Skip to content

Remnants of 'rare' Swanwick colliery site added to heritage list

Historic England The headstock at the collieryHistoric England
Historic England said the only comparable small pit was a reconstruction at Dudley's Black Country Living Museum

The remnants of a small-scale 20th Century colliery in Derbyshire have been added to Historic England's National Heritage List.

The headstock and winding house at Swanwick Common Colliery has been included in the list this year.

The Grade II-listed landmark is thought to be the only surviving colliery site of its size and scale, according to Historic England.

It said it had been added to the list because it was "particularly rare".

This rarity was due to the vulnerability of such a small-scale operation if it was to be removed in the future, it added.

The former colliery, which can be found off Derby Road near the A38, was understood to have been built between 1900 and 1916.

Historic England said places that had been added to the list would be "protected for future generations to enjoy".

Historic England Swingate Water TowerHistoric England
Nottinghamshire's Swingate Water Tower has also been added to the list

Chief executive Duncan Wilson said: "A range of remarkable historic buildings and sites are added to the list each year and 2023 is no exception.

"We've examined and protected some amazing sites this year, which together give us a window into our rich and varied historic environment.

"The festive period is a great time to find out more about the historic places all around us. I encourage everyone to explore the heritage on our doorsteps."

Despite being located close to the Swanwick Old Colliery and Swanwick Deep Colliery, it was likely this operation was a small private garden shaft rather than an offshoot of the bigger collieries, Historic England added.

Elsewhere in the East Midlands, the Swingate Water Tower in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, was also named in the list.

Constructed in 1950, the reinforced concrete tower was built alongside a large, new covered reservoir to provide Nottingham with a more reliable drinking water supply.

Historic England said it was unusual because of its "striking neo-Georgian style and a surprising degree of architectural embellishment" for a building of its nature.

A total of 227 sites across England, including monuments as well as parks and gardens, have been added to the list in the past 12 months.

Presentational grey line

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].