Myles Burton Kennedy, the iron and steel magnate of Furness, with his sharp gaze and determined stride, expanded his industrial influence in the early 20th century. The year was 1904, and the air was thick with the scent of coal smoke and iron ore that clung to the damp, woolen coats of the miners. The rhythmic clang of hammers against metal echoed across the Furness landscape, a constant reminder of the region’s industrial might.
But beneath the surface of this bustling activity, a threat loomed. The Greenscoe and Askam mines, with their dark and silent shafts, stood as a stark contrast to the fiery energy of the Kennedy’s Roanhead operation. Water, seeping through the abandoned tunnels, threatened to engulf the neighboring mines, silencing the roar of the furnaces and stilling the powerful pumps that kept the Roanhead mines alive.
Myles, with his keen understanding of the interconnectedness of the Furness mining landscape, recognized the danger. He could almost hear the gurgle of rising water, threatening to drown the flames of his ambition. He envisioned the rust creeping over his idle machinery, the silence descending upon the once-vibrant workforce.
Driven by necessity, he acquired the dormant mines, their rusting headframes casting long shadows across the windswept fells. The rumble of the pumps resumed, a deep, rhythmic throb that resonated through the earth, a testament to Myles’s resolve. Waste rock from Roanhead, once a burden, now found a new purpose, filling the voids left by years of extraction, stabilizing the land and securing the future of his industrial empire.
This strategic move, born out of a need to protect his existing interests, showcased Myles’s pragmatic approach to business. He was not merely a visionary leader, but also a man of action, capable of adapting to challenges and safeguarding the heart of his industrial domain. The scent of coal smoke and iron continued to permeate the air, a testament to Myles’s enduring legacy in the Furness region.
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A huge thank you to Cumbria Archives for providing the captivating photos used in this blog post and for their dedication to preserving Cumbria’s heritage. With their kind permission, these images help bring the story of Myles to life. Image courtesy of Cumbria Archives #CumbriaArchivesPhotos #CumbriaHistory