Images of Audley
Local Industry
Click the title of the image to see a full sized enlargement. The reference number for each picture refers to its location in the school archive library. Copies can be obtained from the school librarian.
A Pithead scene at Rookery about 1920. (img0017) This mine was situated adjacent to the Diglake mine (see below). In 1933 access was gained to the closed Diglake Mine and a number of bodies removed from the scene of the 1895 disasaster. Rookery mine closed in 1947
Tools being brought to the surface at the Minnie Pit 1st May 1930. (img0024) The men were bringing their tools to the surface for the last time - the owners Midland Coal, Coke and Iron Company closed the mine in May 1930. The mine had been named after the daughter (Minnie Craig) of the previous owners Cooper and Craig
Diglake Mine. (img0056) Work began here in 1818 and by 1860 was quite an extensive mine. By 1882 the mine was owned by the Audley Coal and Iron Company. In 1895 there was an accident when 75 men out of the 240 working in the mine, lost their lives due to flooding. After the accident the mine never re-opened.
Victorian photographs of men involved in rescue operations at Diglake and Boyles Hall disasters 1895. (imgl0061) Top left shows the Diglake mine, top centre William Dodd, Top right the Boyles Hall mine. Bottom left shows William Burgess an engine driver at the mine, centre bottom various members of the rescue party and bottom right G Dobson an engine driver.
The Jamage mine - the rescue brigade (img0015) This was quite an old colliery at the foot of Bignal Hill, owned in 1882 by W. Rigby and Compnay on behalf of Jos. Wedgewood. The men in the picture are carrying traditional Davy safety lamps and the man in the front right (seated) has a small bird in cage (again used for safety - to test for gas)
Ponies (img0057) were the main method of moving wagons
underground!
Other local photographs connected with Mines can be found at
