Description:Onlookers at the ceremonial cutting of the first sod by Mrs James Meakin (in the centre of the photograph) at the site of the shafts for the new colliery venture at Shaffalong in October 1906. Children were let out of school to attend the event. Amongst the many dignitaries attending were Sir Thomas Wardle, The Duchess of Sutherland, Lord Armstrong, The Marchioness de Sain and Lady Hughes. Flags were flown, a thanksgiving hymn was sung and the lusty cheers raised of hundreds of villagers at the mid-day inaugural ceremony in what was described as " ... one of the most important industrial departures which North Staffordshire has witnessed for many decades”. The Lord of the Manor, Mr James Meakin of Darlaston Hall near Stone, granted a mining lease to Westwood Manor Coal and Iron Company Ltd which was formed with initial capital of £100,000. Optimism was sky-high with talk of three new industries, a new town, shops, houses and employment which would inevitably follow.
However, mining operations were beset by problems, particularly flooding, and the mine was never economically successful. It closed in December 1910.