The colliery continued to prosper but, following a minor explosion in 1912 which fortunately resulted in no fatalities, it became obvious that additional ventilation was required. It was therefore decided to sink a new ventilation shaft and work commenced in April 1913. The shaft was 5 yards in diameter and 700 feet deep. It was completed in 1914. The heapstead and winding engine house were constructed entirely of brick to a German design and is unique in British coalmining. It is believed that the German construction workers were interned during the First World War.The shaft was named after the Company’s Mining Engineer, Mr Robert Winstanley. As a direct result, the Prince Albert shaft, located behind the present Hesketh Shaft, and the Engine Pit, located between the newly sunk Winstanley Shaft and the Middle Pit, were closed and filled.The Winstanley shaft was barely finished when plans werre drawn up for a new deep shaft to maintain and operate the north and south Cockshead dips which in the Institute shaft had reached a length of 2092 yards from the pit bottom. The Winstanley shaft and its associated heapstead are situated in the south west part of the site. The shaft was sunk between 1913-14 partly to improve ventilation in the Middle Pit, situated to the east. The Middle Pit was capped and infilled in 1966 but its power house dating to circa 1905 and situated to the north of the shaft, remains standing and is included in the scheduling. The power generating machinery was originally located on the upper floor of this building and the ground floor housed a haulage engine for powering the underground haulage systems within the Middle Pit. The Winstanley shaft has also been capped and infilled, but the heapstead survives and incorporates a winding house of unique brick construction and German design encasing the wheel heads. The original steam winder has been replaced by an electric winder in 1966 which remains operable and is included in the scheduling. Approximately 75 metres to the north of the Winstanley shaft heapstead is the colliery's weighbridge and weighplates which are included in the scheduling. The building housing these features was constructed during the 1950s. To the north and north west of the Winstanley shaft are a pump house and the building which originally housed a methane plant. These structures are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath is included. Scheduled.
Audit April 1969:
WINSTANLEY - DEPTH 249 YARDS
Function as a Up Cast 15 feet in diameter, brick lining with rope guides.
Type of Headgear : Brickwork
Number of winders : 1
Type of Winder : Electric Drum
Horse Power : 125
Winding Depth : 241 yards
Date of Installation : 1966
System of Winding : Two Cage
Number of Decks : One