Locals desire to preserve a special Wigan landmark

Friends of Wall Hey is a small group, wishing to help maintain the local air shaft in Aspull and Haigh, while also aiming to recondition it.

The Wall Hey Pit was sunk in 1840 by Lord Crawford of Haigh Hall.

It was originally sunk to a depth of 331ft to mine cannel coal and was deepened to 388ft to access the King Coal seam and eventually to 645ft to mine the Yard seam.

It was mined out by the 1890s. At this time it was repurposed as an upcast ventilation shaft.

A huge furnace was constructed at the base of the shaft and the chimney was built to draw dangerous gasses from the surrounding mines. It was no longer in use by the early 1900s.

The chimney is a local landmark and one of the few authentic structures left in the Wigan borough to remind Wiganers of their mining heritage.

It is believed to be one of only four such structures left in the country.

The group also says Wall Hey is a memorial to the almost 5,000 coal miners, Pit Brow women and children who worked in the mines.

Lesley Price, who is a member of the group said: “The group is very interested in this history. We feel the borough is such an integral part in the Industrial Revolution and we don’t want any of our mining heritage to be lost.

“There has been a very positive response from the community. Since we began there is now a committee and a constitution.

“There are around 20 of these pit shafts around Aspull and we want to implement mining mineral trails.

“We want to get everyone involved in restoring our heritage.”

The aim is to educate the local community on this part of the borough’s history and raise money to maintain it so it is not in danger of collapse.

The group have also got Al and Al, who are the creative directors of Haigh Hall, involved.

Lesley added: “We’re hoping to eventually set up outdoor classes for local young people. I lost my great-grandfather in the pit disaster and my grandad also worked in the pits. I feel we should honour all those that were involved.”

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