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The Big A, Hem Heath Colliery, Trentham, Staffordshire, 1960. Artist: Michael Walters
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The Big A, Hem Heath Colliery, Trentham, Staffordshire, 1960. Artist: Michael Walters
The Big A, Hem Heath Colliery, Trentham, Staffordshire, 1960. A view of the headgear of no 2 shaft, known as the Big A due to its distinctive shape. The pit was originaly sunk in 1924 and work began in 1950 on sinking a new shaft which was 24 feet in diameter and 1134 yards deep, which made it the third deepest in the country. In 1979 there were 1790 men employed, with an output of 1, 001, 368 tonnes of coal. It merged with neighbouring Florence colliery in 1990 to become the Trentham superpit but was closed in 1996 with the headgear being demolished the following year. The site was then used to build the Britannia Stadium, the new home for Stoke City FC, completed in 1997
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Coal Industry Coal Mine Coal Mining Colliery Michael Michael Walters Mine Mining Paul Walters Worldwide Photography Ltd Pit Head Pithead Staffordshire Walters Winding Gear Trentham
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The Big A, Hem Heath Colliery, Trentham, Staffordshire, 1960. This print by artist Michael Walters captures the iconic headgear of no 2 shaft at Hem Heath Colliery. Affectionately known as 'The Big A' due to its distinctive shape, this towering structure was a symbol of the coal mining industry in Staffordshire. Originally established in 1924, Hem Heath Colliery underwent significant expansion in the 1950s with the sinking of a new shaft that reached an impressive depth of 1134 yards. By 1979, it employed nearly 1800 men and produced over one million tonnes of coal annually. Sadly, like many collieries across Britain, Hem Heath met its demise and merged with Florence colliery in 1990 to form the Trentham superpit. However, just six years later in 1996, operations ceased altogether and the once-mighty headgear was demolished. But from those ashes rose something unexpected - on this very site now stands the Britannia Stadium; home to Stoke City FC since its completion in 1997. The transformation from industrial powerhouse to sporting arena is a testament to both progress and change. This photograph not only captures a moment frozen in time but also serves as a reminder of our ever-evolving landscape. It pays homage to an era when coal mining shaped communities and provided livelihoods for countless families throughout Staffordshire.
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