YORKSHIRE MAIN COLLIERY

The following is taken from a report made on Rossington colliery in the late 60s.

News paper report 2006.

Doncasters last working pit has ceased production (march 2006) bringing an end to 150 years of mining in the borough. Owners UK coal are preparing to mothball the 94 year old mine.

The company says it can no longer afford to opperate the pit, which has lost a million pounds a month for the last two years after being beset by geological problems.

At least 20 million is needed to develop new reserves, but the N.U.M said that the closure was unnecessary.

It believes millions of tons of coal remaining at the pit are now in danger of being lost forever unless investment is found soon, as conditions will deteriorate underground.

 UK coal says that there are still reserves remaining at rossington but they require a major investment which we cannot finance at this time.

The men at rossington have done an excellnt job, often in geological conditions more difficult than any you experience in mining elsewhere in the world.

The N.U.M  says that rossington can still be a success, there are still millions of tonnes of coal underground, which could last for years but it looks like it,s going down the pan.

UK coal said that 83 miners had already left the pit and half of them had tresferred to other collieries. Most of the minerswhich are left (223) will stay on for the next three months to recover equipiment worth several million pounds for re use at Kellingley colliery near Pontefract. A tiny number of staff will remain at Rossington for care and maintenance of the pit for the forceable future.

Rossingtons demise follows the closure of Bentley, Askern, Yorkshire main , Brodsworth and Cadeby collieries since the miners strike of 1984-85.

When the dispute ended there where 191 deep mines across the country, now there are just seven- six operated by UK coal- Daw mill, Harworth, Kellingley,Maltby,Thoresby,Welbeck and the independently owned Tower colliery.(March 2006).

Miner at Rossington on the last day of production.

Pickets at Rossington during the 1984 miners strike.

March 2006.

Hunslet loco with man ridding paddy train in the pit bottom area at Rossington in the 30s.

Train full of coal leaving Rossington in 1995.

Both head gears from the top of the pit tip.

The old chimney,stock yard and fan house.

Top of  No 2 head gear.

Part of the coal preparation unit.

Thanks to turk for the following pics.

Taken during the strike of 84/85, picture of Dennis Adams on picket duty at Rossington main.

 

More Rossington strike pictures from Kieth butcher.

Old coal wagon label 1926