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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 11th August, 2014)

Headgear


Headgear
Astley Green Colliery.

Photo: Dave (Oy)  (Fuji X-T1)
Views: 4,359

Comment by: Jim Latham on 11th August 2014 at 00:07

Great photo again, Dave, and a very interesting location. I visited Astley Green Colliery a few years ago with our French friends from the Twinning Association- Wigan/Angers. They were well impressed, and so was I for that matter.

Comment by: irene roberts on 11th August 2014 at 08:06

Lovely! I have, on my living-room wall, a black-and-white photo of this taken by a friend, with a dark and brooding sky in the background.

Comment by: kath on 11th August 2014 at 08:56

It looks like it's built from Mecanno. Impressive!

Comment by: A.W. on 11th August 2014 at 09:26

A powerful and impressive image, well done Dave.

Comment by: Nev on 11th August 2014 at 11:02

This rare lattice-girder headgear is in desperate need of restoration and preservation. If urgent action is not taken, then this icon of the area's industrial past will be lost for ever. Can Wigan Council allocate some funds for this?

Comment by: Peter on 11th August 2014 at 11:12

Nice one dave
Great place for togging

Comment by: david on 11th August 2014 at 16:50

Stunning!

Comment by: Tony Haslam on 11th August 2014 at 17:01

Been down Astley Green colliery a few times. They had spontaneous combustion fires and we, the mines rescue teams had to go down and seal the district off which was on fire. Bought our first stair carpet out of the wages we got. Would be in the 1960s

Comment by: Garry on 11th August 2014 at 19:36

Needs a good painting! Are you sure this is in Wigan..or is Astley Manchester?

Comment by: John Morris on 11th August 2014 at 21:05

Good photo Dave. Do you like your new "toy", it obviously performs well? What lens were you using?

Comment by: Dave (Oy) on 11th August 2014 at 21:46

It's a superb bit of kit John. VERY impressed with it. This was using the Fuji 35mm F/1.4

Comment by: Dave (Oy) on 11th August 2014 at 21:59

Garry - definitley in Wigan Borough, but quite close to the Salford border, not Manchester.

Comment by: Mick on 11th August 2014 at 23:05

Peter does your missis know about you going togging with other men.

Comment by: Monumental on 13th August 2014 at 11:51

I worked at Astley Green between 1952 until 1957. At first I was a linesman and then I did my face training in Victoria mine. The face was 3' high and approx 120 degrees.We took down a can with 8 pts water and had the can refilled at "snap-time". I remember those times with a little trepidation. I completed my training after 2 years but, after that left Astley to go to Maypole.
From what I remember of Astley was that No 1 shaft was very deep (over 900 yards) and although No 2 shaft was obviously as deep, we only went down into Worsley face which was very wet.
Soon after going to Maypole, I left and vowed never to go down a pit again.

Comment by: Judy on 29th August 2014 at 18:51

Monumental, help us understand . Snap time? It,s so important we understand those times, thank you

Comment by: June on 5th September 2014 at 18:27

Wrong Dave Oy, see Judy. Not about a camera lense... If it is then I,m clearly on the wrong forum. There is a huge a passionate history around this picture. It is in that respect we should be grateful for you taking it,,

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