Crawford Colliery

Shafts
Two shafts originally sunk 1840 to Cannel Mine at 88 yards and King Mine at 110 yards.

No.1 Pit, 12 feet diameter and subsequently sunk to Bone Mine at 223 yards.

No.2 Pit, 15 feet diameter subsequently sunk to Arley Mine at 318 yards.

Both shafts originally downcast, Dairy Pit acting as upcast for the colliery.

Winding
Two engines in a single house between shafts. Engines twin cylinder vertical by Haigh Foundry, 24 inches x 60 inches, flat rope reels, 8 feet diameter when bare. Cages, two in each shaft, 3 – deck, 2 tubs 6 cwt capacity per deck. Originally timber headgears.

No.1 engines later converted to wind with round ropes on a parallel drum.

Ventilation
Originally by furnace at Dairy Pit. Replaced by Cockson Patent fan, 1883.

Boilers
Probably egg-end boilers originally. Working pressure 40psi.
Square section chimney.

CLOSURE
Colliery closed c.1921 and partially dismantled.
Development for re-working commenced c.1927

RE-DEVELOPMENT
No.1 Pit to work Bone Mine, 600 tons per shift, 2 shifts per day.
No.2 Pit to work King Mine, 600 tons per shift, 2 shifts per day.

Winding
No.1 Pit, Existing winding engine and timber headgear to be re-used.

No.2 Pit, Engine to be converted from flat rope to round ropes with new drum and brakes. New cages, winding ropes (11/8 inches diameter locked coil), detaching hooks and bells, guide ropes. Replacement RSJ headgear, 38 feet 6 inches high arranged for extension to 60 feet high, new winding pulleys. Winding from 130 yards.

Ventilation
No.2 pit to become new upcast shaft with brickwork infilling to headgear to form air lock.
Emergency fan 25,000cfm., 1½ inch wg., 25hp. motor installed.
Main fan required – 200,000cfm., 4 inches wg., 200hp. motor.

Pumping
Mather & Platt 6-stage centrifugal pump, 600gpm, 250hp motor, transferred from Hewlett Colliery 1929.

Electricity
In addition to above equipment, electrically driven coal cutters and haulage gears to be installed.

Boilers
Two Lancashire boilers installed and piped by January 1928. One boiler 8 feet x 30 feet, one boiler 8 feet 6 inches x 30 feet Two further boilers required.

CLOSURE
Re-working appears to have failed after about 18 months due to water problems. (per Mr. Richard Hart)

Copyright © NMRS Records: G. Hayes Collection