Gallery - Local Area

Audley Station

The Audley branch of the North Staffordshire Railway opened in the 1870s. Diglake Colliery, which opened not long after this date, was deliberately located close to the railway in order to more easily transport its coal. A bridge took the railway across the road at Ravens Lane.
The railway and its bridge have long since disappeared, leaving only the embankment which can be seen snaking through Bignall End.

Audley Station, possibly around 1895. The headgear and chimney of one of Diglake's two shafts can be seen to the right, and snow is clearly visible on the ground.

View from Boon Hill, around 1900. Boon Hill is the road in the foreground, running down to the junction with Ravens Lane.
The low wooden building in the centre is the station booking office.

This is a close-up of the photograph above. Audley Station can be seen on its raised viaduct, and the two chimneys of Diglake Colliery are clearly visible to the right.

Bignall End Bridge, crossing Ravens Lane, around 1900

Bignall End Bridge shortly before demolition in the 1960s . Thanks to BrendaG for this image.

The remains of the Bignall End bridge embankment on Ravens Lane today (2005)

A view of the rear of the Plough Inn from the north (behind the telegraph pole). This wide green area represents the location of Audley station. Behind the trees to the left is the old railway embankment. The road running from the Plough to the right of the picture is Bignall Hill, while Ravens Lane is directly behind the Plough.

A view of the site of Audley Station to the east and Wedgewood's Monument. The trees conceal both the old railway embankment, and beyond this, the site of Diglake Colliery.