Ladyshore Colliery, originally named, Back o'th Barn, was originally opened in the 1830's, and became (in)famous for being the last pit in Lancashire still to use candles for illumination and ponies for underground transport.

It was situated on either side of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, one shaft on one side and a larger shaft on the opposite bank. The coal was loaded on to barges and towed by horses along the canal to Radcliffe and Bury.

In the 1890's it had three shafts, the deepest being 360 yards (330m). But by the start of the Second World War it was the only colliery remaining on the whole length of the canal, most of its production being taken by canal. It had its own fleet of boats and as late as 1941 it sent over 50,000 tons of coal by boat to Radcliffe and Bury.

It finally closed in 1949 and now only the colliery officers (now a house) and the stables survive.

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