Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan
Album Contents
Album Contents
Wigan Album
Mining
2 Comments
bridge pit
Photo: dk
Photo: dk
Views: 3,121
Item #: 4869
Item #: 4869
This photo was taken approx 1950 and is probably quite rare. It shows Shedfield Bridge and the Bridge Pit head and winding gear. In the distance is the chimney at Haigh Sawmills and although difficult to make out, I think the bell tower structure also which I believe is still present.
The Alan Godfrey Edition OS map of Wigan (North)1907 Sheet 93.04 clearly shows these arrangements and notes the following "The Dairy Pit and Bridge Pit, which were alongside the canal and linked by a narrow gauge tramway, were sunk in the 1850s as part of the Arley mine...............By the time of this map (1907) the immediate coal workings at these two pits had been exhausted, although the Dairy Pit was briefly reopened in the 1950s, coal being taken to the Alexander sheds for sorting."
The Alan Godfrey Edition OS map of Wigan (North)1907 Sheet 93.04 clearly shows these arrangements and notes the following "The Dairy Pit and Bridge Pit, which were alongside the canal and linked by a narrow gauge tramway, were sunk in the 1850s as part of the Arley mine...............By the time of this map (1907) the immediate coal workings at these two pits had been exhausted, although the Dairy Pit was briefly reopened in the 1950s, coal being taken to the Alexander sheds for sorting."
Comment by: winder on 7th February 2008 at 12:22
Yes, that is a rare photo, thanks for that.
When the Dairy pit re-opened, some of the pitmen used to jump in the canal to have a bath after their shift.
I would imagine they gave it a miss in Brass Monkey weather!!
Comment by: No 3 Pit Winder on 13th July 2010 at 04:58
The bridge in the photo is still in situ and at one time carried the mineral line which ran from Aspull down to the Alexandra Colliery at Whelley which ceased winding coal in 1955.
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