Old Hall Sports Centre is first depicted on the 1988 OS map. It is built on the site of Dropping Well Colliery which is shown on the 1st Edition OS map of 1854. Extensive earthworks associated with the mining are depicted on the 1938 OS map although it is not clear if the mine is still operating at that time. The area was labelled 'Near Common' and is still bounded by 'Little Common Lane' suggesting an origin as common land. Legibility of the former landscape is, however, invisible.