Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The former site of Wingham Colliery.

Two shafts were sunk in 1910 and mine buildings were erected. Subterranean water was encountered and the colliery was mothballed until it was sold to a grain miller in 1924. This use continues to this day.

Monument Types

• (Former Type) COLLIERY (Modern - 1910 AD to 1924 AD (between))

Full description

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The former site of Wingham Coliery.

Two shafts were sunk in 1910 and mine buildings were erected. Subterranean water was encountered and the colliery was mothballed until it was sold to a grain miller (Grain Harvesters Ltd.) in 1947 a use which continues to this day. Three original buildings exist on the site, two of which are confirmed and one subject to debate as photographic evidence does not seem to support the cartographic evidence. (1)

Land was purchased from Lord Desborough and development at Wingham started in 1910 with the sinking of two 18 foot shafts to a depth of 1500 feet and the construction and equipping of the surface buildings including the tallest chimney in Kent. Boilers and winding engines were installed but full development of the colliery couldn't start until a branch was built from the East Kent Light Railway which had been under construction since 1911.

It was hoped that Wingham would be producing coal within a year. Two shafts were started, one had reached 60' and the other 70' when they hit water. The owners did not have sufficient capital to buy and install pumps which were required before sinking could continue and in 1921 the owners disposed of its surplus equipment. The railway track was lifted in 1922.

The buildings remained intact for some years and there was renewed interest when Pearson & Dorman Long (owners of Betteshanger Colliery) bought the mineral rights but by 1927 it was clear that no further development of the pit would be undertaken. The site was bought by the Wingham Engineering Company on 1st May 1934 and the chimney was demolished the following year.(2)

The site was sold on to Grain Harvesters Ltd., an animal feed company on 22nd April 1947, they converted the large winding shed into a facility for cleaning, drying and storing grain. This building still survives although much altered and now surrounded by many new buildings and grain silos. In the 1960's standard gauge and narrow gauge track could still be seen embedded in the floor but this has now been covered over with concrete. The colliery manager's house and office also survives, it has been converted into two dwellings and has recently been extended.. The company have kept 'The Old Colliery' as part of their postal address

<1> Dover District Council, 2013, Dover District Heritage Strategy, 10.15 (Bibliographic reference). SKE31372.

<2> Subterranea Britannica, 1998, Subterranea Britannica, http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/w/wingham_colliery/index.shtml (Website). SKE31425.

Sources and further reading

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