Aspull Pumping Pit

These massive walls are the remains of the Aspull Pumping Pit of the Wigan Coal and Iron Co. In the early 1870s work commenced to concentrate pumping from the Cannel and King seams at this location and a 21ft diameter shaft was sunk here. By December 1876 the work was completed and the water had proved so great that the pumphouse (seen here in the background) contained three direct acting steam engines with inverted cylinders working 20 inch ram pumps. An engineer with the company stated that 'these great pumping engines made a big noise when working, snorting, groaning and shaking everything when the pistons came to the end of their stroke'.