Middleton Broom Colliery was at the heart of life in the community for 89 years before its closure in May 1968 due to the “exhaustion of economically workable reserves”. It was served by Middleton Railway and workers lived in cottages in the nearby hamlet of Belle Isle. The colliery was reclaimed and is part of Middleton Park while the preservation of the railway was run by Middleton Railway Trust. These wonderful photos are sure to evoke memories for those who worked at the pit back in the day as well as those who lived in the community. The images are published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. They also run heritage blog The Secret Library Leeds, which provides a behind the scenes look at the Central Library and highlights from its special collections, including rare books hidden away in the stacks. READ MORE: 12 lost Leeds railway stations you may remember LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia
1. Middleton Broom Colliery
Staff of Broom Pit and Middleton Fireclay (bricks) companies pictured in 1913. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
2. Middleton Broom Colliery
A tinted glass lantern slide of Middleton Colliery from 1909. In the centre of the image is a slag heap, above which is a pit-head winding gear. | Leeds Museums Service Photo: Leeds Museums Service
3. Middleton Broom Colliery
The railway track and winding gear used to draw wagons up the steep incline from Broom Pit to Middleton Town Street at Rope Hill. The backs of cottages on Town Street in the vicinity of Holmsville house can be seen, as can a set of points and a rudimentary signal. Pictured in November 1950. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
4. Middleton Broom Colliery
Looking down the steep incline from Middleton Town Street to Broom Pit. The photograph shows a signal and points, situated where winding gear was used to help draw the wagons up the incline at Rope Hill. Pictured in November 1950. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
5. Middleton Broom Colliery
The hamlet of Old Belle Isle was built in the late 1700s by Charles Brandling for workers at the colliery. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
6. Middleton Broom Colliery
The hamlet was made up of three rows of around 24 cottages. The houses were unnumbered and up until the late 1950s had no electricity, gas or hot water. This row was made up of nine houses and may have been called Waterloo Row. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net