Ashton’s Field Colliery (1852-1968)

Commenced in 1852, Ashton’s Field was another of the early modern collieries and was sunk to what was presumed to be the Arley Mine, at 515 yards. The coal however was only one foot thick. There were however plenty of other good coals, including the Trencherbone, which ensured the success of the colliery. There were two shafts of which No.1 was 10 feet diameter and No.2 was 12 feet. The No.2 pit which was followed down to the Arley appears to have been filled up eventually in the lower and abortive portion so that the final working depth was just under 365 yards. This was the horizon of the Haigh Yard Mine. No.1 pit was 365 yards deep.

No details of the original winding arrangements have come to light but a twin cylinder horizontal winding engine was installed at No.1 pit in 1880. This engine was built by Messrs J.D. Leigh, Ellesmere Foundry, Patricroft and had 30in x 60in cylinders fitted with Corliss valves. The winding drum was 16ft diameter. The Worsley Mesnes Ironworks, Wigan built a twin cylinder vertical engine for No.2 pit in 1907 and one can only assume that this was a replacement for a similar engine in the same house. The cylinders were 30in x 60in with Corliss valves and the winding drum was 14ft diameter by 8ft wide. This engine remained in use until about 1950 but the horizontal engine had been scrapped some years earlier.

Musgrave’s of Bolton supplied an air compressor to the colliery in 1910 this being a cross compound with two-stage air cylinders. The steam cylinders were 25in. (HP), 41in.(LP) x 42in. stroke, air cylinders 22in. and 35in. diameter. Running at 80rpm the compressor could handle 3500cfm.

Upcast ventilation was provided by Buckley Lane pit. This was one of the old main navigable level pits, the navigable level, having reached Buckley Lane in 1801. The shaft was 285 yards deep and 10 feet diameter. Furnace ventilation was replaced by the installation of a Guibal fan, 30 feet diameter by 10 feet wide. It was driven by a horizontal 24in x 24in duplicate engine. Two Lancashire boilers supplied steam. Details of the maker of the fan and engine have not been traced but it would appear to have been an early example of mechanical ventilation at the Trustees’ collieries. With the subsequent connection to Brackley Colliery for working the remainder of the reserves, ventilation was performed by the Brackley ventilating fan. Ventilation of the navigable level to which Ashton’s Field and Buckley Lane were connected was carried out by Ellesmere Fan Pit.

Ashton’s Field was a successful colliery and worked until 1929, the remaining area of the take being allocated to Brackley Colliery. The colliery was retained for pumping and for access to the underground canal. Three boilers were retained. Small electric winders were installed about 1950-51 and the steam plant was scrapped. The colliery retained its pumping function until 1968 when with the closure of Mosley Common Colliery it became completely redundant and demolition quickly followed.

ASHTON’S FIELD COLLIERY – No.2 Pit