IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Miners Way, CANTERBURY, CT3 3BF

Snowdown was the deepest of the four main pits in the Kent Coalfield, reaching a depth of 3,083 feet - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_Coalfield Work commenced in 1908, and coal was first brought to the surface on November 19th 1912. The first shaft sunk hit water at 260 feet and 22 men were drowned. The colliery was served by the Faversham to Dover railway, and a halt called Snowdown & Nonington was provided. The new town of Aylesham was built just to the north of the colliery to provide homes for the many migrant workers from Wales and the north-east of England. Building started in September 1926, just after the General Strike, the first stage comprising 400 houses, half built of traditional materials, while the other half were to be of concrete and steel. In 1945 the workforce was 1,876, with 1,523 being employed sub-surface and 353 above. The colliery closed in 1986 and the shafts were capped in 1988. A few ruinous buildings remain today - see http://www.eastkent.freeuk.com/mining/snowdown_colliery.htm At Aylesham can be seen the former school and the buildings for the miners' social and welfare needs. The former school is to the right of the tree. Nearby is the sculpture called ‘Payday at Snowdown Colliery’. It represents two children going with their father to the pit canteen in the school holidays for the traditional miner’s dinner of pit pasty, peas and mashed potatoes – see https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6607557

Compared with Image, two concrete blocks have been placed across the entrance and now, with no trace of the green netting, the derelict site is fully revealed.

The sheet of paper, attached to the fence, to the right of the information board reads “NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to section 95(2) of the Localism Act 2011 (“the Act”) that on 20 November 2015 Dover District Council (“the Council”) received notice from the owners of Aylesham Youth Centre, Ackholt Road, Aylesham which said property is registered at HM Land Registry under title K951717 (“the Land”) of their intention to dispose of said land. The Land is included in the authority’s list of assets of community value. Attention is drawn to the relevant dates that apply under Section 95. The initial moratorium period ends on the 31 December 2015. Any Community interest groups who wish to be treated as a potential bidder in relation to the land should submit a request in writing to the council before that date. These conditions as well as other matters are contained in sections 95 and 96 of the Act". Dated 23 November 2015 Dover District Council White Cliffs Business Park Dover Kent CT16 3PJ The green netting surrounds a site where a building once stood but seven months later it had been removed beyond the Image

The line from Faversham to Canterbury East was opened on 9th July 1860 by the London, Chatham & Dover Railway. On 22nd July 1861 this was extended from Canterbury East to Dover. Aylesham station was opened by the Southern Railway on 1st July 1928 to cater for the considerable increase in passenger traffic brought about by the development of the Kent Coalfield. This is the view from the up platform looking in the direction of Dover.

Snowdown was the deepest of the four main pits in the Kent Coalfield, reaching a depth of 3,083 feet - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_Coalfield Work commenced in 1908, and coal was first brought to the surface on November 19th 1912. The first shaft sunk hit water at 260 feet and 22 men were drowned. The colliery was served by the Faversham to Dover railway, and a halt called Snowdown & Nonington was provided. The new town of Aylesham was built just to the north of the colliery to provide homes for the many migrant workers from Wales and the north-east of England. Building started in September 1926, just after the General Strike, the first stage comprising 400 houses, half built of traditional materials, while the other half were to be of concrete and steel. In 1945 the workforce was 1,876, with 1,523 being employed sub-surface and 353 above. The colliery closed in 1986 and the shafts were capped in 1988. A few ruinous buildings remain today - see http://www.eastkent.freeuk.com/mining/snowdown_colliery.htm At Aylesham can be seen this sculpture called ‘Payday at Snowdown Colliery’. It represents two children going with their father to the pit canteen in the school holidays for the traditional miner’s dinner of pit pasty, peas and mashed potatoes – see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3413281 for the wording on the plaque in front of the sculpture.

Sculpture commemorating Aylesham's mining history.