Beech Tree Colliery

Overview

One of the most southerly pits on the South Staffordshire coalfield, its shafts sunk at Cradley Heath in 1873-74 but left almost entirely unworked for over forty years, before finally becoming a modern, electrically powered mine from around 1920 — the last working colliery in Cradley, closed in 1958 when floodwater broke through the surrounding clay.

History

The shafts at what became Beech Tree Colliery, on Foxcote Lane, Cradley Heath, were sunk in 1873-74 by James Holcroft — whose name remained on the pit's stack for decades afterward — reaching coal and fireclay at around 600 feet. According to local tradition, almost no mining actually took place in the following decades: soon after coal was proved, a manager from a neighbouring colliery reportedly bribed the nightwatchman for access to the workings, discovered a good seam running in one particular direction, and his own company promptly bought up the mineral rights on that side, leaving Beech Tree to develop only outward towards the sandstone ridge instead — coal here was of poor quality and the seams thin, marking the point where 'the rich North Staffordshire seams start to peter out'. The pit, originally known as Pig Lane Pit, was renamed Beech Tree Colliery in 1920 when Mobberley and Perry took over the lease under Mr R. Perry, and proper working finally began the following year, with a new pair of 24-inch-cylinder winding engines and a 12-foot drum. It was, by then, a modern mine for its size, using electricity to drive pumps, air compressors and lighting. The 1921 and 1926 strikes brought short-time working — half shifts, three days a week, or 'stint work' paid by the tub — and conditions in the narrow, poor-lit seams remained hard; one surface worker, Hartley Skidmore, recalled after 42 years in the mines that his own son refused ever to follow him underground. The colliery was nationalised in 1947, becoming part of the National Coal Board's West Midlands Division, and was extensively modernised from 1955 — but water, not economics, finally ended it: floodwater began seeping through a fault in the surrounding clay strata, washing out roads and galleries faster than pumps could clear it, and the National Coal Board ordered the pit's closure in September 1958, the last working colliery in Cradley. Salvage operations transferred 118 men to other collieries and removed 27 pit ponies within a week of the announcement, leaving an estimated half a million tons of coal still underground.

Workings

Shafts reaching around 600 feet to coal and fireclay; from 1921, a pair of 24-inch-cylinder winding engines with a 12-foot drum, and electrically driven pumps, air compressors and lighting throughout.

Closure

Closed in September 1958 after floodwater, entering through a fault in the surrounding clay strata, began washing out roads and galleries faster than pumps could control — not for economic reasons. An estimated half a million tons of coal was left unworked; 118 men were transferred to other collieries and 27 pit ponies removed within a week.

What remains

The only part of the colliery known to survive is its former pithead baths building, later used by the local Scout group.

Recorded claims

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

• The shafts were sunk in 1873-74 by James Holcroft, whose name remained on the pit's stack for decades; almost no mining took place for over forty years afterward. ¹
• The pit, originally Pig Lane Pit, was renamed Beech Tree Colliery in 1920 when Mobberley and Perry took over the lease under Mr R. Perry, with proper working beginning in 1921 using new winding engines and full electrical power. ¹
• Local tradition held that a manager from a neighbouring colliery bribed the Beech Tree nightwatchman for underground access, discovered a good coal seam running in one direction, and his own company then bought up the mineral rights on that side — presented in the source as contemporary rumour, not an established fact. (uncertain) ¹
• The colliery closed in September 1958 after floodwater entering through a fault in the surrounding clay strata washed out roads and galleries faster than pumps could clear it; 118 men were transferred to other collieries and 27 pit ponies removed within a week, leaving an estimated half a million tons of coal unworked. ¹
• Beech Tree Colliery stood on Foxcote Lane, Cradley Heath, one of the most southerly pits on the South Staffordshire coalfield. ²

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) Beech Tree Colliery — Cradley Links (transcribing a 14 September 1958 Sunday Mercury article by Christine Cartwright) — Cradley Links / Sunday Mercury (1958)
2. (secondary) Beech Tree Colliery, Cradley Heath — Wikipedia — Wikipedia

Record created: 2 September 2026 · Last researched: 2 September 2026