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Visited this last year with man gone wrong and janovitch. It's a place I have fancied seeing for a while now and even though we did not see it all I was pleased with what I did see. The place is a bit of a mission to do with cameras and fencing everywhere. But it was all worth it at the end of the day. Would have liked to have seen the loco shed and canteen/bath house.
Chatterley started mining for coal in the early 1800's, the pit was part off a large cluster of pits in the Staffordshire area. The pot buildings were substantially expanded over the years. It eventually became the biggest of the north Staffordshire coalfield. It was so big it produced a million tons of coal for sale in 1937, a record for the UK. It hit of a bit of a low peak during the 20s and 30s before hitting peak again during the second world war and some years after. It was as again extended to keep up with the times. In the 1950s cheap coal was started to be imported from abroad which badly affected the UK mines. Coal output more than halved by the mid 60s. Sadly some of the older pits were to become victim to this. And Chatterley closed down in 1977.
in 1977 though a charitable trust took over the colliery and set it up as a museum to mining, machinery and buildings were restored for visitors. And an underground experience was opened. The museum became the largest mining museum in the UK. The museum went into administration in 1993. It has laid derelict since, it's one of the most complete collieries around and is in the top ten most at risk sites in the UK. A trust has been set up but sadly the size of the site I think is just a tad too much for them.
Hesketh winding house.
to the side of the site is the large building that houses the winding house and power house. The winding house was my favourite bit with the nice greens and windows. Containing a nice steam winding engine.
Hesketh power house.
Situated next to the winding room is the power house. A large room filled with generating equipment and pumps used in the various pieces of machinery.
The boiler house.
Quite an impressive set of ten Lancashire buildings. To power steam to various buildings. The roof had been removed years ago so this left this to the elements making it a tad dangerous.
The lamp house
The lamp house was built to replace an older one that was getting too small. I liked the orange colours and in here and some of the lamp holding shelves. The rails showed this was an the main entry into the museum. A shop would have been incorporated into this building as well.
Chatterley started mining for coal in the early 1800's, the pit was part off a large cluster of pits in the Staffordshire area. The pot buildings were substantially expanded over the years. It eventually became the biggest of the north Staffordshire coalfield. It was so big it produced a million tons of coal for sale in 1937, a record for the UK. It hit of a bit of a low peak during the 20s and 30s before hitting peak again during the second world war and some years after. It was as again extended to keep up with the times. In the 1950s cheap coal was started to be imported from abroad which badly affected the UK mines. Coal output more than halved by the mid 60s. Sadly some of the older pits were to become victim to this. And Chatterley closed down in 1977.
in 1977 though a charitable trust took over the colliery and set it up as a museum to mining, machinery and buildings were restored for visitors. And an underground experience was opened. The museum became the largest mining museum in the UK. The museum went into administration in 1993. It has laid derelict since, it's one of the most complete collieries around and is in the top ten most at risk sites in the UK. A trust has been set up but sadly the size of the site I think is just a tad too much for them.
Hesketh winding house.
to the side of the site is the large building that houses the winding house and power house. The winding house was my favourite bit with the nice greens and windows. Containing a nice steam winding engine.
Hesketh power house.
Situated next to the winding room is the power house. A large room filled with generating equipment and pumps used in the various pieces of machinery.
The boiler house.
Quite an impressive set of ten Lancashire buildings. To power steam to various buildings. The roof had been removed years ago so this left this to the elements making it a tad dangerous.
The lamp house
The lamp house was built to replace an older one that was getting too small. I liked the orange colours and in here and some of the lamp holding shelves. The rails showed this was an the main entry into the museum. A shop would have been incorporated into this building as well.
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