Chesterfield
Collieries > C-D
Chesterfield Collieries.
To explain the position of documenting collieries in the Chesterfield area one must understand that on the Ordnance Survey map SK 37 SE which covers that area contains at least 900 recorded shafts of ironstone, clay and coal with a proviso that others exist in areas of older workings, too many to record and others still awaiting discovery.
However, many collieries are covered individually in this document.
The town centre has been spared the efforts of shaft sinking but in areas not populated during the nineteenth century they have been haphazardly mined throughout the period by many people and companies. To give you an example of a mined area there are at least 100 shafts for coal and ironstone in an area from Spital (South) Hady Hill (East) and on to the Golf Course (North) but not passing over the railway lines into Chesterfield Station (West). There are also areas where many shafts exist but are not recorded.
Gas House Colliery.
24th May 1856.
Mr. Denham has received instructions from Messrs Goodwin, Parker and Company to sell by auction at the above colliery Brampton in consequence of the colliery being finished, the whole of the colliery plant. A 6 hp vertical high pressure engine with drum and winding gear complete, 12 hp high pressure direct acting pumping engine with boiler 21 feet x 8 feet and 20 yards of 10 inch pump trees, two sets of headgear with conductors and pulley wheels, two wrought iron chairs, 29 pit wagons, 2 screens and a 6 ton weighing machine.
Hady Hill Colliery. SK 36/37 392709
The exact site of this colliery is not known as is the date of sinking but may be at 392709 near to Hady Farm. The colliery mined in an area on the outskirts of Chesterfield for coal and ironstone (Blackshale Rake) initially to supply the Smiths Griffin iron foundry in Chesterfield. Worked the Second Piper, Cockleshell, Low Tupton, Threequarters and Silkstone. The shafts being around 303 feet deep.
The colliery was to be sold by auction in August 1861. The plant and buildings belonging to Henson and Short comprising of one 6hp high pressure steam engine, drum, one pulley 4 foot 9 inches, 22 girders, frames and posts, 5 ton weighing machine, 11 pit wagons etc.
In 1860 Hady colliery disposed of by private contract a 8hp steam engine. Application to Mr. Wright, Chemist, Chesterfield. Derbyshire Courier May 5th. 1860.
Hady Colliery 1874-1876 owned by Thomas Mason.
Hady Hill Colliery 1855-1862 owned by Henson & Co.
Hasland Colliery. SK 36/37 391703
In February 1856 an engine tenter was required for the pumping engine at the colliery.
By March 1859 the price of coal had fallen.
A dinner was enjoyed by the miners of Mr. Senior of Hasland colliery to celebrate the completion of a link between the Whitebank and Hasland collieries. The length of the link was 530 yards long. The collieries had both been abandoned previously due to flooding.
Derbyshire Times. 21st April 1888.
Reservoir and Highfields Collieries.
On Saturday at Chesterfield County Police Court, James Fell Manager at the Reservoir Colliery was summoned by Lt. Col. Short Inspector of Weights and Measures who found in use at the colliery a maladjusted weighing machine. The defendant pleaded not guilty. Col: Short said on the 19th March he visited Reservoir Colliery and informed the defendant he wished to test the weighing machine and he offered to assist him. The machine at first would not balance but in a short time he got it to balance. Witness put five hundred weights on the machine but it only showed 4 ½ cwts. The defendant said he had not the slightest idea the machine was out of order. The Magistrates said they did not think that the defendant had committed the offence wilfully and under the circumstances ordered him to pay only the costs.
At the same court Johnson Pearson proprietor of the Highfields Colliery Newbold was summoned for a similar offence on the 20th March. He pleaded not guilty. Col: Short said the weighing machine at the colliery would not balance until he had put 4 cwts on. He afterwards put 3 cwts on but it only showed 2 cwts. He noticed at the time of his visit a new machine was in course of erection. The machine had been at the pit for 25 years and the workmen were perfectly satisfied with it. On account of their being a large quantity of dirt in the pit an arrangement had been made between the master and the men that 24 cwts should be got to the ton and the machine had been tared in order to carry out the agreement. Samuel Kay a miner said he had worked at the colliery for 27 years and said it was an agreement that they should get 24 cwts. to the ton. The Bench decided that there was no imputative of fraud and that they should do the same.
In this case as they did in the last, pay only the costs. The machine should as Col: Short said correspond with standards and if any similar cases were brought before them in the future they would have to convict, the law must be obeyed.
15th December 1900.
Mr. C. G. Busby Coroner held an inquest at the Cricketers Inn Newbold Moor on Monday touching the death of Joseph Platts (26) of stand Road Newbold Moor who was killed during Friday night to a fall of roof. Lyndon Hardy of Mountcastle Street Newbold said on the date of the accident he was stall man at no.5 stall at Highfields no.2 colliery where the deceased also worked as a loader. Witness examined the stall before they began loading on Friday night and it appeared to be quite safe. The accident happened near to the gate where a tub was standing about 5 feet from the coalface. Witness was getting his snap and the deceased was talking to him for a minute or two. Deceased said he would go and get on with his tub and witness said alright and almost immediately a crash came and a lot of stuff came down from the roof and the deceased was buried under it. Witness was about 7 feet from the deceased at the time of the fall. The roof gave no warning before it fell. About 7/8 tons of roofing fell altogether. Witness considered there was plenty of timber set. Alderman Pearson said bars were set across them and oak batons over these. He thought the accident was caused by “jingles” which was heavy stuff falling on the top and breaking the covering down.
Derbyshire Courier. 1st October 1887.
Reservoir Colliery.
On Saturday at Chesterfield County Police Court Mr. James Fell owner of Reservoir Colliery, Newbold Back Lane was summoned by Mr. A. A. Stokes H. M. Inspector of Mines for the Midland District for three breaches of the Coal Mines regulations Act on 12th August. The charges were that the defendant failed to have an indicator to the machine for lowering and raising persons down the shaft: that he neglected to provide proper means of communicating signals from the surface to the bottom of the shaft: that he neglected to have the shaft properly fenced. Defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges stating that he was not personally to blame.
Mr. Thomas Southern stated that on 12th August he visited Reservoir colliery and saw the defendant there. He examined the winding engine and he noticed that there was no proper indicator to show the position of the load in the shaft. There was no means of communicating distinct and definite signals from the surface to the bottom of the shaft, he also found that the top of the pit was unfenced at the front and the back. He went down the pit and understood that the depth was over fifty yards, he pointed out the defects to the defendant who promised to have them put right. On the 20th August he paid another visit to the colliery and that the defects still existed.
Mr. A. A. Stokes was then called and deposed to receiving the reports of the last witness. The defendant said that the arrangements for the colliery were not yet in a complete state or the requirements of the Act would have been met as they were completed. He also dwelt upon the fact that the shaft was not much more than fifty yards deep and the danger arising from the non- provision of signals and indicator were small compared with a large colliery.
The Bench said that they had decided to convict and they attached the most importance to the matter of the indicator. The defendant was a certificated manager and in their opinion he ought to have visited the colliery more frequently than he appeared to have done. With regards to the colliery being only small, life was as valuable as in a large one.
In the first case they would impose a fine of £1 plus costs and 1/- in the other cases.
12th March 1921.
Highfields Colliery.
The Highfields Colliery Company has been registered as a private company with a capital of £2,000 in £1 shares to carry on business indicated by the title. The first directors are Mr. W. Dethick High Street Apperknowle and Mr. H. Sharpe Homley Lane Coal Aston. Registered Office High Street Apperknowle Unstone.
Inmanswell/Ingmanswell (Field) (Picadilly Farm)
Colliery SK 36/37 392715 (Ingman Well at 390714)
In February 1853 best house coal was 7/- per ton delivered, nuts 3/8d, slack 1/3d ex-pit.
1st February 1862.
John Clayton begs to inform the public he is reopening his old pit at Tapton.
Large coal 8/- per ton, brights 7/- per ton. Orders to be left at Ingmanwell Meadow.
In February 1885 the following appeared in the Derbyshire Times.
Ingmanwell colliery near Railway Station. Coal at pit 5/- per ton, delivered in Chesterfield 6/4d per ton.
Orders received at pit or Tapton coal yard, Cavendish Street, Chesterfield. John Clayton owner.
In 1869 the colliery and plant were put up for auction by the owners Pope and Company.
Loundsley Green Colliery.
Loundsley Green/Ashgate Plantation SK 36/37 355717
There are around 40 shafts sunk in an area centred around Loundsley Green and Ashgate Plantation, all could have the name Loundsley Green Colliery. One such area has 5 shafts in close proximity to each other.
Coal was known to have been mined here from at least the time of Farey’s mining survey of 1800 for his book published in 1811. Evidence in the form of spoil heaps abounds in this area.
Derbyshire Times March 12th. 1859. Blackshale coal of first class quality 7/2d per ton delivered within the Borough of Chesterfield. Messrs Swallow proprietor.
Spital Colliery. SK 36/37 396705 Amongst several shafts worked in this area.
Derbyshire Times 14th. May 1864.
Wanted a practical engine tenter. A middle aged man would be preferred. Also required a quantity of colliers.
13th December 1890.
On Tuesday the adjourned inquiry into the affairs of Thomas Fisher late proprietor of the Spital Lane Colliery Hasland was resumed before Mr. Wake Registrar to the Chesterfield County Court at the County Court Offices Chesterfield.
Mr. A. J. Hall the Assistant Official Receiver examined Herbert Fisher of Hayencroft Green Wakefield brother to the debtor. He said that at various times he had advanced money to his brother. Witness said that he had got a deed of assignment of his brother’s furniture. He became tenant of his brother’s house and had a rent book.
The debtor was then further examined and stated that he withdrew from the bank on 2nd October £24 – 12 – 00d and on October 3rd £18 – 16 – 00d to pay wages with. After he had paid the wages and drawn all his money from the bank he had got £19 in hand. He paid £14 to file a petition and had £5 left which he spent on living.
He corrected a statement he had made at the previous examination and stated now he gave Fletcher (his late partner) 3150. He had not looked into his financial position when his partnership was dissolved. The examination was then closed.
Mostly ironstone production with coal.
Walton Colliery.
5th June 1869.
The best hand picked coal that is free from dirt and is an excellent housecoat delivered in Chesterfield at 7/3d per ton, at the pit 5/10d. Engine slack first class quality 3/6d. Orders received by Mr. Fidler at the Market Hall, Mr. Isaac Bower accountant Low Pavement and Mr. Gillyatt at South Street Chesterfield will be attended to.
Walton Hall Colliery. SK 36/37 370695.
Best coal 5/- ex-pit, 5/6d delivered in Chesterfield. G.Hewitt proprietor. Agent, Mr. R.Fenton Albion Hotel, Eyre Street Chesterfield. Derbyshire Times 25th. May 1861.
