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A Comprehensive History Of Mining In The Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire And Leicestershire Coalfields - Page 16

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Darren Harper - Hi . . . Great site but . . . I was looking for info on the Warsop Main disaster in 1953
Charmaine Brimble - My Husband's Grandfather, Arthur George Brimble Was A Miner Most Of His Life
Heather King - Harry Adin Taylor - Fatality at Cotgrave Colliery in 1965
Ken Hunt - Fatality at Ireland Colliery, William Nichols May 1934 and Levi Nichols March 1924
Louise Birkett - Coleorton Publication (From The Estates Office)
Margaret Wilson - Billinge Mines - My Great, Great Grandfather, William Callon, Was A Mining Surveyor


From:
Sent:
Subject:
In MemoryDarren Harper
3 May 2015
Hi.. Great site but . . . I was looking for info on the Warsop Main disaster in 1953

Hi,

I was looking for info on the Warsop Main disaster in 1953.

My Grandad was one of the rescue guys but got caught in a second roof fall. He did not survive. His name was Alec Harper.

He appears as a rescue man on the video from the Creswell in 1950.

2 mins 9 secs, stood in the centre with BA kit and stripes on the blanket.

Would love to from you.

Regards
Darren Harper


6 men died in a roof fall at Warsop Main 20 Dec 1939

Alec Samuel Harper died 25 Oct 1951

Alan Beales


See also Alan Carmichael


Click Photo To Enlarge

From:
Sent:
Subject:
Charmaine Brimble
23 Apr 2015
My Husband's Paternal Grandfather, Arthur George Brimble Was A Miner Most Of His Adult Life

Hello.
I am currently researching my husbands family tree, and know that his paternal grandfather, Arthur George Brimble was a miner and hewer for most of his adult life.

My husband remembers his grandad well, but somehow the stories of his mining days have become muddled.

I believe he was involved in 3 separate mining accidents, and in the last one he broke his back. He then retrained as an electrician? but remained working at the mines although now above ground only.

I am trying to find out which mining accidents he was in, and/or which mines he worked in. I have no idea how to do this, but came across your site and email address.

He lived in the Chesterfield, Derby area and I think he worked at mines in Creswell or Langwith.
Any information or guidance would be most gratefully received.

Kind regards

Charmaine Brimble
Sent from Windows Mail


From:
Sent:
Subject:
Heather King
23 Apr 2015
Harry Adin Taylor - Fatality at Cotgrave Colliery in 1965

Fionn

I have been looking at the site maintained in memory of Philip Healey and came across an e mail from my sister Jenny Stanier trying to find information about the death of our father, Harry Adin Taylor, at Cotgrave Colliery in 1965. A lady called Barbara Birch from Leicestershire responded to say that she was my father's first cousin from Nottingham and that she would be willing to exchange information. I can't get hold of my sister at the moment, is there any way that I can be put in touch with Barbara? There is so much secrecy around my father's death and any information would be really helpful.

Heather


I am Mrs Barbara Birch from Leicestershire. My mother and Heather's father were first cousins from Nottingham. I only have a few memories but I am very happy to share via email.

Thanks,
Barbara Birch


From:
Sent:
Subject:
Ken Hunt
19 Apr 2015
Fatality at Ireland Colliery, William Nichols May 1934 and Levi Nichols March 1924

Hello Fionn,
I was employed at Ireland Colliery during the 1960s as a Colliery Electrician.

My Father (Ken Hunt), Grandfather John Arthur Fareham, (Overman), Grandfather Levi Nichols and Uncle William Nichols were also employed there during their working lives.

I have always been led to understand that Levi Nichols and William Nichols were both killed at Ireland Colliery. Your web site confirms William Nichols was killed May 24th 1934 in fact I know John Arthur Fareham carried his body out of the mine.

I cannot find any mention of Levi Nichols who died March 7th 1924 and now wonder if he was killed in the mine or died of Injuries from an accident in the mine.

Is there any information amongst your records that might throw light on this for me?

I would be grateful of any information.

Best regards,
Ken Hunt

Levi Nichols and William Nichols lived in Speedwell Terraces as did John Arthur Fareham at that time.

See also Alan Beales Data Base


From:
Sent:
Subject:
Louise Birkett
2 Apr 2015
Coleorton Publication (From The Estates Office)

Hi

Ive been looking through your site and seen some titles of colliery publications, so Im hoping someone will be able to answer my question.

Im trying to find out the title of a publication which would have included contributions from the estates office at Coleorton. As it was the area office Ive no idea whether it would have been called the Coleorton something, the South Midlands something or whether it would have had a colliery name.

I apologise for the vagueness of the request - Im emailing on behalf of the writer, who worked in the estates office, and can only remember the title of the piece he wrote and the year. He regrets not keeping a copy so I said Id see if I could track it down for him. I think I might have a bit more of a chance if someone can help me with the name of the publication!

All the best

From:
Sent:
Subject:
Margaret Wilson
25 Mar 2015
Billinge Mines - My Great, Great Grandfather, William Callon, Was A Mining Surveyor

Dear Sir
Several of my ancestors were involved in mining in the Billinge and St Helens areas. I would like to find out more about my great, great grandfather who was a mining surveyor. I have a faint photocopy of plans of mines with his name on but I do not know who he worked for and where he worked after this date. Would he have served an apprenticeship?

The plan is for Chapel House Colliery and it details the amounts of coal extracted in 1872.

The signatures are for Peter Marsh and my ancestor William Callon.

William died in 1885 and was in St Helens at that time. His widow was left with several young children, some of whom also worked in the mines.

I hope you can answer some of these questions about William Callon.

Many thanks,
Margaret Wilson

Sent from my iPad

Margaret
This sheet relates to the coal extracted from measurements taken from Mr Marsh's plan. This would appear to me to be Peter's father as Peter is listed below with Wm Callon as working out the same. The figures are worked out from a plan dated Oct 29th 1872.

The coal was valued at 90 per acre royalty and the calculations of each heading/roadway is shown in acres roods perches and sq yards. Over one acre was worked as you can see and 108 in round figures was paid. The period was from 1st May 1872 to 1 Nov 1872.

Messrs Johnson owned the mine and it was worked by Edward Smith.

Bob Bradley

I would like to find out where the mine was and how my ancestor would become a surveyor. Would he have been an apprentice or would he have had to have a better education to start this work? Was he freelance or was he attached to just one employer? After living in Billinge he later lived in St Helens with his family and so may have been involved in other pits. He died of TB when fairly young and so I guess this was due to working in mines from a young age.

The mine does not seem to be mentioned on the list I looked at on the website. Was it a very small pit?

I have noticed that there are the words 'Farrimonds Pits', Messrs Johnson and South seem to be the owners and the words 'redialled Oct 8th 1872' occur on one page just above my ancestor's name. Are you able to explain what this means?

With your expertise and interests, I hope you can shed some light!

I think it is Johnson and Smith.

I would reiterate that Peter would have been taught by his father who no doubt was an educated man and was already a surveyor of mines in a freelance way. After the 1850s it was deemed that mine workings should be surveyed and accurate plans made at least twice a year. However lots of these type of headings could be worked and sealed off as not in use in between survey visits. Unfortunately this happened frequently throughout the country and many workings were missed. Surveys were later required to be made every 3 months.

As you have probably noticed the only thing the mine owners or lessees were interested in was the payment per half year in royalties.

Mine managers prior to the 1872 Mines Act were not qualified by exam, only by practice and examinations for a First Class Certificate of Competency were in place by 1873 albeit that those managers practicing were granted Service Certificates. Likewise for Undermanagers from 1887 and it was not until the 1911 Coal Mines Act that from 1912 Surveyors were required to have passed an exam, later both academically in theory and also by a practical examination using instruments, calculations and drawing plans. Competent practicing Surveyors were granted Service Certificates.

Note there would be only one Chief Surveyor for a Company who would have assistants and he would be responsible for all surveys and plans for all the pits owned by that Company. Again similarly a freelance Surveyor working for several Companies would also require at least one assistant.

The reason for the statement you mention regarding a re-survey was probably when the survey information was interpreted and plotted on the plan of the mine it may not have looked right and an error had been made necessitating a further visit to survey part of the mine again. Or, in some cases the surface owner who had the rights to work coal may have requested it where a royalty payment for working under their land seemed insufficient or again possibly there was a change in plan at the mine and help was required in setting out new roadways etc.

Dying of TB at an early age was commonplace at one time but as you rightly say it could be due to working in the mines. These shallow mines would be very cold, wet or damp and low and foul air as the air current in the headings would be stagnant at times. Notgood for one's health. I have experienced a couple of these type of mines in my career but they were drift mines.

I hope that has as you say 'shed some light'.

Bob Bradley