The pit opened in 1857 and closed 25th November 1966. There were two associated pits - north and west pits which were owned by Lord Londonderry, then Ryhope Coal Company Ltd and from 1947 the National Coal Board.

In 1894 2000 men and boys worked here. The daily output was 2200 tons of coal with a small amount used for coke. The colliery village included pitmen's dwellings of "uninviting aspect" {Whellan 1894} in long rows a mile in length, chapels, a school (for 337 boys and 225 girls), a miner's hall, shops and large Cooperative stores. The miner's hall was brick-built, constructed in 1880, and improved circa 1894 costing £1800. It had a large lecture hall to seat 800, reading, recreation and billiard rooms, a committee and secretary's room and a library with 200 volumes.