Newton Wood Private
Branch & Victoria Colliery
This branch was about 247 yards long and it was situated on the offside of the canal between Dukinfield Hall (or Well) Bridge and Newton Hall Bridge. In 1888, the Dukinfield Coal and Cannel Company had a loading stage here and there was also Jamieson's Dye Manufacturing Works. A Tithe Map of 1850 shows that there was a path on the offside of the canal from Newton Hall Bridge that extended for about two thirds of the length of the branch. However, it is likely that this was simply a path for boat horses to use rather than a properly constructed towpath with coping stones alongside the canal.
Coal was conveyed to the loading stage down a tramway from Victoria Colliery, also known as Lakes Pit. The estimated length of the tramway was just over half a mile and it was practically in a straight line. It passed under Dewsnap Lane, over the line of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and then over Victoria Road. Between Victoria Road and the loading stage there was a sizeable inclined embankment. Underneath Dewsnap Lane bridge there was a turnout that led to a siding beside the railway line so that coal could be taken away by rail as well as by canal. At the foot of the inclined embankment, the tramway split and then crossed over the canal. Here there would have been a waggon tippling device of some kind to enable boats to be loaded with coal. The method of operating the tramway is unknown but, considering that it was on an incline, it is likely that it was rope or chain operated.
Operations to fill the shaft of Victoria Colliery commenced in September 1903 and today there is no trace to show its former existence. Its site is now a large playing field in the angle between Boyd's Walk and Armadale Road.
The other name for Victoria Colliery is Lakes Pit and this was derived from its proximity to 'The Lakes', which was a large house built close by two small lakes. For many years, this house was the home of William Bass, a steward for the Astley family, who was a member of the brewing family. He died in 1889, aged 63 years. A later occupant was Dr Frank Gerald Ralphs (1881 - 1969) a striking man, 6 feet 7 inches tall, who had a military career as a surgeon serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps. Later, he became a Coroner for the area. The two lakes are no longer extant as Dr Ralphs had them drained and filled in after a man drowned in one of them. Dr Ralphs died in 1969, aged 87 years, and he left 'The Lakes' to Mrs Eileen Meredith who converted it into a nursing home. Today, it is still a nursing home and it stands on Ralphs Lane off Boyd's Walk.
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| Looking down the tramway towards Victoria Road. The original tramway bridge over the railway line has been replaced by a footbridge. | Looking towards Victoria Road from the footbridge. This section of the tramway is now Wood Street. |
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| The near end of this low stone wall is all that remains of one of the abutments of the tramway bridge over Victoria Road. | The brick wall and trees beyond are where the inclined embankment once stood. |
Victoria Colliery Disaster, 1866
On the Thursday, 14 June
1866, an underground explosion occurred that caused 38 miners to be killed. For
details of this disaster and the names of the men killed click on the miner's
check.
Victoria Colliery Disaster, Click here >>> 
