Walton Colliery (Sharlston West)
The nature park is on the site of the old Walton Pit (Sharlston West Colliery).

WALTON COLLIERY UNDERGROUND [click images to enlarge] Underground at Walton Colliery in the 1970s. Both photographs were taken at the same time in the Low Haigh 1s district. This is at a cross-gate and those pictured were the development team, developing the road way for new coal faces. At the front of the picture is the overman (Les Nother), Frank Perry is on the left with John (?) in the middle and A.N. Other (i.e. not known) on the right. If you happen to know the names, please let me know, click here.

The development team gathered around a cutting machine. Its been a long time .... but here's a stab at some of the names: starting from the back left to right. 1st Name unknown, he was the apprentice electrician. 2nd name unknown, he was the electrician. 3rd name unknown, part of the team. 4th is Frank Perry. 5th John ?. 6th Tommy Pine head of development. 7th (at the back) John Mcnicholas (Mac) the electrician. 8th name unknown part of the team. Front left - 9th Norman Batty or Batey, the fitter (a local Walton man?). 10th Barry Keane part of the team. There are ten in the picture, but, for now, that's the best we can do for names. If you know the names of any of these ten chaps, please let me know, click here. [Both photographs courtesy Frank Perry.]

Collieries often had their own brick works. This old brick is from Sharlston Colliery brickworks. Walton Colliery (Sharlston West) Pit Check

TRUE STORY The Underground Dentist

Just a taste .....
These pages do not attempt to provide a comprehensive history of the mine; rather, the intention is to provide a reminder of our local industrial heritage.

 

 

In 1890 shafts were sunk for a colliery at Walton and pit dwellings were built for the miners. These were called Ings Cottages or, as they were known locally, Spike Island or the Spike. 

Formerly known as Sharlston West, Walton pit was a safety lamp mine. By the 1930's there were about 1,200 men working there but in 1979 it was closed before the Miners' Strike. 

There are still ex-miners around in Walton to tell the tale of the pit, of course, but it is hard to visualise what the pit must have looked like now that the area has been landscaped and planted.

Walton Colliery Nature Reserve was opened on the former colliery site. Later, the 'Reserve' part of the name was changed to 'Park'.

search engine by freefind