Coordinates: 52°42′54″N 2°02′30″W / 52.71489°N 2.04158°W
| Huntington | |
  Huntington
Huntington shown within Staffordshire |
|
| Population | 3,720 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | South Staffordshire |
| Shire county | Staffordshire |
| Region | West Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | WS12 |
| Police | Staffordshire |
| Fire | Staffordshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| List of places: UK • England • Staffordshire | |
Contents |
Introduction
Huntington is a civil parish and former mining village in Staffordshire, on the outskirts of Cannock Chase. It lies on the A34 road just north of Cannock and is surrounded by woodland. The village had an estimated population of 3,720 in 2004.[1]
Coal mining
Huntington has a rich coal mining heritage that stretches back hundreds of years. The village sits on the Cannock Chase coalfield, an extension of the South Staffs Coalfield that, as the name suggests, clusters around Cannock Chase and the towns and villages that surround it.
The main Colliery in the village was Littleton. It was sunk in 1877 but the original sinkings were lost through flooding and new shafts were sunk in 1899-1902.[2] From its chequered start, the Pit would become one of the largest in the Midlands to being the last Colliery left on Cannock Chase. It was extensively modernised by the National Coal Board and in 1982 employed 1,900 miners and mined nearly a million tonnes of Coal.[2] However, after the controversial Pit Closure programme of the early 90s Littleton finally closed in 1994, somewhat controversially, as at first the Colliery was initially reprieved only to be closed a year later. The Pit has now been completely demolished and the former spoil tip has been redeveloped as an area for walkers known as Littleton Leisure Park.
Village amenities
Huntington has a number of facilities, including two pubs, The Littleton Arms and The Barns, as well as a Spar store and Post Office.
The Littleton Arms used to be known as coggers. This is where the miners used to go for a drink after work.
It has a primary school on the north outskirts, but sadly no secondary school as of yet. The primary school is being relocated on new ground in central Huntington along with a new housing state.
References
- ^ "Huntington Parish Council". South Staffordshire Council. http://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=13819. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
- ^ a b Coal in the Western Area. National Coal Board Public Relations. 1982.
External links
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