Description:Lea Hall was the first colliery planned and sunk by the National Coal Board. The two shafts were started in 1954 and sunk to a depth of 1300ft (396m). The first coal was produced in 1960, and the colliery's costs to this date were approximately £14,000,000. The shafts passed through 11 seams of Cannock Chase coal with a total thickness of 51ft (15.5m). It produced in excess of 1,000,000 tons per year on several occasions. It employed over 200 men but was closed on economical grounds in 1990.
In the middle is Mr Jack Evans, Manager of Lea Hall, later Chief Mining Engineer, and finally Area Director. On the left is Reg Barber, Under Manager. On the right is Tony Shirley, Assistant Surveyor.