Population 4,957 (2011) Region West Midlands Sovereign state United Kingdom Local time Wednesday 12:45 AM Dialling code 01782 | OS grid reference SJ821465 Country England Post town Newcastle, Staffs Shire county Staffordshire UK parliament constituency Newcastle-under-Lyme | |
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Weather 4°C, Wind SE at 18 km/h, 93% Humidity District Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme | ||
Silverdale is a suburban town and civil parish in Staffordshire, west of Newcastle-under-Lyme. In 1932 it became part of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme and is now, with the exception of the north-eastern end, part of the Silverdale and Parksite ward.
Contents
Map of Silverdale, UK
Historically the village has been dominated by the coal industry and records indicate coal was mined in the area as long ago as the 13th century. The last colliery, Silverdale, closed in 1998.
Silverdale Colliery
The main employer in Silverdale for well over 100 years was Silverdale Colliery, also known locally as Kent's Lane. The first shafts were sunk in the 1830s and the colliery initially mined ironstone as well as coal. The main user of both the minerals was the nearby Silverdale Forge.
The colliery was completely rebuilt during the 1970s when three new drifts were sunk to exploit new reserves in the Keele area. Production increased and the pit mined over one million tonnes annually but was closed in 1998, the last deep mine in North Staffordshire to close.
Notable residents
Transport
Silverdale was served by a railway station which was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway in May 1863. The station was on the NSR Newcastle to Market Drayton line and was closed in the 1960s. The station buildings remained for a number of years as train crew accommodation for British Rail staff who worked the coal trains to Silverdale Colliery. The Rapid Loader was located adjacent to the old station.
The track was recently removed (2009) from the station to the Silverdale tunnel, however the two short station platforms still exist, although continued redevelopment of the site may result in the remaining brickwork being demolished.