Wigan Album

My dad worked at this pit in the early 60s and the adjacent Bridge Pit. The Dairy Pit location is still very visible today with brick structure. Both pits were very susceptible to flooding I seem to recollect. There was a shower block and extensive rail lines on the other side of the canal where the Alexandra opencast was in later years. The most memorable occasion of my dads time at the Dairy Pit was one night whilst walking alone across the slag to start his night shift he saw the ghost of Lady Mab dressed in her wedding garb. I jest ye not! My dad could describe that vision in thorough detail until the day he died. He was that traumatised when he finally got to work the manager would not let him go underground.

Hello, David. I have sent an e-mail of this photo to a friend of mine who has a great interest of the pits in Wigan, paricularly those around Rose Bridge and Haigh; he has asked me to ask if you know the exact location of the"Dog-Walk" pit? Also do you have any photos of Rose Bridge pit? The story of the ghost is fascinating!

Are you the Dave Devine who put a comment on my Ince Central School photo?

Whereabouts is/was this pit located on the canal?

It was close to the next bridge along the canal towards Haigh Hall from the main road bridge in New Springs. Park car on Crown pub car park, walk along towpath towards Haigh Hall, after 400 yards is the bridge which used to carry the old mineral railway line, cross over the bridge. Immediately to your left are the remnants of the Bridge Pit. Walk on another ten paces and follow the footpath on your left which runs parallel with the canal. After 200 yards you pass through a metal swing gate and the remnants of Dairy Pit are in front of you.
Hopefully someone will post a map on here for your perusal.

Thanks for that scholesmalc. Is it before the railway bridge that runs through the plantations? As far as I know that is the first bridge you come to after the Crown pub.

1934granada – by railway bridge I presume you mean the old Whelley loop line through the plantations no forget that railway – where the B5238 Wigan Road goes over the humped back bridge at New Springs the next bridge along into the ‘plantations’, past the old Saw Mill on the opposite bank, is the much smaller bridge which used to carry the mineral line from the Haigh pits down to the Whelley Loop line – you can still follow the route of the line up to the Balcarres pub at Haigh – nice walk but all uphill but decent pint awaits! (map please someone?)

Thanks again scholesmalc. I'm going to check this out but your quite correct I think I need directions ie a map. Yes the bridge I was referring to was the Whelley loop line one.

1935 granada – well worth a ‘historical’ walk – just past the Dairy Pit is a pond affectionately known as the ‘Pigeon Pit’ which we regularly fished as kids – can’t remember a pit of this name though - go on ‘Google’ satellite maps, you will see the pond

I dont think much remains of Dairy Pit, I worked there 1954-56 and 58-61. It was very wet i was a underground fitter Len Winnard was in charge, we got some of the new heading A-B universal cutter/loaders, good machines.

1934 Granada and Scholesmalc. Th map of Dairy Pit where do you want it. Contact my e-mail.

I worked underground with a few men who themselves used to work at Dairy Pit. One man who used to work underground at Dairy Pit told me at times they could actually hear children playing on the surface.