Operated by Bersham Coal Company, the first shaft was sunk in 1864 on the site of a brickworks immediately adjacent to the Shrewsbury to Chester railway line, however due to difficulties the pit did not reach the main coal seams and the site was left abandoned until 1871 when the pit was deepened by new owners, the Barnes family of Liverpool; coal production started in 1874 with two shafts; No.1 at a diameter of 10 feet and depth of 420 yards, and No.2 shaft at a diameter of 12 feet and a depth of 421 yards.

Replacement headgear which still stands today was purchased and moved from the nearby Gatewen Colliery at Broughton, Wrexham.

The colliery was immediately modernised, completed in 1954 with a new block housing new pithead baths, canteen and offices designed to cater for up to 1,100 men.

To this end a large pillar of solid coal was left untouched to allow the nearby home of the Yorke Family, Erddig Hall to remain out of danger.

Eventually the owner of the estate, the last Squire Yorke had to move out of Erddig and left the property to the National Trust.

The large amounts of equipment still underground meant that salvage operations continued into 1987, however a great deal was left in place.

Most of the surface buildings were demolished shortly after with the main exceptions of the No.2 headgear with its wheel, and its engine house complete with electric winding gear.

In 2003, a company called Bersham Glenside Ltd announced controversial plans to remove the tip and sell it to the building industry.

[7] Wrexham County Borough Council eventually refused planning permission for this to take place, and Cadw recommended the tip remain.