July 2024
This one had been on the list for a very long time. I finally had the pleasure of ticking it off with @Mr Budge one summer evening last year. After easily finding our way into the vast grounds of the colliery, we made our way to the area where we believed the Underground Experience was located. Of course, if you listen to the volunteers at the nearby Heritage Centre, the Underground Experience doesn't exist — but we knew better.
Once inside, we found ourselves standing on what may be the dodgiest floor I’ve ever encountered. With every step, the floor shifted and bowed beneath us. Very slowly, we made our way down, descending into the Underground Experience. The walls were still adorned with information boards dating back to the complex’s time as a visitor attraction. We moved hesitantly through the space, fully aware of how poor the condition was. I will apologise in advance for the lack of quality in the photos, I was still getting to grips with low-light photography using Fujifilm hardware.
History
Chatterley Whitfield, located in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, was once one of Britain’s most productive coal mines. By 1937, it had become the first colliery in the UK to produce over one million tons of coal in a year. However, like many deep coal mines, it faced gradual decline in the post-war period. The colliery eventually ceased coal production on 25 March 1977, with operations transferred to nearby Wolstanton. Rather than dismantle the site, local authorities and the National Coal Board launched an ambitious plan to transform Chatterley Whitfield into a working mining museum—the first of its kind in Britain. It officially reopened to the public in 1979, offering visitors a rare chance to descend the historic Winstanley shaft and explore restored underground roadways. The museum captured the imagination of the public and soon became a popular industrial heritage attraction, drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually.
However, the museum's success was soon threatened. The closure of Wolstanton Colliery in 1984 created significant ventilation and drainage issues for Chatterley’s underground sections. By 1986, safety concerns, especially the risk of gas build-up, forced the underground tours to shut down. Determined to keep the museum alive, British Coal invested £1 million in creating a “New Pit Experience”—an above-ground simulation using a disused railway cutting. This innovative project allowed the continuation of immersive tours without relying on the actual mine workings. The new attraction was opened in October 1987 by HRH Princess Anne. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the site hosted regular events, educational visits, and historical reenactments. However, mounting financial pressures—compounded by the cost of maintaining the decaying industrial infrastructure—led to the museum’s closure and liquidation in August 1993. Many artefacts were auctioned off in 1994, prompting debate over how to protect public collections in private hands.
Despite the museum’s closure, the historic value of Chatterley Whitfield was recognised. The site was declared a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1993, and many of its buildings were listed for preservation. In the 2000s, the site was included in local regeneration efforts, including business space development and environmental restoration. Today, Chatterley Whitfield is one of the most complete surviving examples of a deep coal mine in Britain. Though no longer a full-time museum, the Chatterley Whitfield Friends, a volunteer-led charity founded in 2001, actively work to preserve its legacy through guided tours, educational projects, and archival research. While the “New Pit Experience” remains closed, remnants of its infrastructure still exist—offering potential for future heritage initiatives.
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Fujifilm X-T2, 10-24mm f4 R OIS WR
