Pudley Hill Colliery

Overview

A pit near Telford Central, sunk by William Botfield in 1829 to 751 feet for coal and ironstone, that became the central pumping station for the Lilleshall and Haybridge companies' pits from 1890 until pumping ended by 1914. Its engine house was blown up in 1971.

History

Pudley Hill was sunk by William Botfield in 1829 for coal and ironstone, to a depth of 751 feet 9 inches, through a section of sixteen coal seams and five ironstone seams. It had three shafts, one each for coal, ironstone and water, and stood near the footbridge to the present railway station. Until 1890 it belonged to the Malinslee and Stirchley estate and was run by a succession of companies.

As the estate's pits closed, the Lilleshall Company and the Haybridge Company, which was then working Pudley Hill, agreed to pump jointly there as the Shropshire Mines Drainage Company. The engine from the Wombridge pumping station, stopped about 1884, was moved to Pudley Hill, and in 1890 a Cornish condensing beam pumping engine replaced it. Pudley Hill became the central pumping station for several pits and works of the two companies, much of the water being lifted only as far as the Day Level sough, which connected with it; the rest supplied the Old Park and Priorslee ironworks. Pumping had finished by 1914. The engine house stood ruined for most of the twentieth century and was blown up in 1971 in a Telford reclamation scheme; the site is now part of a hotel car park.

Geology

Shropshire Coal Measures: sixteen coal seams and five ironstone seams in the sinking section.

Workings

Three shafts, for coal, ironstone and water; a pumping engine from Wombridge, replaced in 1890 by a Cornish condensing beam engine; connected with the Day Level sough.

Closure

Pumping had finished by 1914; the engine house was demolished by blasting in 1971.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

The site is part of a hotel car park; the engine house was blown up in 1971.

Recorded claims

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

• Pudley Hill was sunk by William Botfield in 1829 for coal and ironstone to 751 ft 9 in, with three shafts. ¹
• Pudley Hill became a central pumping station for a number of Lilleshall Company and Haybridge Company pits and works. ^1,2
• A Cornish condensing beam pumping engine replaced the engine brought from Wombridge in 1890. ¹
• The Day Level sough connected with Pudley Hill, which lay near the footbridge to the railway station. ^3,2
• Pumping had finished by 1914 and the engine house was blown up in 1971. ¹

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Pudley Hill Colliery — The Miner's Walk
2. (secondary) Below 2013.2, Quarterly Journal of the Shropshire Caving & Mining Club — Shropshire Caving & Mining Club
3. (secondary) Albion Pit and Day Level Sough — The Miner's Walk

Record created: 3 October 2026 · Last researched: 4 October 2026