fairly gradual. I am of opinion that if the ordinary dwelling houses are carefully built on wide concrete footings
and the corner of the houses tied in with expanded metal there should not be great damage to the houses.
This, however, does not apply to the area of considerable width between the points marked A and B on the plan, as undoubtedly there
will be a serious disturbance unless the mining area is enlarged.
I saw in your office a plan of the proposed lay-out of the whole of the Pheasey Estate which so far as I remember includes roads to
be made in various directions and the First National Housing Trust intend building a large number of houses, including large erections
such as schools, churches, etc. I have not had an opportunity of considering the lay-out, having regard to the possible effect of
mining. Would it be possible for a plan of the whole scheme to be sent to me?
I understand that the Municipal Bank proposes to advance a certain
sum of money to the First National Housing Trust under clause 7 (3) of the Birmingham Corporation Act, 1919, and the Amending Acts
which provide for the repayment of the Loan within 30 years. It is very difficult to conjecture what may happen from a mining point
of view to the Pheasey Farm during the period, as so much depends on whether the Hampstead Colliery Co decide to extend their mining
area to include the whole of the Farm, which is quite possible. In any event, I am confident that 20 years hence the Colliery Co will
be working coal under some part of the farm.
Further the line AB in my opinion is not the extreme limit of the Coalfield and I am aware that enquiries are now being made with
respect to opening negotiations to obtain an Option on mines north east of Pheasey Farm Estate.
I believe the Seam of workable coal exists under the whole of the
area north of the line marked AB on the plan and will someday be leased to the Hampstead Colliery Co and worked by them.
As you are doubtless aware, the only part of the mining area edged
pink on the plan situated within the City Boundary is south-east of Queslett Road, the remainder is in the Urban District of Aldridge.
At present, however, the only Mining which has actually taken place
south of the line AB on the plan is that the Colliery Co have driven a pair of headings in the coal for a short distance. The headings
have been stopped owing to a shortage of labour.
The thickness of the Thick Coal in this area is 15 feet, and the depth from the surface 680 to 700 yards. When the coal has been extracted,
there undoubtedly will be subsidence, and I expect the surface will sink at least 4ft 6".
.
I am of opinion, in consequence of the method the Hampstead Colliery
Co are adopting in developing mines in their Mining Estate, the part striped pink and blue may not be touched for upwards of 20 years.
Then I anticipate it will commence at or near the point marked "B" on the plan and developed towards the letter "A".
I must draw your attention to the fact that should the working
of the coal be cut off along the line marked AB on the plan, there will be a corresponding break at the surface, which would affect
any houses erected in the vicinity for a certain distance north and south of the line. This would also apply to sewers etc in the
area.
Having taken into consideration the points which I have enumerated in the foregoing report, I am of opinion that the Municipal Bank
would not be incurring an undue risk in making the Loan as before the Mines have been developed to any great extent the First National
Housing Trust should have paid off such an amount of Principal as would more than cover any depreciation which the property might
suffer owing to subsidence caused by the working of the Mines.
I shall be glad to give you any further information.
Yours faithfully,
C F Nightingale.
FSI, MIME.