Astley Deep Pit

Overview

The Astley family's deep pit at Dukinfield, completed in 1858 after nearly twelve years' sinking as the deepest coal pit in Britain, 686 yards to the Black Mine. Explosions killed nine in 1870 and 54 in 1874; it closed on 7 August 1901 and the site is now housing.

History

Francis Dukinfield Palmer Astley, lord of the manor of Dukinfield, developed the town's two most notable collieries, Dukinfield and the Astley Deep Pit. The Deep Pit was sunk to the Lancashire Black Mine, a prized four-foot seam that sold at ten shillings a ton at the pit mouth, and in August 1858 the Illustrated London News reported it complete after nearly twelve years' labour, the deepest coal pit in Great Britain and probably the world. It was said to have cost £100,000. The Cannel, Peacock and Three Sheds mines were also worked, and the colliery had three shafts. Astley was working it in 1854-55; it then passed to the Dunkirk Coal Company, the Dukinfield Coal and Cannel Company and, by 1900, Dukinfield Collieries Ltd.

The pit was a dangerous one. Men were thrown over the headstocks in a winding accident in 1855, and an explosion on 4 March 1870 killed nine. On 14 April 1874, when Benjamin Ashton was its proprietor, a roof fall in the Half Moon Tunnel released gas that exploded and killed 54. The Deep Pit closed on 7 August 1901, with the associated Chapel Pit, Dewsnap New Pit and Victoria Colliery. Its spoil heap was flattened in the 1970s, the shafts were filled with concrete in the 1980s, and the site is now under Ashbridge Drive, Kingsbridge Drive and Kentwell Close.

Geology

Lancashire Coal Measures of the Manchester coalfield: the Black Mine, 1.42 metres thick at about 629 metres, with the Cannel, Peacock and Three Sheds mines; the Great Mine above was already worked out.

Workings

Three shafts, the downcast 686 yards to the Black Mine and one later deepened to 717 yards; workings about a mile and a third to the south and 1,300 yards to the north of the shaft; furnace ventilation.

Closure

Closed on 7 August 1901, together with the associated Chapel Pit, Dewsnap New Pit and Victoria Colliery.

What remains

The site is covered by housing on Ashbridge Drive, Kingsbridge Drive and Kentwell Close; a Tameside council blue plaque on Woodbury Crescent recalls the 1874 disaster.

None; the spoil heap was levelled in the 1970s and the three shafts filled with concrete in the 1980s before the site was built over.

Redevelopment

Used for years as a cinder football pitch, then built over with housing after the shafts were filled.

Disasters & major incidents

• Astley Deep Pit explosion, 1874
  14 April 1874 · Explosion · 54 fatalities
  On 14 April 1874 a roof fall in the Half Moon Tunnel at Astley Deep Pit, Dukinfield, then the deepest coal mine in Britain, released gas that exploded and set the workings on fire, killing 54 men and boys. The jury blamed the bricking-up of a ventilating mouthing and a pit in a state of anarchy.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• The pit was started around 1845. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• When completed in 1858 after nearly twelve years' labour it was reported the deepest coal pit in Great Britain, 686 yards to the Black Mine. ^1,2
• The pit was started around 1845. (disputed) ¹
• It was said to have cost £100,000. ^1,2
• Explosions killed nine on 4 March 1870 and 54 on 14 April 1874. ^1,2,3
• The Deep Pit closed on 7 August 1901. ²
• The site is now under Ashbridge Drive, Kingsbridge Drive and Kentwell Close. ¹

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Astley Deep Pit disaster — Wikipedia
2. (secondary) Dunkinfield Colliery (1847-1901) — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (secondary) Dukinfield — Wikipedia

Record created: 3 October 2026 · Last researched: 3 October 2026