Coal Industrial History of CumbriaDowgang Colliery Vieille Montagne Co with 7 employees In 1905 these firms were the only producers of coal at Alston and did not employ more than 40 persons underground altogether The three firms were all working the little limestone coal which in the Alston district is found in two distinct seams twenty feet apart the upper being about 20 inches thick and the lower 12 inches thick