Report - Draycott Cross Colliery - June 2012

[Morrisey]

It’s been over four years since I last had a look in here and having not seen anything from here for a while and being in the area I decided that a quick look was in order to see if the old tunnel and colliery was doable………………………………………….and I’m pleased to say yes, it is doable
Visted with copy cat, boboil and the scrawper.

In about 1983 a privately owned drift mine, known as Draycott Cross Colliery commenced production from adits just inside the southern portal of the old railway tunnel. A new two foot gauge tramway was laid in the tunnel with mine tubs hauled by cable.
Prior to 1988 Draycott Cross Mine was owned by the Costain Group. In July 1988 Europa Minerals bought two Staffordshire Coal Mines from Costain in a £3.3 million cash and share deal. The mines were Draycott Cross and Acres Nook Collieries. The two mines were expected to add 1 million tons of extractable coal to the company's reserves. Europa already owned the Ormondcroft Drift Mine. By 1989 they was hoping to increase production from 500 tons a week to 1400 tons a week (65,000 tons a year)
Draycott Cross was, however, short lived. The colliery closed early in 1991 and the land in the vicinity of the colliery was sold and the adits were sealed.

Old colliery tunnel opened in 1898

Ventilation bagging

First adit leading from the tunnel

Looking up the incline

Dowty prop n drill

Tub in second drift

Looking down the drift

Warick in the drift

Top of the incline

Signals and safety

Tubs n banding

Tub

Scraper

Shot firers tub

First drift

Brattice, bagging and first aid station