A lawful public approach to the drain has not been confirmed. Do not enter the opening or leave public routes to reach it.
Read the information we checked ↗ · checked 2026-09-26
Use public paths and visitor areas. Do not enter unstaffed tunnels, shafts, railway land or restricted property.
Advice before you visitInformation checked 2026-09-26. Official records and the cited historical or visitor sources checked. No site visit or direct operator confirmation.
A long job beneath the ground
A sough is a tunnel made to drain a mine. Historic England records that Sir Roger Brandshaigh began Haigh’s brick-lined drain in 1653 and that work finished in 1670. It carried water from coal workings into Yellow Brook.
The listing describes the drainage system extending towards Parr Pit, although the protected monument covers only the entrance and a short section behind it. The extent of a mine system and the boundary of a protected monument are different things.
- Historic England — list entry 1017064 ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-26
What the record describes
The official account records a brick arch, supporting pillars and a slab above the outlet. These are the visible end of an engineering scheme whose main work happened underground.
We have not visited the drain or established a public viewing route. The heritage description supplies historical evidence; it does not confirm that the bank, opening or old workings are safe or open to visitors today.
- Historic England — list entry 1017064 ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-26
What we still need to check
Present condition and a lawful public viewing route are unconfirmed.
Sources for the visiting information
- Historic England — list entry 1017064 ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-26
About the original record
This place is recorded by Historic England / Planning Data. The details below include the original description of its building or site type.
Place details
- Category
- Underground
- Building or site type (original wording)
- Haigh Sough mine drainage portal, 310m west of Park House
- Period or date
- 1653–1670; later mine improvements
- Current condition
- Not checked in person
- Heritage protection
- Scheduled monument
- Date protection was granted
- 1999-12-14
- Nearby town
- Wigan (approximate)
- County named in the original record
- Not supplied
- Current county or council area
- Wigan
- Nation
- England
- Original record number
- 1017064
- Coordinates
- 53.559372, -2.618809 (reference point, not an entrance)
- Heritage data checked
- 2026-09-13
- Source last updated
- 2026-08-28
- Visitor information checked
- 2026-09-26
We checked the downloaded heritage record on 2026-09-13. We have not visited or inspected the site. The map point may refer to a whole site, one structure or a location where little remains.