Hi Fionn,
I have just found your site. I'm afraid I don't know if you are still managing it actively but a lot of fine work has obviously been put into it.
Looking through the incredibly detailed page for Bestwood I was surprised not to see the name of Andrew Crawford so I have probably made an error. He came down from Scotland to work for the company in 1882 and his obituary in 1942 suggests that he had been a chairman and managing director of the company. This is the obituary from the Nottingham Guardian on the 20th Apr 1942:-
"Mr A. Crawford, J.P. Former chairman of Bestwood Company.
The death occurred yesterday of Mr Andrew Crawford, J.P., of Manor Park, Ruddington, in his 94th year. He was formerly chairman and managing director of the Bestwood Coal and Iron Company.
Mr Crawford was born in the West of Scotland and came to Bestwood in 1882, joining the company of which he became the head. He was connected with coal, iron and steel all his life, and in 1908, with members of the Lloyd family, built the first blast furnaces at Corby, Northants.
Mr Crawford was also a director of a number of other companies connected with the industry. He retired 13 years ago, and continued to enjoy good health up to six months ago. A keen sportsman, he was one of the earliest lawn tennis players in this area and was also interested in cricket. He had also played golf, and was a member of the Notts Golf Club. Gardening was his principal hobby and he made a speciality of roses.
Mr Crawford resided at Bestwood until nine years ago and then moved to Ruddington. He leaves two sons and six daughters. Mrs Crawford predeceased him six years ago, after 67 years of married life"
Are you able to throw any light on this at all? Is the obituary inaccurate do you think? I am reasonably certain that he worked there in a senior position during the 1900s.
With best wishes
Nick Shelley
Bestwood Colliery, Company Details - 1923
You are correct in assuming that Andrew Crawford was indeed a Director of the Bestwood Coal Co Ltd (Bestwood Coal & Iron Co Ltd).
I have not gone into much detail regarding directors in my work and some are only mentioned when regarding certain things of what I thought was important at the time. I write a condensed resumé of the life of a colliery when it closes as you see, showing management personnel, tonnages etc, but many remarks not necessarily in that are to be found in the years from the sinking of Bestwood in 1872 onwards to 1967.
There are many directors throughout the coalfields prior to nationalisation 1 Jan 1947 and it will be seen in the books that some men were directors on several coal company boards, even those in competition! BA Collieries Ltd was created on 1 April 1936 by the amalgamation of Bestwood Coal & Iron Co Ltd and the Nottinghamshire pits of Babbington Coal Co, plus the addition of the Digby Coal Co on 1 April 1937.
The site is being continually added to and amended, and my contribution is up to 1987 (66 per cent). A fair way to go yet to complete. Also many more photographs to illustrate will be inserted as time allows.
Trusting this information is useful.
Bob Bradley
There is some additional information on google.
Registered Office: Bestwood Colliery, near Nottingham
Class of Coal: Manufacturing, Steam
Other Minerals Worked: Fireclay
Source: 1923 Colliery Year Book and Coal Trades Directory. Published by The Louis Cassier Co. Ltd., from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
Durham Mining Museum
Company Directors
Chairman: Part, Charles Thomas
Managing Director: Part, Charles Thomas
Directors: Crawford, Andrew
Lancaster, Claude G., Capt.
Lancaster, John Reginald
Part, Dealtry C., Col., O.B.E.
Seely, Charles H., Sir, Bart.
General Manager: Hepplewhite, R. H. F.
Secretary: Thornley, Jesse
Agent: Wright, Francis T.
Source: 1923 Colliery Year Book and Coal Trades Directory. Published by The Louis Cassier Co. Ltd., from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian |