"Miners sinking a shaft by hand at Victoria Pit, Standish, in 1900".
The initial stages of sinking a shaft were often difficult. In the Wigan area shafts were sunk through glacial clays, gravels and sands which were often saturated with water. The picture shows the problem all too clearly. The sides of the shaft have been held back using timber, a process known as tubbing. There was always the risk of water and mud bursting in to where men were working. Once the shaft had entered the ground-rock it was then possible to stabilise the upper tubbing with metal, stone and concrete.
The photo is lit by flash powder suggesting it is not too near the surface or taken in winter.

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