Demolishing unsafe town. Image 1 of 2. This is Arkwright Town (1897-1995), located near Chesterfield, England. It was built in 1897 as a mining town of 160 terraced houses. In 1988, methane was discovered leaking from underground mine workings. 110 people from 56 homes were evacuated while the methane was drained and burned off. In 1989, an exposed part of the coalfield ignited. It was decided to start a ten-year project of opencast mining to make the area safe. The existing town was demolished in 1995, and a new town constructed a few hundred metres away. For the new town, see image T835/314.