Description:A close up view of the winding wheel at Minnie Pit in Halmerend, near Alsager's Bank. Miners are photographed taking a break, some of whom look very young. The Minnie Pit was the largest pit within Podmore Hill Colliery.
Minnie pit will be remembered as the most infamous in the North Staffordshire coal field due to the heavy loss of life it incurred on 12th January 1918. This was the third disaster at the pit and was the worst one in the areas’ mining history. 155 miners lost their lives. The pit was closed on 30 September 1930