Garswood Hall No 5 (New Pit), was said to have started in 1887 when the first sod was cut by Mrs R Edmunson, wife of the then chairman of the Garswood Hall Collieries Group. This was just one of many collieries owned by the Garswood Coal and Iron co, later Garswood Hall Collieries Co Ltd in the Ashton area. Thousands of Men, Women and Children where employed over the years these mines where in existence.
This Colliery was situated to the North of Bryn Road, Ashton in Makerfield and Lockett Road, runs through the former colliery site as it does with the Long Lane colliery to the south. It used the railway facilities of the early nearby L & NWR and also had extensive rail connections to other Garswood Hall Collieries in the area.
The slag heaps of colliery waste that this pit and others close by produced, where known as the Three sisters or Wigan Alps. These three heaps attained an height of some 150ft / 46mtr by the time coal production ceased in the area.
As other pits in the local, this colliery employed the famous Pit Brow Lasses as they where called in this area and who did various jobs on the surface. One main job, was to sort the coal from the debris at the screens. They also had a distinctive mode of dress that was unique and often seen on post cards of the day.
The Colliery produced coal until August 1958 when it was closed due to its coal reserves running out. Miners where then dispersed to other neighbouring collieries in the area.
Lockett Rd, also allows access to the Landscaped Three Sister recreation area, situated to the East of the industrial units and this area is where the sister Garswood Hall (old Pit) was situated. A look at old maps of the area, will give you a clearer picture of the layout as it was, when these collieries where producing coal.
The cache is close to the public footpath and very likely, close to what was, the collieries pit head baths. There is no need to enter any industrial units in your search.
This is Muggle Central especially during the week so stealth is required to find the cache and sign the log. Evenings and weekends are the quietest times.
There is parking close by but one side of the road only. The industrial estate has a large influx of vehicles at most times so please park sensibly and replace the cache as found please.
Others in the small series are:-
king-coal-1-long-lane-colliery
king-coal-3-park-colliery
king-coal-4-old-boston- colliery
king-coal-5-wood-and-lyme-pits-haydock
If you compleate all 5 in the small series, there is a photo for your profile. Contact me for the code to paste on your profile.
