Maiden's Walk Coal Drops

The Coal Drops were added as a secondary feature to the Brandling Junction Railway’s Oakwellgate station, built across open ground held by Cuthbert Ellison on lease from the Bishop of Durham. The drops, which are likely to have been built after 1838 and before 1844, consist of a series of 15 piers built of local sandstone rubble with dressed quoins. Two phases of construction are apparent, with the eight southernmost drops having thinner piers than the remaining six to the north. The eight southerly drops are shown on an undated plan by Thomas Bell. The Coal Drops did not as has previously been thought, serve the incline to the quay. On the undated plan by Thomas Bell the drops are clearly set off to the east of the incline and this arrangement is confirmed by Oliver's plan of 1844 which shows the seven southernmost drops covered with a long building, while the remaining six are open. The drops were an independent facility, presumably providing a landsale outlet for coals and lime, without any physical connection to the incline which began on the north side of Oakwellgate station. The 1st edition Ordnance Survey plan marks the drops as 'Oakwellgate Depot (Coal and Lime)'. These are a rare and interesting industrial survival with some architectural pretension. LISTED GRADE 2