| Catalogue Finding Number | WYHER/13080 |
| Office record is held at | Historical Environment Record, West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service |
| Held Outside WYAS | THE RECORD DESCRIBED IS HELD AND ADMINISTERED BY THE WEST YORKSHIRE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT RECORD PLEASE CONTACT THEM ON 0113 535 0157 IF YOU WISH TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO VIEW THIS RECORD |
| Title | Sharlston Colliery (Walton Colliery), Walton |
| Description | Sharlston Colliery (Walton Colliery), Walton. Grid reference marks the position of the original shaft as depicted c.1894 (OS 1st edition. 25').
Sharlston Colliery was established in the last half of the 19th century in an area of coal mining which deeds show was taking place on a small scale before 1635 (Goodchild, J. 1978). The 19th century transport revolution and the discovery of coal on the Walton Hall estate in 1868 led to the area being exploited for coal extraction on large scale. The sinking of the main shaft of the new colliery at Sharlston was undertaken in 1890. The site was well facilitated by both rail and canal communications connected to the colliery by mineral railways. A new locomotive was brought to the pit in 1890.
By 1901 there were 610 employees at Walton. At its height, in 1930 there were 1200 employees and the colliery was described as being 'amongst the best and most completely equipped in the country'. In 1978 the mine employed 740 men and produced 230,000 tons of coal (Goodchild, J. 1978).
Sharlston Colliery closed in 1993 and all the surface buildings, headgear etc. were demolished and cleared. Surface mining began in 2007. The site is now the Walton Colliery Nature Park (http://www.wdco.org/site/Wakefield District Biodiversity Group/Sharlston Colliery.htm. Web site accessed 19/12/2013).
West Yorkshire HER also hold a photocopies of photographic prints of the boiler house, winding house and power house at Walton Colliery probably taken some time after the buildings fell into redundancy (Anon. Undated. Images of the Winding House, Boiler House and Power House at Walton Colliery). Interior shots of the engines are also included. |
| Date | 21st century |
| Extent | contact the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service for information on what is available |
| Level | Item |