Public Monuments and Sculpture in Stoke-on-Trent & Newcastle-under-Lyme
Public Monuments and Sculpture in Stoke-on-Trent & Newcastle-under-Lyme
 

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Colliery Pithead Wheels
at Berryhill Fields
 

Location:  Berryhill fields - top of pathway at entrance to park nearest to Hall Hill Drive
Installed:
2000                        
 

 

at the top right are the four wheels set on the levelled off spoil heap of Mossfield Colliery
at the top right are the four wheels set on the levelled off spoil heap of Mossfield Colliery

Bing Maps

 

 

pathway to the four pithead wheels
pathway to the four pithead wheels 

 

the view back down the path, in the far distance is Bagnall and Light Oaks
the view back down the path, in the far distance is Bagnall and Light Oaks 
the two housing estates are Ubberley (nearest) and Bentilee 

 

Photos: January 2006

 

Inscription: (concrete circle - surrounded by cobblestones)

"THERE'S BLACK ASH BENEATH
THE GREEN
GOB FIRES BURNING UNDER GAS HILL
AND BENEATH IT ALL
BONES OF MINERS BURIED
STILL"


 

The inscription commemorates a fatal accident at Mossfield colliery in 1889. As a result of gas there was a massive explosion causing the death of 64 miners

The inscription commemorates a fatal accident at Mossfield colliery in 1889. As a result of gas there was a massive explosion causing the death of 64 miners

 


 


 

Description:

Four pithead winding wheels, half set into the ground. Pointing in four different directions. The wheels are painted black and have nameplates which depict the local seams mined and some of the collieries in the area.

The wheels are set on the levelled off spoil heap of Mossfield Colliery.


The inscription commemorates a fatal accident at Mossfield colliery in 1889.
The Cockshead seam (which was mined at Mossfield) was subject to gob fires (an area that has been left void after the coal has been extracted and fires are caused by spontaneous combustion).
A series of explosions began on the 12th September , probably due to the access of air to the gob fire and the crushing of the extremely thin pillars of coal separating the two workings. On October 16th 1889 there was a massive explosion, resulting in the death of 64 miners at Mossfield Colliery.

 

 

Background to the wheels:

Part of the restoration of the Berryhill fields after they had been saved from opencast mining.

There was a strong emphasis on community involvement throughout the project, and the Berryhill Friends Group played a key role in its management.

 

 

  

Materials:

Part of work

Material

Dimensions

Wheels

Steel, painted black  

 

 

The wheels have nameplates which depict the local seams mined and some of the collieries in the area
The wheels have nameplates which depict the local seams mined and some of the collieries in the area

 

 

 Four pithead winding wheels, half set into the ground. Pointing in four different directions
Four pithead winding wheels, half set into the ground. Pointing in four different directions

 


 

Bambury coal seam
Bambury coal seam 

 

Berry Hill Colliery
Berry Hill Colliery 

 

Bowling Alley coal seam
Bowling Alley coal seam 

 

Cocks Head coal seam
Cocks Head coal seam 

 

Cottage coal seam
Cottage coal seam 

 

Deep Dolly seam
Deep Dolly coal seam 

 

Dole Pool seam
Dole Pool coal seam 

 

Fenton Park Colliery
Fenton Park Colliery 

 

First Ash coal seam
First Ash coal seam 

 

Hard Mine coal seam
Hard Mine coal seam 

 

Holly Lane coal seam
Holly Lane coal seam 

 

Knowles coal seam
Knowles coal seam 

 

Lawn coal seam
Lawn coal seam 

 

Marl Hole coal seam
Marl Hole coal seam 

 

Mossfield Colliery
Mossfield Colliery 

 

Old Railway coal seam
Old Railway coal seam 

 

Smith's Tabbenor coal seam
Smith's Tabbenor coal seam 

 

Ten Feet coal seam
Ten Feet coal seam 

 


 

related pages.. 


Memorial to the Mossfield Colliery disaster in Longton Cemetery

Berryhill Collieries and Brickworks