Visit with Morrisey and his mates, top bunch of blokes and a pleasure to meet you. Also with Raddog and Turk.
We have decided to not name the collieries we visit as the Coal authority are going around sealing open ones, but I'm sure many will know this site anyway.
It began it's life as a railway tunnel. The tnnel was unsafe due to bad ground so the railway was re-routed. In the 1980's a small mining company sank a number of adits off the tunnel to reach the Staffs coal seam. Mining ceased in the 1990's.
The tunnel is a dead end nowadays due to an enormous collapse, and the brickwork at that end is terrible. Iron ribs erected to stabalise the tunnel are buckling under the extreme pressure
The adits are in good condition, but do not go far before meeting water. One tunnel reaches up to the surface, and would have at one time carried coal and spoil to the top. The dnokey engine that powered this is still in situ. All in all a very well preserved colliery.
The trip was also Scargill's new pal, 'Mcgregger' first time undergrond.
The spoil from the adits was dumped further up the tunnel. The 'scoop' is still in situ.
Iron ribs, note the buckling
The collapse
And from the other side.
Note the brickwork... this was once an arch
Donkey engine and cart facing up the upwards drift.
The tunnel was quite crumbley, with wood props and iron hanging by threads.
Water at the bottom of the adit. Once pumping stops this is what happens to almost all collieries.
Adit
Mcgregger...
We have decided to not name the collieries we visit as the Coal authority are going around sealing open ones, but I'm sure many will know this site anyway.
It began it's life as a railway tunnel. The tnnel was unsafe due to bad ground so the railway was re-routed. In the 1980's a small mining company sank a number of adits off the tunnel to reach the Staffs coal seam. Mining ceased in the 1990's.
The tunnel is a dead end nowadays due to an enormous collapse, and the brickwork at that end is terrible. Iron ribs erected to stabalise the tunnel are buckling under the extreme pressure
The adits are in good condition, but do not go far before meeting water. One tunnel reaches up to the surface, and would have at one time carried coal and spoil to the top. The dnokey engine that powered this is still in situ. All in all a very well preserved colliery.
The trip was also Scargill's new pal, 'Mcgregger' first time undergrond.
The spoil from the adits was dumped further up the tunnel. The 'scoop' is still in situ.
Iron ribs, note the buckling
The collapse
And from the other side.
Note the brickwork... this was once an arch
Donkey engine and cart facing up the upwards drift.
The tunnel was quite crumbley, with wood props and iron hanging by threads.
Water at the bottom of the adit. Once pumping stops this is what happens to almost all collieries.
Adit
Mcgregger...
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