1. The History
Very little info out there about this lovely little building. What we do know is that the Miners Institute, Parkgate was built in 1914 to provide a range of vital services for local coal miners and their families. After the closing of the local pits, the building appears to have been repurposed as a community centre, before closing and coming to be in its current state of abandonment. Old pictures indicate that it has been empty for at least 10 years hence.
Inside the institute on the back wall is a marble commemorative plaque in memory of the seven men who lost their lives on 23rd February, 1904 at the Parkgate pit, Aldwarke. No.2 Parkgate shaft was used for raising and lowering men to the Parkgate inset. At about 5.20 am that morning eight men were being lowered in the top deck of the cage when the winding rope snapped at a point six yards below the surface. The cage fell 400 yards to the bottom of the shaft. Only Arthur Ramsden survived. Four colliers (miners); Martin Marsh (46), Mark Dyson (41), Peter Rockett (54) and Thomas Ramsden (55) and three trammers; Henry Wright (36), William Downing (30) and Albert Kent (24) sadly lost their lives. The subsequent inquest found sufficient evidence to prove the cause of the rope breaking.
2. The Explore
Think this is the first time this place has come up on here (big up to @Bikin Glynn for the head’s up andf intel - cheers mate). It’s not massive but there’s enough to hold your interest for half-an-hour. Externally it’s quite an easy-on-the-eye building. The main function room is lovely, and the decaying ceiling make it quite photogenic. The main focus is the miner’s mural and aforementioned plaque on the back wall. Downstairs there is evidence of it being used as a community centre in recent years. The women’s toilets absolutely stunk and those four masks on the table outside were a bit weird. Overall though an enjoyable little mooch.
What lays in store for it is uncertain. It doesn’t appear to be listed nor on the market. Let’s hope it finds another usage.
3. The Pictures
A few externals to kick-off with:
Upstairs we go. Looking towards the street end:
Looking away from the street:
The ceiling would have been very nice in its day:
The mural and the plaque:
And back downstairs:
Memories of happy times here:
And finally, those masques:
Very little info out there about this lovely little building. What we do know is that the Miners Institute, Parkgate was built in 1914 to provide a range of vital services for local coal miners and their families. After the closing of the local pits, the building appears to have been repurposed as a community centre, before closing and coming to be in its current state of abandonment. Old pictures indicate that it has been empty for at least 10 years hence.
Inside the institute on the back wall is a marble commemorative plaque in memory of the seven men who lost their lives on 23rd February, 1904 at the Parkgate pit, Aldwarke. No.2 Parkgate shaft was used for raising and lowering men to the Parkgate inset. At about 5.20 am that morning eight men were being lowered in the top deck of the cage when the winding rope snapped at a point six yards below the surface. The cage fell 400 yards to the bottom of the shaft. Only Arthur Ramsden survived. Four colliers (miners); Martin Marsh (46), Mark Dyson (41), Peter Rockett (54) and Thomas Ramsden (55) and three trammers; Henry Wright (36), William Downing (30) and Albert Kent (24) sadly lost their lives. The subsequent inquest found sufficient evidence to prove the cause of the rope breaking.
2. The Explore
Think this is the first time this place has come up on here (big up to @Bikin Glynn for the head’s up andf intel - cheers mate). It’s not massive but there’s enough to hold your interest for half-an-hour. Externally it’s quite an easy-on-the-eye building. The main function room is lovely, and the decaying ceiling make it quite photogenic. The main focus is the miner’s mural and aforementioned plaque on the back wall. Downstairs there is evidence of it being used as a community centre in recent years. The women’s toilets absolutely stunk and those four masks on the table outside were a bit weird. Overall though an enjoyable little mooch.
What lays in store for it is uncertain. It doesn’t appear to be listed nor on the market. Let’s hope it finds another usage.
3. The Pictures
A few externals to kick-off with:
Upstairs we go. Looking towards the street end:
Looking away from the street:
The ceiling would have been very nice in its day:
The mural and the plaque:
And back downstairs:
Memories of happy times here:
And finally, those masques:
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