[1] The colliery's first shaft was sunk to the Rams mine at 455 yards in 1866 by Astley and Tyldesley Coal and Salt Company to exploit the Middle Coal Measures of the Manchester Coalfield.
The colliery expanded and eventually had five shafts and became one of the largest pits on the coalfield.
No.3 shaft was sunk to 707 yards to the Trencherbone mine through water-bearing rock in 1899.
The pithead bath house built by the Miner's Welfare Committee in the 1930s survived and was converted to other uses.
[5] The pit was the subject of a painting by local artist, Roger Hampson.