Cannock and Leacroft Colliery

Overview

A Cannock Chase colliery opened as Leacroft in September 1874, merged into Mid Cannock Colliery in 1954, and worked on under that name until 1967; the site now lies beneath the Poplars landfill.

History

Leacroft Colliery was opened in September 1874 on the Cannock Chase coalfield. In September 1954 it was merged with the neighbouring Mid Cannock Colliery, continuing production as a combined operation -- known as Cannock and Leacroft -- until Mid Cannock's own closure in 1967. Mid Cannock itself had passed through several owners over its working life: the Mid Cannock Colliery Co. from 1875, W. Harrison Ltd from 1915, and the National Coal Board following nationalisation in 1947. Leacroft's own pre-1954 ownership is not separately recorded, distinct from Mid Cannock's better-documented history. The combined site has since been redeveloped, and now lies beneath the Poplars landfill site. Leacroft was connected underground to Mid Cannock Colliery in 1954, giving the two collieries shared access to each other's coal reserves; Mid Cannock had itself been connected to Wyrley No. 3 Colliery the year before, in 1953. Even after Leacroft's own workings were exhausted, its upcast shaft was kept open specifically to pump water and protect the neighbouring Littleton Colliery from flooding.

Geology

Coal of the Cannock Chase field; the seams worked are not recorded.

Workings

Nothing is recorded of the colliery's own specific underground workings.

Closure

Closed in 1967 following the merger of Leacroft into Mid Cannock Colliery in 1954.

What remains

The former colliery site now lies beneath the Poplars landfill site.

Related mines

• Littleton Colliery — Littleton's upcast shaft was kept open specifically to pump water and protect the neighbouring Cannock and Leacroft from flooding.

Recorded claims

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

• Leacroft Colliery, opened in September 1874, was merged with Mid Cannock Colliery in September 1954; the combined operation closed in 1967. ¹
• Mid Cannock Colliery passed from the Mid Cannock Colliery Co. (from 1875) to W. Harrison Ltd (from 1915) and the National Coal Board (from 1947). ²
• Leacroft was connected underground to Mid Cannock Colliery in 1954 (Mid Cannock having itself been connected to Wyrley No. 3 the year before); Leacroft's upcast shaft was kept open afterwards specifically to protect Littleton Colliery from flooding. ²

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) Rough Time Line — Cannock Chase Mining History Society
2. (secondary) Mid Cannock Colliery, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire — Mindat

Record created: 31 August 2026 · Last researched: 1 September 2026