There is little indication of how long the fort was in use but it is believed to have been constructed in the late 1st Century AD.

Excavations in 1895 revealed the fort's vallum, fosse (moat) and parts of the east and west defensive structures.

Following that, it became part of the Wolstanton United Urban District until 1932, when it was added to the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Despite heavy investment in the 1960s and 1970s the colliery closed down in 1988, just three years after the end of the year-long miners' strike.

The investigation concluded that the rescue plans were insufficient and adopted to save costs at the expense of lives.