Just after the 27th November 1991, all employees at Thurcroft received the following letter.
It outlined 4 reasons why the colliery should close.
What the local papers said
Reproduced by kind permission of the Sheffield Star and Rotherham Advertiser.
The last train load of coal to leave Thurcroft
From the book, The South Yorkshire Joint Railwayand the coalfield,
B.J.Elliott
The seven photo's below were very kindly sent in by Richard Morris, they show views of the Surface Buildings at Thurcroft during Demolition.
The two images below show the last stages of the capping at the shonkey [upcast] just before the last few tons of concrete are poured, and a barren landscape in the back ground, some idea of the size can be got from the spade stood at the back of the capping area.
Both photo's by kind permission of, Nigel John Auker L.B.I.P.P.
The four photos below were very kindley sent in by Les Walker, they show the mobile screening plant being erected on the tip, this was used to reclaim coal and re-configure the tip, after the pit closed. Last two show plant up and running and tip being mined for any coal that was left.
Hundreds of redundant mine workers could be thrown a lifeline.
A campaign to save the mine was started with help from Rotherham and Sheffield councils plus many others. Men who joined the campaign to try a buy out of the pit pledged thousands of pounds each and meetings took place with both men and British Coal, unfortunately it became clear that British Coal would not pay towards the operating costs of keeping the mine open till negotiations for the take over were completed. The sum of £20.000 per week was to be met by the men for a period of up to six months, the buy out bid failed and the shafts were filled [approx top third] and capped. Over the preceding months the rest of the surface equipment was demolished, the Reservoir was emptied and the tip was reconfigured.
What the Papers Said.
Produced by kind permision of the Rotherham Advertiser
The pamphlet below was produced by the council to go along with the campaign to save the pit.
With thanks to MR H Lockyer for the pamphlet.
Photo below sent in by Peter Tuffrey, it shows Paul Roddis, NUM and Chris Mallender, Rotherham Council stood at the top of Pit Lane in June 1992 during the Buy Out Campaign, the booklet Chris Mallender is holding is the one in the next section below this photo.
Below is the front page of a booklet produced for the men who put monies into the buy out bid for Thurcroft Colliery.
Thanks to Mr Peter Hunt for the loan of the Booklet.
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Below from Rotherham Advertiser August 1992.
Paper Cutting below was from the Rotherham Advertiser August 1992.
Thurcroft Colliery at one time provided Methane Gas (Ch4) direct from the Pit to power the Brick works.
Thurcroft Colliery at one time provided Methane Gas (Ch4) direct from the Pit to power the Brick works.