Notes taken from: http://www.agcm.org.uk/
This isn't exactly hardcore Urbex by any stretch of the imagination, but I think it is interesting enough for a report.
On site, there is a museum building showing the history of the colliery. The interesting stuff lies outside; there are all sorts of old machinery laying about, some derelict, some partially restored, & the fully restored winding engine & tower which is absolutely HUGE. & very very impressive.
The winding duty for the Number 1 shaft required the installation of one of the largest steam winding engines used in Britain. It was manufactured by Yates and Thom of Blackburn and installed between 1910 and 1912. It has four cylinders in twin tandem compound arrangement which developed nearly 2.5 Mega Watts at 58 rpm. The rope speed was 26 metres per second when winding coal.
The colliery began its life in 1908 to exploit coal reserves in the south Lancashire Coalfield. Had it not been for the increasing demand for coal, at that time, the project would not have been viable. The coal seams at Astley Green are very deep and overlain by 100 feet of wet and unstable ground. These factors made the sinking of the shaft a very expensive proposition. The novelty of many of the requirements tested the ingenuity of the engineers during the construction, so much so that a paper, on the sinking of the shaft, was presented to the Institute of Mining Engineers. The colliery had a lifespan of only 62 years, finally closing its gates in 1970. Because of its short and relatively recent history, a considerable number of written and photographic records have survived. This has enabled a detailed study to be made of the construction of the colliery and its subsequent operation.
The museum is now run and maintained, on behalf of the community, by the Red Rose Steam Society Limited, a registered charity based in Lancashire.
The site is open to the public a few days a week, (free of charge) so its great to just walk in & have a look around, & a damn good nosey at some old engineering.
Old railway engine
Mine carts
The winding gear house
The restored winding engine. Heavy ass machinery!
Heavy metal.
Winding gear
One big piston. The other big piston is the other side of the room.
The other big piston.
Other side of the winding gear.
More heavy metal.
The Tower
The tower
Old rail cart
Boilers
Boiler
Other end of the boilers
Mine cart
Steam power crane
Mining machinery - the drill head.
Drill head.
View of the site.
All in all a good mooch, with plenty to look at for free. Just no tunnels to explore....
This isn't exactly hardcore Urbex by any stretch of the imagination, but I think it is interesting enough for a report.
On site, there is a museum building showing the history of the colliery. The interesting stuff lies outside; there are all sorts of old machinery laying about, some derelict, some partially restored, & the fully restored winding engine & tower which is absolutely HUGE. & very very impressive.
The winding duty for the Number 1 shaft required the installation of one of the largest steam winding engines used in Britain. It was manufactured by Yates and Thom of Blackburn and installed between 1910 and 1912. It has four cylinders in twin tandem compound arrangement which developed nearly 2.5 Mega Watts at 58 rpm. The rope speed was 26 metres per second when winding coal.
The colliery began its life in 1908 to exploit coal reserves in the south Lancashire Coalfield. Had it not been for the increasing demand for coal, at that time, the project would not have been viable. The coal seams at Astley Green are very deep and overlain by 100 feet of wet and unstable ground. These factors made the sinking of the shaft a very expensive proposition. The novelty of many of the requirements tested the ingenuity of the engineers during the construction, so much so that a paper, on the sinking of the shaft, was presented to the Institute of Mining Engineers. The colliery had a lifespan of only 62 years, finally closing its gates in 1970. Because of its short and relatively recent history, a considerable number of written and photographic records have survived. This has enabled a detailed study to be made of the construction of the colliery and its subsequent operation.
The museum is now run and maintained, on behalf of the community, by the Red Rose Steam Society Limited, a registered charity based in Lancashire.
The site is open to the public a few days a week, (free of charge) so its great to just walk in & have a look around, & a damn good nosey at some old engineering.
Old railway engine
Mine carts
The winding gear house
The restored winding engine. Heavy ass machinery!
Heavy metal.
Winding gear
One big piston. The other big piston is the other side of the room.
The other big piston.
Other side of the winding gear.
More heavy metal.
The Tower
The tower
Old rail cart
Boilers
Boiler
Other end of the boilers
Mine cart
Steam power crane
Mining machinery - the drill head.
Drill head.
View of the site.
All in all a good mooch, with plenty to look at for free. Just no tunnels to explore....
Last edited:
