Mystery markings, Binley

Hi all I'm new here so please be gentle, but we moved from Cheylesmore to Binley around 3yrs ago. We're not far from the nice big field behind the John White Community Centre which is perfect for walking the dog. With the dry weather we had last summer some quite noticeable markings came out through the grass. I took the drone up & shot this prominent square. Some people said it was the old bowling green from when it was the colliery recreational field, but comparing plans against Google show the square is too far away to be that. Has anyone any idea what it could of been, can't find any details on plans that far up the field Youtube video Edited by member, 15th Jan 2019 7:21 pm

Looks like it might be the site of Field Barn

Very interesting. From MR's link, it isn't one of the barns shown on the maps but there looks like a lot of markings in the field, albeit much more faint than the square. It's a large shape. A big courtyard? My prosaic head says that it probably has something to do with the mine or possible some temporary construction for WW2.

Looking at Google Earth there seems to be a square within a square. Also there are clear parallel lines going from north to south which look like railway lines going past the RH side of the outer square. The lines are directly heading towards the old pit head about ¼ -½ miles away.

The barn marked on the original plan looks to be now a couple of bungalows to me

From the drone footage you can really see a distinctive change in the field not far from the square. The Colliery was based the other side of the hedge as far as I know

The colliery pithead was next to Willenhall Lane at the bottom of the hill near Brandon Road.

You are correct, Greg. The pit, including the two huge slag mounds, were on the Binley side of the railway line. It was still operational when I was a child living in Binley. I remember it closing and the 'mountains' being removed. There were many pit houses on Willenhall Lane too, all still in existence. The Miners' Welfare Club was also thriving in those days. After the pit closed, many roads on that side of Ernesford Grange were named after former colliers.

Yes, you're quite correct. I've studied a larger map which confirms what you say above. Sadly it doesn't answer the original question.