Bigrigg, West Cumberland Iron Field, North and Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England, UK

On the road between Whitehaven to Egremont. Deep hollows in the area attest to iron ore mining as far back as medieval times.

By 1829, three companies were mining eight pits in the area. Further encouragement for mining resulted when the railway was constructed from Whitehaven to Cleator Moor in the late 1850s.

Pits often flooded due to the proximity of the River Eden, so the mining companies diverted the river. By the late 1800's some mines were closing in the area, but others continued to open. In 1924 a mine disaster at the Croft Pit in Bigrigg trapped ten men for 28 hours before they were rescued. By 1932
the mines were closed.