1946 Continued

Underground Lease

Collieries and Companies

The largest area of underground lease was obtained by the Wigan Coal Corporation for Manton colliery.
The BA Collieries area was the second largest for Babbington, Bulwell, Bestwood, Calverton and Gedling collieries Digby and New London closed).

Third largest was the Bolsover Colliery Co for their Mansfield, Rufford, Clipstone and Thoresby collieries.
This was followed by the Stanton Ironworks Co Ltd for Bilsthorpe colliery and Butterley Co for Ollerton etc.
Next was the Shireoaks Colliery Co for Shireoaks, Whitwell and Steetley collieries and Newstead Colliery Co for Newstead and Blidworth.

The smallest areas were Pentrich Colliery Co with Pentrich colliery, South Normanton Colliery Co for South Normanton colliery, Pilsley Colliery Co for Pilsley colliery and Waleswood Colliery Co for Waleswood colliery.
Of course some of the very small private mines only had a lease area the size of a football pitch.

• Church Gresley Fire Brick and Fire Clay Co Ltd: Church Gresley 1 and 2, 30 Top seam, 4 s/f
• Clay Cross Co Ltd: Morton No5, 560 / 140, Manager I Jackson (1975)
• Park House No7 510 / 120, Manager A McNeish (1653)
• Bonds Main 350 / 80, W Marsh (1657)
• Cobnar Wood Colliery Co Ltd: Cobnar Wood 14 / 4, Manager D Ross
• Cossall Colliery Co Ltd: Cossall, High Holborn, 500/160, Trowell Moor (temp idle), Manager C Houston (4043)
• Denby Colliery (Drury-Lowe) Ltd: Denby Drury Lowe 500/150, Manager Jim R Murday (2253)
• Dent Main Colliery (1924) Ltd: Dent Main Birley Wood 28 / 9, Moor Side Mosborough 7 / 2, Manager JH Heslop (4033)
• Desford Coal Co Ltd: Desford 1: 495, Desford 2: 424, 224 s/f, Merrylees developing mine, Manager H Johnson (2289)
• Digby Colliery Co Ltd taken over by BA Collieries Ltd, Gedling
• Doe Lea Colliery Co Ltd: Heath Pit 20 / 6, Manager Dominic Lavin (385)
• Doncaster Amalgamated Collieries Ltd: 5 pits in Yorks and Firbeck Main Worksop, Nottinghamshire: 1,500 / 400, Manager LA Clarke ?
• Donisthorpe Colliery Co Ltd: Donisthorpe 1,100 u/g and s/f total, Manager Harry B Bennett (2820)
• Fishley Colliery Co Ltd: Packington Ashby-de-la-Zouch 22/5, Manager J Edwards (202)
• Furnace Hill and Renishaw Park Collieries Ltd: Staveley nr Chesterfield 300 / 150, Agent R Ed Horrox (1754), Manager RJ Detchon (1771), Surveyor for the company Campbell Jeffries
• Granville (Granville Colliery Co Ltd) Swadlincote 390/160 Manager William C Statham (3660)
• Grassmoor Co Ltd: Grassmoor 1, 12 and 4 1,201 / 441 Manager RH Swallow (1664)
• Hall’s Collieries Ltd: Swadlincote 238 / 127, Cadley Hill 297 / 134, Manager Jack EM Chapman (1734), Bretby and Stanhope 305 / 111, Manager W Wallace (2747)
• Handley Collieries Ltd: Handley 1: 31/6, 2: 34 / 5, 3: 20/2; Manager J Hall (3039)
• Hardwick Colliery Co Ltd: Holmewood 960 Manager Sam B Pick (1149), Williamthorpe 1,063 Manager JS Rayner (3077), Ramcroft: 357 John N Booth (3108)
• Hartshorne H and C: Wingfield Park 16/4, Manager ---
• Hirst Hollow Colliery Co Ltd: Hirst Hollow 21 / 3, Manager ---
• Ilkeston Collieries Ltd: Manners 370/99, Lodge 188/59, Manager FJ Durrance (3250)
• Kiveton Park Coal Co Ltd (Proprietors – United Steel Companies Ltd): Kiveton Park 790, 570 and 270 s/f, Manager Leslie H Mirfin
• Leicestershire Colliery and Pipe Co Ltd: New Lount 810 / 216, Manager Peter L Richardson (3242)
• Linby Colliery Co Ltd: Linby 650 / 149, Manager William E Bowen (1675)
• Mapperley Colliery Co Ltd: Mapperley 533 / 187, Manager Ben Denton (2594), Stanley 225/117, Hillside 184 / 8, Manager for both Charles E Bremner-Smith (3084)
• Measham Collieries Ltd: Measham Collieries 650/150, Manager JG Tebbs (3897)
• Moira Colliery Co Ltd: Reservoir 350 Manager AE Colley (?), Rawdon 1,250/ Manager William Bullough (2162), Church Gresley 1,250 Manager Ernest W Bosworth (4012)
• Nadin and Co Ltd, J and N, Thorntree Drift 104/45, Manager J Edwards (202)
• Nailstone Colliery Co Ltd: Nailstone No 1, 2, 3: 600,150, Manager FM Burdett (638)
• Netherseal Colliery Co Ltd: Netherseal, Linton 700, Manager Eric P Lawrence (3181)
• New Hucknall Colliery Co Ltd now part of NH and B Collieries Ltd: New Hucknall 466 / 161, Manager Alex L Middleton (3342), Bentinck 1,214 / 277 Manager Walter Sharpe(2223), Welbeck 1,124 / 373 Manager Ossie T Storrs (2535)
• Annesley 698 / 217, Manager Jack L Merry (542), Blackwell A Winning 869 / 302, Manager Tommy R Jameson (2621), Blackwell B Winning 218 / 106, Manager Jack S Fletcher (2139), Alfreton 783 / 183, Manager Tom L Nicholson (1856), Shirland 287 / 154, Manager Freddie DA Boam (4101), Sutton 615 / 210, Manager Sam M Merry (1923)
• Newstead Colliery Co Ltd: Newstead 1,000 / 350, Manager Albert Field (2502), Blidworth 1,300 / 400, Manager Edward Bishop (2707)
• Nottingham and Clifton Colliery Co Ltd: Clifton 540 / 140, Manager William Morrell (2577)
• Oakes and Co, J (Riddings Collieries) Ltd: Cotes Park 220 / 50, New Selston 280 / 70 and Pye Hill 550 / 120, Manager for all E Searson (2104)
• Oakwood Grange Colliery Co Ltd: Grange 79 / 16, Manager John Dow (3090)
• Oxcroft Colliery Co Ltd: Oxcroft 580 / 120, Manager Harry Jones (3277)? (3630)
• Pearson and Co (Chesterfield) Ltd: Newbold 15 / 5
• Pilsley Colliery Co Ltd: Pilsley No2 and No3 486 / 167, Manager William H Southern (2602)
• Pinxton Collieries Ltd: Langton, Manager Les FM Ackroyd (1937), Brookhill, Pinxton No2 and No6, Manager for both F Donald Severn (977)
• Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Co Ltd: Glapwell 2,200 / 800 Manager George Bunting (1057), Langwith 1,200 / 450 Manager AW Baddesley (2543)
• Sheffield Coal Co Ltd: Birley East, Brookhouse, 1,580 / 384 Manager J Dooley (?)
• Sherwood Colliery Co Ltd: Sherwood 1,270 / 250 Manager Jim Reid (2103), Hucknall 880 / 290 Manager L R (Dick) Boyfield (3201)
• Shipley Collieries Ltd: Coppice No1, 536 / 159, No2 -, No3: 586 / 168, Manager GS Milne (2764), Woodside No1 -, No2: 474 / 134, No3: 485 / 139, Manager Tommy Wright (3048)
• Shirebrook Colliery Ltd: Shirebrook 1,100 / 350
• Shireoaks Colliery Co Ltd (Associated with The United Steel Cos Ltd) Shireoaks 1,2,3 577 / 144, Manager JE Waring (568), Steetley 476 / 84, Manager LL Harrison (2784), Whitwell 548 / 185 Manager MW Fletcher (3111), General Manager and Agent JA Barrass (?)
• Skinner and Holford Ltd: Waleswood 533 / 191 Manager EJH Brooksbank (…?)
• South Leicestershire Colliery Co Ltd: South Leicestershire 600 / 220, Manager Sam A McKee (3637), Snibston 550/180, Manager A Atkinson (2225)
• South Normanton Colliery Co Ltd: South Normanton 329 / 99, Manager Peter L Harley (2649)
• Stanton Ironworks Co Ltd: Silver Hill No1, No2, 842 / 204 Manager George G Heathcote (2438), Undermanager Joey Morley, Teversall 650/188 Manager Jackie P Mehers (1984), Undermanager Jim E Davies (1489), Agent and Asst General Manager John Brass, Pleasley 920/256 Manager Joe J Brealey (1097), Undermanager Freddie Towndrow, Bilsthorpe 1,030 / 234 Manager Arthur Holmes (350), Undermanager Frank Wheatcroft, Agent to Pleasley and Bilsthorpe Edwin W Lane (856), General Manager for all Norman D Todd (3058)
• Staveley Coal and Iron Co Ltd: Ireland 1,000 / 340 Manager Ben Kendall (1944), Markham No1 650 / 210, No2: 800 / 240, No4: 840 / 190 Manager Len Gross (2351), Warsop Main 1,320 / 450 Manager Charlie W Ringham (2199)
• Swanwick Collieries Ltd: Swanwick New Pit, Deep Pit, Old Pit 800/250, Manager JW Head (412)
• Horace Taylor: Harper Hill 13 / 3 Manager LJ Fenn
• Tinsley Park Colliery Co – Co in voluntary liquidation since 6th Dec 1945
• Wells Ltd, J and G: Holbrook and Norwood 713/220, Manager E Thompson (…?)
• Wigan Coal Corporation Ltd: including Manton Nos 1, 2, 3: 1,580/385, Manager F Sharpe (2814)
• Wingfield Manor Colliery Co Ltd: Wingfield Manor 360 / 90, Manager John Southern (3945)
• Wollaton Collieries Co Ltd: Radford 350 / 80 and Wollaton 300 / 80, Manager W Alun Jones (535), Agent and Manager W Alun Jones MIME.

When the coal mines were nationalised Charles AM Oakes known as Audouin Oakes head of the firm James Oakes and Co of Riddings switched the company’s production from coal to brick and clay pipe ware products, basing the sanitary ware factory at Langley Mill.

Gas Works using coal to turn into gas for domestic use: Alfreton, Ambergate (Bull Bridge), Ashbourne, Bawtry, Beighton, Bingham, Bolsover, Bottesford, Buxton, Burton, Chesterfield, Clay Cross, Clown, Derby, Eckington (Mosborough), Glossop, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Long Eaton, Mansfield, Measham, Newark, Nottingham, Retford, Riddings, Ripley, Southwell, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Swadlincote, Tideswell, Tuxford, Whitwell, Wirksworth, Worksop. There were hundreds throughout the country.
           
Similarly there were hundreds of electricity supply undertakings. Bolsover, Burton-on-Trent, Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Chesterfield, Derby, East Retford, Mansfield, Newark-on-Trent, Nottingham, Trent Valley and High Peak, Worksop to name those in our region - all dependant on coal for generation.

Image from National Railway Museum

There was a coal depot at many railway yards (Sutton-in-Ashfield Northern Station) or colliery sidings (Teversal) for example where coal had to be off loaded by shovel from coal trucks by hand onto the Merchant’s cart (with horse) or lorry and taken to the delivery point and tipped, sometimes onto the road or if fortunate to have a cellar or coal house directly into that.

Practically every pit in the region supplied household coal. Note the demise of the merchants as gas, oil or electric heating took over. Another loss for house coal at the pits.

Coal exporters and shippers were also numerous and all to disappear and a few in this region were:

Various Public General Acts which have incorporated the Mining Code Provisions of the Railways Consolidation Act 1845 (the Old Railway Code): Small Holdings and Allotments Acts 1908 and 1926;

• Development of Road Improvements Funds Act 1909
• Public Libraries Act 1919
• Forestry Acts 1919 and 1945
• Local Government Act 1933
• Education Act 1944
• Housing Act 1936
• Town and Country Planning Acts 1932, 1962 (Consolidating Act)
• Restriction and Ribbon Development Act 1935, amended by Trunk Roads Acts 1936 and 1946 and Highways Act 1959
• Distribution of Industry Act 1945
• Acquisition of Land (Authorisation of Procedure) Act 1946. Working rights have to be investigated for all those mentioned and any unauthorised working may only be revealed to the owner of the surface when signs of damage appear!

Bread rationing had been enforced by the Labour Government from 21st July 1946. Each adult was granted 9oz of bread or flour, but some manual workers including mineworkers were allowed 15oz. The meat ration though was increased by 2d (just over ¾p) a week!

Orderly queues used to form outside shops for their rations as seen.

The holiday pay for 1946 and 1947 was

• Adults £ 6 0s 0d (£6.00)
• 18 to 20 years £4 10s 0d (£4.50)
• Under 18 years of age £3 12s 0d (£3.60) per week

The first payment for statutory holidays was paid from August 1946.

• The rate per shift was 20s (£1) for adults
• 16s (80p) for 18 to 20 years
• 12s (60p) for those under 18 years.
  The second payment was August 1947.

On Monday 22nd November 1946, due to storms battering Britain, the River Trent had risen to over 9 feet (2.75m) above its normal level at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Higher up the river at Wilford, checks were kept on the banks for the safety of Clifton colliery which lay close to the side of the river, the shafts only about 55 yds (50m) away.

In 1946 there were in:-
North Derbyshire 39 companies working 83 mines
Nottinghamshire 18 companies working 40 mines
Leicestershire 10 companies working 14 mines

The Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Co owned 7 collieries – Comberwood, Dunston, Glapwell, Langwith, Nesfield, Norwood and Sheepbridge.

Stanton Ironworks Co owned Bilsthorpe, Pleasley, Silverhill and Teversal.

Morton Power house was gutted by fire causing £10,000 of damage.

Fatal Accidents  1946

• Blackwell B Winning, William Austin Brown (33) fall of roof 18 Jul 1946
• Brookhill, Sidney Raines Dalby (56) fall of roof 20 Sep 1946
• Pleasley, Kenneth Farnsworth (14) caught in machinery on surface 14 Feb 1946
• Shirebrook, Thomas Williamson (65) fall of roof 6 Jan 1946
• Shirebrook, William H Duckworth (?) fall of roof 30 May 1946, died 12 Jun 1946
• Stanley, Walter Moxon (47) fall of roof 10 Apr 1946

Output for 1946:

• North Derbyshire 13.52m tons
• South Derbyshire 1.38m tons
• Nottinghamshire 13.97m tons
• Leicestershire 4.38m tons

Average wages per shift:

• North Derbyshire 26s 2½d (£1.31)
• South Derbyshire 27s 5¼d (£1.37)
• Nottinghamshire 28s 2¼d (£1.41)
• Leicestershire 28s 10¼d (£1.44)

• Altons Nether Lount 11/2/1946
• Cinnery Woodfield seam 5’ 10” (1.78m), Upper met old works and Lower bed 5’ 4” (1.62m) finished June 1946
• Hayes Wood, Low Main, Oct 1946
• Hearthcote Farm, Church Gresley, Block, Nov
• Kidsley Park Farm Ell seam, May
• Tavern House Roof Soft finished 24th July 1946.