Greenish lighting, the name Erin - you might not immediately think of Ireland, but you would be right. At the end of the 19th century Irish mining entrepreneur Mulvany merged several claims in the Castrop area and named the new large claim after the goddess Erin, whose name is a form of the Gaelic Eire: Ireland.
The mines have a long history. Initially used to mine hard coal, the owners changed several times over the course of the following year until it was shut down in 1982 after almost 120 years of mining activity.
Today the shafts are backfilled and the winding towers above shafts 3 and 7 are preserved as industrial monuments.
The former weather and cableway shaft Erin 3 is one of the oldest surviving hammerhead towers of its kind. In memory of the Irish founder, a Celtic circle of trees was erected around this winding tower. It is worth taking pictures during the day and also at night.
