Plain Pit Basin and Plain Pit

Plain Pit Basin and Pit were situated on the offside of the canal a short distance to the south of the Newton Wood Private Branch and Newton Wood Stop Place.

Referring to the tithe map, it appears that there was a gantry across the narrow part of the basin and it is suspected that a waggon tippling device would have been mounted on this to enable boats to be loaded with coal. A bridge was also provided over the canal and towpath to enable coal to be taken away by horse and cart, via Dunkirk Lane. At Dunkirk Lane, carts could travel northwards to Globe Lane and Globe Square, via Dukinfield Hall (or Well) Bridge, or southwards to Dukinfield Road, Newton, Hyde, via Newton Hall Bridge.

The 1888 Canal Distance Tables make neither reference to Plain Pit Basin and Pit, nor to the bridge over the canal, so by this time the pit was closed and the bridge demolished.

On the 20 January 1847 Thomas Bradley was killed at Plain Pit.

These days, the only trace of the existence of Plain Pit is a street of the same name off the west side of Dukinfield Road.