Report - Hatfield Colliery - Yorkshire - December 2015

[Speed]

Hatfield has opened and closed many times over the years as various owners came and went but now its days are definitely coming to permanent end. We visited shortly after closure in August but found the site literally guarded by a pack of wild dogs. We explored the coal prep but didn't make it much further. I assumed we would return a month or so later and try again but with all the other significant industrial closures towards the end of 2015 this little pit had been pushed back and back on my time table. In the end i arrived just in time to see the majority of the site still intact. Now copper has been removed it appears security couldn't care less and i had a great morning bumbling around enjoying something that this time next year will most likely be impossible in this country.

The fan house and transformer bays had been pulled down but otherwise the site was still pretty much as it closed.

The original coal prep was demolished during one of the previous mothballed periods but the modern replacement was surprisingly still in situe.

The upcast headsock was an easy climb, the downcast although not impossible will certainly take a lot more agility now the stairs are long gone.

Heading inside the powerhouse all copper had now been removed. Same goes for the downcast winder motor.

Finally i ducked inside the upcast winder which was marginally more intact.

One last shot on the way out, probably the last i will see of the place.

 

[nsdev]

Exceptional. And sad

 

[The Amateur Wanderer]

Fantastic mate, looks like I have an appointment with the power house now the Bear sized Dogs have gone...

 

[BoroLad]

Nice set.
Hasn't taken them too long to start the work...
@The Amateur Wanderer now those degs have gone would be a nice explore

 

[The_Raw]

I'd love to have a look around this, might have to get myself some wheels this year

 

[dweeb]

The winders are a rare, they are the original steam winders converted to electric. You can still see the piston housing amongst the various castings in the last but one pic...

I went when it was dry and I was caked up to the eyeballs... looks like a rainy morning there so Christ knows what your boots looked like afterwards!

 

[Exploring with Andy]

The old gear in there is a little more impressive than I expected, some real classic equipment there.

 

[Speed]

Aye i was glad to see them, missed the one at Harworth in the end.

 

[The Amateur Wanderer]

Did you take dog treats with you by any chance?

Can't get within 200 yard of the place without causing them all to start barking... Doing my nut in.

 

[Speed]

There was only one van by the gate when i was there last, no dogs in sight (or hearing distance).. Were the dogs actually loose? Id just ignore them if they aren't loose. If they are try again soon, it must be luck, the other lads that have done it didn't have loose dogs to contend with. Only us it would seem!

 

[The Amateur Wanderer]

There was only one van by the gate when i was there last, no dogs in sight (or hearing distance).. Were the dogs actually loose? Id just ignore them if they aren't loose. If they are try again soon, it must be luck, the other lads that have done it didn't have loose dogs to contend with. Only us it would seem!

I'll keep at it then must be pot luck.

Been three times now and each time not only have the dogs been roaming but the pikey like security guard that looks after them starts searching as soon as he hears the barking, happens every time I appear! haha

 

[caiman]

That's an excellent report, as I would have expected. Those must be the last ex-steam winders that will be scrapped in this country. If you got any pics of the winding drums those would also be interesting as real steam drums were mostly bi-cylindro-conical. All because steam engines could not do peak overloading when starting the wind. History disappearing.

 

[Speed]

I didn't get a picture i'm afraid but @Joe. got these from Harworth which shows the tapered drum i think your referring to? I assume some of the 'preserved' pits still have these??

The riveted construction of the winding drum and the geared reduction to slow the cages at the top / bottom

 

[The Kwan]

Such a shame, this picture just sums it up for me, great photo.

 

[Miss.Industrial]

I didn't get a picture i'm afraid but @Joe. got these from Harworth which shows the tapered drum i think your referring to? I assume some of the 'preserved' pits still have these??

Heres one of my photo taken last month of the Hatfield Winder:

I think theres probably a couple like it preserved at pleasley, Possibly also at chatterly and maybe one or two others elsewhere,