Neston Wirral Colliery and Quay
These photographs were taken of an exploration around the former Neston (Wirral) Colliery mineral railway, mine site and the associated Denhall Quay on the banks of the River Dee estuary.
The colliery had an interesting history and although located on the English side of the Dee Estuary in reality worked the seams of the North Wales Coalfield which pass under the estuary.
Mining began in the mid-18th Century was two separate rival concerns, though silting and difficulty accessing the quayside led to transport difficulties and closure.
However, following the arrival of the nearby Hooton to West Kirby line of the Great Western and London North Western Railways mining recommenced as Wirral Colliery and continued until 1927 when the mine and mineral railway closed. Over the years the mine site was cleared and eventually developed for housing in the 1960s / 70s.
The mineral railway joined the Hooton to West Kirby line south of Parkgate Station part of the trackbed is a footpath but the West Kirby end is overgrown.
Time has obliterated most traces of the colliery.
The shafts do exist behind walls in the housing estate as do the overgrown spoil tips. The masonry Denhall Quay is still extant as is the miners’ pub the Harp Inn.
Read MoreThe colliery had an interesting history and although located on the English side of the Dee Estuary in reality worked the seams of the North Wales Coalfield which pass under the estuary.
Mining began in the mid-18th Century was two separate rival concerns, though silting and difficulty accessing the quayside led to transport difficulties and closure.
However, following the arrival of the nearby Hooton to West Kirby line of the Great Western and London North Western Railways mining recommenced as Wirral Colliery and continued until 1927 when the mine and mineral railway closed. Over the years the mine site was cleared and eventually developed for housing in the 1960s / 70s.
The mineral railway joined the Hooton to West Kirby line south of Parkgate Station part of the trackbed is a footpath but the West Kirby end is overgrown.
Time has obliterated most traces of the colliery.
The shafts do exist behind walls in the housing estate as do the overgrown spoil tips. The masonry Denhall Quay is still extant as is the miners’ pub the Harp Inn.
