Chatterley Whitfield Colliery

About the museum

Chatterley Whitfield was one of the largest deep coal mines in the north Staffordshire coalfield. Mining in the Whitfield area was under way by 1853, the Prince Albert shaft was sunk before the railway arrived in 1859 to 1860, and coal winding came to an end in 1976 or 1977. The Chatterley Whitfield Mining Museum opened in 1979 and ran underground tours under a charitable trust, but it closed in 1993. In the same year the whole site, including surface buildings and underground workings, was designated a scheduled monument.

Today it is described as the most comprehensive surviving deep mine site in England. The buildings are not normally open to the public, and visits are mainly the free guided tours run by the volunteer group Chatterley Whitfield Friends together with Stoke-on-Trent City Council during Heritage Open Days in September. The tours last about two hours, take groups of up to 30 people, and have to be booked in advance.

The Friends now run a heritage centre, a memorial garden and an artefacts hall, and a display building with a lamp house display and three battery-operated underground locomotives was opened for the first time in about 30 years. There is no underground access, and entry to the other buildings is limited and subject to the approval of the city council. Visitors need sturdy shoes because the ground is uneven.

Highlights

• Scheduled monument and the most complete surviving deep mine site in England
• Guided tours led by Chatterley Whitfield Friends
• Heritage centre, memorial garden and artefacts hall
• Lamp house display with three battery-operated underground locomotives

Permanent exhibition

• Heritage centre, artefacts hall and lamp house display – A heritage centre, a memorial garden, an artefacts hall and a display building with a lamp house display and three battery-operated underground locomotives.

Operated by

Chatterley Whitfield Friends CIO

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

The guided Heritage Open Days tours are free of charge but have to be pre-booked through TicketSource.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is partial wheelchair access. The site is an old industrial area with uneven ground, so sturdy shoes are needed. Accessible toilets and disabled parking are listed, and assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 7+

Children under 7 are not admitted to the main site, and the uneven ground makes sturdy shoes necessary.

Getting there & parking

The tours are based at the Chatterley Whitfield Enterprise Centre on Chel Road.

Amenities & dining

Toilets and refreshments are listed for the tour days.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit