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Whickham
Axwell Colliery
Whickham Pit Head
Axwell Colliery was located at the top of Whickham Bank with a drift at the foot of Whickham Bank in Swalwell. It was sunk in 1835 and electrified and modernised 1898 to 1906, when the head gear was placed high above the shaft in an enclosed brick building.
This mine was sunk to a depth of 70 fathoms to win coal from very deep seams, all shallow seams having been exploited many centuries earlier by a collection of bell pits. It was closed in 1954.
The enclosure of the winding gear in a building was very unusual and an unsuccessful attempt was made to preserve it as a listed building. The building was demolished 3rd of May 1975
Priestman Collieries Ltd took over the leases of Axwell Park, Bagnall's and Whickham Bank collieries in 1902 and as part of their expansionist policy sank Watergate Pit in 1926.