Wigan Album

Good photo Bill, where was Victoria Colliery?

What a grand exterior to house a piece of practical technicsl machinery.

Demolished in 1990 according to "The Industrial Railways of the Wigan Coalfield" part 2. I assume the building was constructed around 1900/01 time when the pit opened. Access to the mine was via Lurdin Lane as this was a familiar walking route of my family in the 40's & 50's including me up into the 60's after the mine had closed.

We used to access Vic Pit either via the bottom of Ashfield Park or if we were on the bikes, the bottom of Grove Lane. There was a coal spoilage rook that we rode over in the 70's and the fields near to the Mill Pond ( now a housing estate ) were a great race track. I seem to remember the land around the engine house became a scrap yard before demolition. I spent hours riding around here or if we were feeling brave, we'd cross the main road and ride onto where Prospect Pit once was and ride down to Gidlow Coal Wash, brilliant off roading rides.