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

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.

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.

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

A powerful and impressive image, well done Dave.

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?

Nice one dave
Great place for togging

Stunning!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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,,