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
7. Middleton Broom Colliery
Cottages on Town Street next to the colliery railway winding gear and Holmsville House. The winding gear was used to draw the wagons up the steep incline from Broom Pit in the area of Rope Hill. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
8. Middleton Broom Colliery
A photo from January 1951 of the winding gear used to draw wagons up the steep incline from Broom Pit to Middleton Town Street, on the Middleton Colliery Railway. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
9. Middleton Broom Colliery
The Broom Pit Rescue Team of Middleton Colliery, demonstrating their equipment for use in emergencies. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
10. Middleton Broom Colliery
The cottages were known as "Old Row". In the foreground, a tributary of the beck runs beneath an unmade track. Prior to the closure of Broom Pit the site of Old Belle Isle Village was used as a tipping area for waste products from the colliery. | West Yorkshire Archive Service Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service