It would be romantic to say that my interest in the UK coal industry stemmed from my family's connection with the industry, or of the fascinating and frankly largely understood conflicts of the 80's which took place just as I came into this world, but to be honest neither interest me as much as the engineering behind winning earth treasures from below the ground...
It seems a good time to reflect on what I have seen over the past ten years. Really I owe a great debt to Dave and Joe, who opened my eyes to the fact that despite what my old man had said (as he had about cutlers, shipyards and cotton mills) there was in fact still things out there left to see.
One of my first meetings with D & J was at the Selby Complex. I didn't really understand what I was looking at, having very little knowledge of the workings of a pit back then, but I loved it. I was hooked.
Since that day I have scoured the country looking for every remaining headgear, bath house and winding shed that has managed to survive. With each pit closure a new challenge, and usually a race against time was presented to me. I think those who really understand what has happened to the coal industry since the strike cannot help but feel saddened by the recent state of the industry, but I think between a few core individuals in the scene what has gone in the period since 2005 has been recorded in far more depth than the pits that were demolished prior to it. My own understanding of the industry, both technically and socially, has been widened far beyond what is available to the general public... a few faded "coal not dole" badges behind a glass screen or the ghastly "national coal mining museum" are frankly a poor representation of both.
Over the last decade I've climbed head stocks large and small, explored virtually mint collieries and scratched round some fetted holes too. There have also been the attributed industries, smokeless fuel plants and coke works. I also acquired the British Coal jacket many of you will recognise from many photos on here, a gift from the head electrician at Hatfield Colliery. -
With just three deep mines left in the UK, and two of which looming ever closer to closure, it looks like the time will soon be upon us where there really is nothing new left to see. I would urge you not to miss this.
Having said that, I do not have the time I once did, and by the time I got my arse there a headstock had already gone. That said we did pretty well, seeing the remaining tower, former winding house, compressor house and a few other little bits.
Cheers to my lighting assistant for the help with the photos!
It seems a good time to reflect on what I have seen over the past ten years. Really I owe a great debt to Dave and Joe, who opened my eyes to the fact that despite what my old man had said (as he had about cutlers, shipyards and cotton mills) there was in fact still things out there left to see.
One of my first meetings with D & J was at the Selby Complex. I didn't really understand what I was looking at, having very little knowledge of the workings of a pit back then, but I loved it. I was hooked.
Since that day I have scoured the country looking for every remaining headgear, bath house and winding shed that has managed to survive. With each pit closure a new challenge, and usually a race against time was presented to me. I think those who really understand what has happened to the coal industry since the strike cannot help but feel saddened by the recent state of the industry, but I think between a few core individuals in the scene what has gone in the period since 2005 has been recorded in far more depth than the pits that were demolished prior to it. My own understanding of the industry, both technically and socially, has been widened far beyond what is available to the general public... a few faded "coal not dole" badges behind a glass screen or the ghastly "national coal mining museum" are frankly a poor representation of both.
Over the last decade I've climbed head stocks large and small, explored virtually mint collieries and scratched round some fetted holes too. There have also been the attributed industries, smokeless fuel plants and coke works. I also acquired the British Coal jacket many of you will recognise from many photos on here, a gift from the head electrician at Hatfield Colliery. -
With just three deep mines left in the UK, and two of which looming ever closer to closure, it looks like the time will soon be upon us where there really is nothing new left to see. I would urge you not to miss this.
Having said that, I do not have the time I once did, and by the time I got my arse there a headstock had already gone. That said we did pretty well, seeing the remaining tower, former winding house, compressor house and a few other little bits.
Cheers to my lighting assistant for the help with the photos!
