This is the first shaft sunk by the Bonvilles Court Colliery Company in 1840 and called the Landing Pit the next shaft was sunk 500 yards to the south in 1846 and called the Tower Pit as it was sunk near the fortified mansion known as Bonvilles Castle. The tip eventually covered the Castle around the time of the first world war. The landing Pit was renamed the Fan Pit by the locals after the worlds first Waddle Ventilator Fan was installed in 1863 being 15 feet in diameter. The Fan Pit was then only used for ventilation and as an emergency escape shaft.
This photograph is by Gazdav and was uploaded January 1st 2009. © Gazdav please do not copy or distribute without prior express permission.
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