ng Green, is considered to have been the
first of the kind, and therefore marks the earliest of the successive
steps made within the last 100 years in improving the methods of raising
coal in this locality, by showing greater ingenuity in removing the water
from the pits, which were now evidently sunk much deeper than formerly.

A minute examination {235} of the numerous papers recording the then
ordinary proceedings of the Free Miners' Court, supplies the accompanying
dates to the following coal-works:--

1706. "Stay and Drink," under Serridge; "Dark Pitt," in Coverham.

1718. "Hopewell," at Park End; "Speedwell," Ruerdean Hill.

1720. "Sally Pitt," Coleford.

1721. "Broad Moore Grout;" "The Holly Pitt."

1722. "New Charity;" "The 9 Wells;" "Stand Fast;" "The Dry Tump."

1723. "Go on and Prosper;" "Monmouth Hill Work."

1724. "The Old Colliery," near Coleford.

1725. "Shute Castle Pitt;" "The Oiling Quab," in Bromley.

1726. "The Staple Pitt;" "Short Standing."

1735. "Gentlemen Colliers," or "Harbourne Oake."

1736. "The Little Suff," Serridge.

1737. "Major Wade's Suff," near Aywood; "The Broomy Knowle;" "Pluck
Penny," Nail Bridge; "Dowler's Chambers."

1739. "Bushes Pitt," at Berry Hill; "The Society."

1740. "Church way," or "Turn brook."

1741. "Cartway Pitt;" "Harrow Hill Pitt."

1743. "Mendall," at Yorkley; "True Blue," Ruerdean; "Littleworth;" "the
Windmill," near Ruerdean.

1744. "Rain Proof."

1745. "Church Hill," Coal Work, Park End.

1747. "The Golden Pippin;" "Little Scare Pitt."

1749. "Long looked for," near Yorkley.

1753. "Prosper."

1755. "The bold Defiance;" "The Ginn."

1757. "Now found out;" "Standfast."

1758. "Pigg Pitt."

Several of the above names closely resemble those by which many of the
existing coal-works are designated; as for instance--"Strip-and-at-it,"
"Winners," "Spero," "Prosper," "Never Fear," &c. One other interesting
fact preserved in these records is that the coal seams were called then
as now by the names of "Upper" and "Lower Rocky," the "Lower" and "Upper
High Delf," the "Starkey Delf," and the "Lowery Delf."

The Appendix to the Fourth Report of the Dean Forest Commissioners
relative to the mines, incidentally mentions the old coalwork called "the
Oiling Gin" as originally galed in 1766, and transferred by agreement,
dated 15th April, 1776, to a company, in consideration of 2,100 pounds,
at whose cost the first "fire-