In July Thoresby became the UK's third-last deep colliery to close.
Shafts were first sunk in 1925, then deepened in the 1950s to access more seams. At this time nearby Cockglode House was demolished and buried under the pit tip / slag heap. Exotic plant species can be found in the remaining parts of Cockglode Wood, a legacy of the Victorian gardener.
The pit produced up to 100,000 of coal per week, making profits of up to £50m a year. Following privatisation in the 1990s, ownership transfered from British Coal to RJB Mining, then UK Coal, before closure this year.
The clearup is ongoing. The site is covered in thick slime which is precarious to walk on. Not sure if it's hazardous but in an adjacent wood a British Coal sign reads "Tip restoration experiment utilising digested sewage cake & digested liquid sludge" - wellies are recommended, my trainers are done for.
Likely a victim of anionic solution in the chemical dosing tank behind.
The headstocks are identical to those at Hatfield. Having climbed the concrete clad one there (downshaft?) it was decided to head to this one.
Conveyor and fitting shops
Looking back down over the workshops area
A grease covered locked grille blocks access to the very top.
At this point a man shouted and a dog barked - it was time to descend.
Thanks for viewing!
Shafts were first sunk in 1925, then deepened in the 1950s to access more seams. At this time nearby Cockglode House was demolished and buried under the pit tip / slag heap. Exotic plant species can be found in the remaining parts of Cockglode Wood, a legacy of the Victorian gardener.
The pit produced up to 100,000 of coal per week, making profits of up to £50m a year. Following privatisation in the 1990s, ownership transfered from British Coal to RJB Mining, then UK Coal, before closure this year.
The clearup is ongoing. The site is covered in thick slime which is precarious to walk on. Not sure if it's hazardous but in an adjacent wood a British Coal sign reads "Tip restoration experiment utilising digested sewage cake & digested liquid sludge" - wellies are recommended, my trainers are done for.
Likely a victim of anionic solution in the chemical dosing tank behind.
The headstocks are identical to those at Hatfield. Having climbed the concrete clad one there (downshaft?) it was decided to head to this one.
Conveyor and fitting shops
Looking back down over the workshops area
A grease covered locked grille blocks access to the very top.
At this point a man shouted and a dog barked - it was time to descend.
Thanks for viewing!
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