Mining Museums
19th Century Industry in Manchester

Astley Green Colliery

Higher Green Lane, Astley, near Tyldesley,
Wigan M29 7JB.
Telephone: 01942 828121.

Astley Green was a fully operational coal mine until its closure in 1970, and has now been fully restored as a working museum. It was not a particularly old colliery, only opening in 1908, but during its heydays in the 1950s there were two shafts, 14 underground levels and over 2100 employees. But, by 1970 it had become an uneconomical pit, as demand for coal decreased and cheaper foreign imports became available, and it was forced to cease production. Fortunately, Lancashire County Council, urged on by several other local leading dignitaries, saw the value of preserving this piece of local, historical and industrial heritage, the last of many. Actually, the area had been known for its dozens of collieries, which, over successive post-war years been closed down and disassembled, and had Astley Green been demolished no local mines would have existed today. It now boasts, (sadly), the only surviving headgear and engine house in Lancashire. It has what is reputedly Europe's largest steam winding engine, located in a magnificent engine house - this enormous 3,300 horse power twin tandem compound engine is well worth seeing.
There are also extensive displays of industrial mining and related artefacts. This Colliery Museum is now maintained and run by the members of the Red Rose Steam Society.

Location:
Astley Green is located about 10 miles west of Manchester, on the edge of Chat Moss, an area whose flatness makes the colliery headgear a landmark for many miles around. Drive west in the direction of Liverpool out of Manchester and through Salford on the East Lancs Road, and you will see the mine to your left just off the main road.

Opening:
Every Sunday from 12.00noon until 5.00pm, but closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. It is also open on Tuesday and Thursdays from 1.00pm to 5.00pm. School parties and groups may visit at other times by prior arrangement. Please check times before setting off - times may change.

The Former Lancashire Mining Museum, Buile Hill, Salford

Buile Hill Park , Eccles Old Road, Salford M6 8GL
Tel: 0161 736 1832. Fax: 0161 745 9490

NOW (SADLY) CLOSED

Set in this listed Georgian building designed by Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the Houses of Parliament and the City Art Gallery in Manchester, the museum consists of two reproduction coal mines, a gallery to illustrate the history and development of coal mining in Lancashire and exhibitions of mining art. Admission is free.

Opening:
Open all year, from Mon-Fri 10.00am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-5.00pm; Sunday from 2.00pm-5.00pm; closed on Saturdays, Good Fridays, Easter Sundays, Christmas Eve to Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Building History
Built between 1825 and 1827 to designs by Charles Barry, Buile Hill is his only known villa-house in the neo-Classical style. Its most distinctive feature is arguably the covered carriage porch (known as a port-cochère). Later additions to the building were made by Edward Walters, architect of the Free Trade Hall, Manchester.
The house has had many locally distinguished occupants, including, from 1825-1840, Sir Thomas Potter, first Mayor of Manchester, John Potter, his son and MP for Manchester, and John Marsland Bennett, Mayor of Manchester.
Salford Corporation purchased the house and 80 acres of adjoining parkland in 1902 for the sum of £23,000, and it was opened as a Natural History Museum in 1906, and still survived as a Science Museum into the 1950s.
In 1959, in collaboration with the National Coal Board, the building was excavated and the Buile Hill No.1 Pit was constructed in the basement. Later, in the 1930s a drift pit was constructed on the ground floor.
Extensive dry rot forced its closure in the early 1970s and after complete restoration it was not fully reopened to the public until 1979.

FOOTNOTE

Financial problems and successive Local Authority cutbacks and lack of funding eventually closed this fine museum - and it is currently rumoured to be redeveloped as a hotel or executive apartments.

NOW CLOSED (Accountants win - we lose!!)

Latest information is that the house at Buile Hill has now been sold for around £250,000 for some form of private redevelopment.

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