I am the grandson of Cecil Booth who I believe was head horse keeper at the pit, would you know of any person who remembered him?
Thanks Harry Barnes

Hi Fionn,
I was born in Mapplewell near Barnsley, in South Yorkshire, and after my army service settled in Portsmouth.

I recently visited the Coal Mine Museum with my grandchildren who were fascinated about ponies working down the mines.

I wonder if anyone has any photographs of the ponies, Captain, Monarch, Rusty, Sweep, Boxer and Bowler but to name the few.

Best Regards

Hayden Bretton.

Sent: 26 September 2008

Hi Fionn
Thank you for your most welcome prompt response to my e-mail.

Another e-mail to you is from Nicholas Cole for a similar request, this could be the granddaughter of one of the pony men at the North, Mr Jagger Lloyd.

If per chance this is so, then the other lads were, Ciss and Dave Booth, and Hubert Turner.

In those by gone days the odd camera was but few and far between, but I do recall two old lads that did, at that time, take photographs of our local Hamlet.

Donald Ottley and Jack Norkliff are the two lads that had old Brownie Box Cameras, and did take photos of, Days of Yesteryear.

Since my last e-mail I have located one of the old Locos once used at the North Gawber Coal Mine, the Monckton No1, now restored and in use.

Sad to say but at this time several, (money grabbers), are putting copy rights to our local coal mine snap shots.

Best regards
Hayden Bretton.

From:      Hayden Bretton
Sent:      5 Mar 2014
Subject   At Last I Have Located Pit Pony Photos Of North Gawber Colliery, near Barnsley, in South Yorkshire.

Hi, at last I have located pit pony photos of North Gawber Colliery I have searched for quite a number of years, please fine pictures of Captain, Rusty and Muffin, pony men Ciss Booth, Dave Booth, Jagger Lloyd and Hubert Turner.

Dave Booth

Ciss was his brother.

Pit pony racing was a popular sport in Mapplewell and my uncle Peter was a regular jockey at the weekend meetings. My grandad was a colourful character, spending many years as a steward at the WMC in the village, after he retired. He had a large collection of horse brasses which I used to clean when I was a nipper back in the 60s. My mum and uncle were pleased to see the photos.
 
Regards  

Demolition Of The Old Wind Shaft

Photograph From Barnsley And Family - Barnsley Memories

This photo was taken by John Mills, it is one in a series that documents operations at North Gawber Colliery

- Click Here To See More At Embsay And Bolton Abbey Steam Railway -

Hi Fionn, I am admin on a web site about the village I was born in, please have a look at the site
" Carr Green Lane Monkey Park and Mapplewell"
Hayden