Bestwood winding engine is unique. It is the only existing twin cylinder vertical steam engine in England that still stands on its original site. The winding engine house is a listed building and both the engine house and engine are scheduled ancient monuments.
The coal mine at Bestwood was started in 1872 by John Lancaster under a lease from the 10th Duke of Albans. The building of the engine house began in 1873 and its Italian Gothic style is a classic example of Victorian industrial architecture
The colliery headstocks are the original ones from 1872, the five storey iron latticework legs were later encased in concrete
The colliery was highly successful and became the first pit in the country to dig out over a million tons of coal in a year
The pit closed in closed in 1967 The site has been turned into a country park. In 2008 a heritage Lottery Fund Grant was obtained and in 2009 the engine house and nearby electrical substation building were fully restored.
The engine is in full working order but is now powered by electricity
