Wigan Album

It would have been strange for the poor animal to have felt the warmth of the sun on its back and the aroma and trample of a field after being in a dark, dusty coal hole for so long, pity it would have been taken back down again.

Ah. . . the good old days.

Was this the drift mine referred to as Summerscales?. If not, I apologise. If so, I used to call in and have a chat to the banksman, when on late duty, at Pemberton in the early sixties. If I remember rightly it was further along the road, from St Matthew’s Church.

Albert s;Summersales was a drift mine situated near winstanley hall park;Today behind Merton Rd Highfield,[summersales ind estate];Pemberton colliery was down Foundry Lane

It is unlikely to be Summersales at it only openned in 1947 although was accessing panels of coal left by the Pemberton Colliery Group. There were a number of drift mines working coal accessed by Pemberton Colliery or close to within the pemberton and highfield area. Around 20 are marked on the coal authority maps along with significantly more shafts. If I remember correctly Pemberton colliery worked shafts and day eyes from Little Lane right up to Windy Arbour.

Was there a mine named pony dick in high died

Don,t know what happened there meant highfield

Pony dick colliery was located just off Billinge road/Pemberton road where you cross the brook. If coming from Highfield with the venture on your right you reach the brook and it would have been off to the left in what is now the woods.

Tom; pony dick was on left hand side of billinge rd towards holmes house ave ; opencast 1980/s houses now on site [paris ave]

I remember being at top of the drift at summersales late 50/s earlry 60/s with Tom Lowe ; I think he was the undermanager

It's amazing to me how they wore ordinary clothes such as an old suit and flat caps in those days for work! It just wouldn't happen nowadays, even if there were pits. They look so old as well those men. Reminds me of the old film " How Green Was My Valley" and the book by Richard Llewelyn. "There's old!" As the Welsh might say.....

Veronica the old pitmen fRom scholes had a saying if asked did they have a suite to wear . They would reply saying yes on pits ,neets and Sunday's meaning they only had one suit to wear

The poor souls worked so hard Tom... And what for ? They didn't get much from life did they, they were just downtrodden and then they died! So sad.

I wonder if any of these men were at the Battle of Enfield Street?