The mysterious 'beehive' ovens hidden at the side of a Lancashire canal

Today, canals are best known for barges and small boats chugging past, walking along the tow path with the dog or enjoying lunch at a canalside pub. But back in the 1800s, they played a vital role in transport vital goods across Lancashire and one of those was coal.

This practice had seen a significant decline by the 20th century, but some interesting aspects from that era have remained, in this case the Carnforth coke ovens. The five coke kilns, which are in the shape of beehives, are built into mounds of earth and are still visible alongside Lancaster Canal in Carnforth.

They were constructed around the time the northern end of the Lancaster Canal was finished in 1819. A number of others were built along the canal but they have since been covered over by vegetation and overgrowth. A group of dedicated volunteers work hard to keep the cluster of ovens visible, previously using a method called 'biochar burn' to clear vegetation.

Coke is traditionally used in making iron and as fuel on stoves as it produces less ash and smoke when it burns while also reaching a higher temperature. The site is owned by the Canal and River Trust and can be found if you cross bridge 127 at Crag Bank in Springfield. Then turn right and walk parallel to the canal and you will see the kilns on the grass track to the right.

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