Mining Regions in England

The North and South Staffordshire coalfields have both been worked since the thirteenth century. During the late nineteenth century there was a decline in the South Staffordshire coalfield and the North Staffordshire coalfield became the main coal producer in the West Midlands from then on. The last remaining colliery to be worked in Staffordshire was Silverdale colliery which closed in the late 1990s. The coal mined from these areas has been mainly used for domestic heating, in manufacturing and for locomotives.