Fan house

Englefield Colliery near Greenfield was at work in 1869 and continued until c1937-38. The Coal Authority has recently destroyed the top of the upcast shaft with overenthusiastic safety measures to obliterate the shaft top, even though it was already filled-in almost to the surface. Fortunately there are still some interesting remains on site, including the fan drift from the upcast leading to the fan house and evasee.

This view is looking from the side of the fan house and the steam engine drive through the circular opening to the fan itself. There is an identical hole on the other side of the fan chamber which would have lead to an identical steam engine. The drive would have been taken from the cylinder/engine on one side, with the other as spare. It would not take long to change over if there was a breakdown. The brickwork includes many glazed examples and is all from various incarnations of the Rock Brick Company at Buckley.