Not done as an explore back then.But thought it may interest some to see the demise of the last working pit on the south staffordshire coalfield.
The colliery started life in may 1873.The Cannock and Huntingdon Colliery co. attempted to sink two shafts using the belgian kind chauldon method of boring followed by inserting iron tubbing.After making this tubbing watertight the shaft would be sunk by hand.In 1880 having got to a depth of 438ft water broke in and flooded the shafts.The company was wound up in 1884.Work started again in 1897 by Lord Hatherton,the Landowner,The No.2 Shaft was sunk to a depth of 1,644ft on 17th feb 1899.Work to recover the No.1 shaft was abandoned on 3rd May 1900 and a new shaft was sunk.This was completed to a depth of 1,662ft on 22 nov 1902.As Littleton Collieries Ltd the colliery was to be one of the most successful in the area.The pit was closed late in 1993.
when i photographed the site work was being undertaken to recover equipment from underground before the shafts were filled in.
Headgear over the upcast shaft.The Evasse chimney of the mine ventilating fan is on the right.
Railway link
The downcast shaft seen among the rest of the colliery buildings.The shaft had being equipped with skips to improve production in the 1960s.This resulted in the figure of 1,000,000 tons per year being a regular feature in the latter years of the colliery.
The demolition pictures are from summer 1995.
The site is now being turned into a housing estate.
Historical information sourced from The South Staffordshire Coalfield by Nigel A.Chapman.
The colliery started life in may 1873.The Cannock and Huntingdon Colliery co. attempted to sink two shafts using the belgian kind chauldon method of boring followed by inserting iron tubbing.After making this tubbing watertight the shaft would be sunk by hand.In 1880 having got to a depth of 438ft water broke in and flooded the shafts.The company was wound up in 1884.Work started again in 1897 by Lord Hatherton,the Landowner,The No.2 Shaft was sunk to a depth of 1,644ft on 17th feb 1899.Work to recover the No.1 shaft was abandoned on 3rd May 1900 and a new shaft was sunk.This was completed to a depth of 1,662ft on 22 nov 1902.As Littleton Collieries Ltd the colliery was to be one of the most successful in the area.The pit was closed late in 1993.
when i photographed the site work was being undertaken to recover equipment from underground before the shafts were filled in.
Headgear over the upcast shaft.The Evasse chimney of the mine ventilating fan is on the right.
Railway link
The downcast shaft seen among the rest of the colliery buildings.The shaft had being equipped with skips to improve production in the 1960s.This resulted in the figure of 1,000,000 tons per year being a regular feature in the latter years of the colliery.
The demolition pictures are from summer 1995.
The site is now being turned into a housing estate.
Historical information sourced from The South Staffordshire Coalfield by Nigel A.Chapman.
