Tour Sells Out Weeks in Advance

From The Sentinel, 15 August 2008:

Tours of a heritage site have sold out.

There is still four weeks to go until the events at Chatterley Whitfield Colliery.

They are running as part of Heritage Open Days, a scheme which celebrates England's architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public.

Organisers of the events believe they are particularly popular as it is only the second year the middle pit winding shed has ever been viewed.

Last year visitors enjoyed tours into the lamphouse and the pithead baths.

The colliery, just off the A527 Biddulph Road, was one of the biggest in the country.

It is now among the most popular destinations for Heritage Open Days, which this year run from September 11 to 14.

Roy Meldrum, secretary of the Friends of Chatterley Whitfield, said: "I'm sorry to say that unfortunately, due to the number of places available being limited and the extremely high demand for those places, all of the tours are already fully booked."

"Please be advised that we will be forced to refuse entry to anyone turning up without a booking."