Two small diameter shafts were originally sunk in 1874 to a depth of 183 metres (600 ft) by the Stanton Iron and Coal Company.

At the same time no.2 shaft (downcast) commenced winding from the low main seam horizon.

The available resources of the deep hard and low main seams to the south west of the shafts were exhausted by 1943.

The park has a visitor centre, fishing, football pitches, children's play areas, picnicking, cycling and horse paths, bird feeding stations, an arboretum, a remembrance grove and disabled car parking.

There are four wetland feature areas, Brierley Waters, a reed swamp, Rooley Brook and the visitor centre pond.