Silverdale Mining Monument, Silverdale

Image: © Brian Deegan Taken: 3 Dec 2017

Unveiled 8th June 1996, Sculptors Steven Whyte and Michael Talbot The Plaque reads :- Despite efforts to develop the remaining seams Coal was mined for the last time in Silverdale on the 24th December, 1998. Gerald D'Arcy, son of a Silverdale Mining family, worked to establish the tribute from his original idea through research and fundraising to realisation. 1830 First Commercial mining of coal 1851 Francis Stanier 1900 "Nabs" and "Sheriff" become "The Big Pit" 1923 Kent's Lane becomes Silverdale Colliery 1946 Nationalisation 1969 Retreat Workings 1970 British production record 1971 European production record 1975 Drift access 1985 Silverdale New Mine 87/88/89 1 Million tonnes each year 1994 Coal investments plc 1996 A new beginning The main employer in Silverdale for well over 100 years was Silverdale Colliery, also known locally as Kent's Lane. The first shafts were sunk in the 1830s and the colliery initially mined ironstone as well as coal. The main user of both the minerals was the nearby Silverdale Forge. The colliery was completely rebuilt during the 1970s when three new drifts were sunk to exploit new reserves in the Keele area. Production increased and the pit mined over one million tonnes annually but was closed in 1998, the last deep mine in North Staffordshire to close.

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