This monument to workmen who lost their lives at Thurcroft Colliery was fitted and erected today, 12 - 9 - 2019.
it was a project that myself and Pat Fortune started a few months ago, having got permision from the council to
place it in the Grden of Remembrance and had it funded by The Big Local, Clarksons Memorials of Rotherham
had it made to our design and fitted by two of their workmen.
it was a project that myself and Pat Fortune started a few months ago, having got permision from the council to
place it in the Grden of Remembrance and had it funded by The Big Local, Clarksons Memorials of Rotherham
had it made to our design and fitted by two of their workmen.
Left to Right, Freddie Gething, Pat Fortune ( Both ex Thurcroft miners ) Diane Oxley representing Thurcroft Hub
who very kindly paid for the monument, Geb Nightingale representing Thurcroft Parish Council who gave
permission to have the monument sighted in The Garden of Remembrance.
who very kindly paid for the monument, Geb Nightingale representing Thurcroft Parish Council who gave
permission to have the monument sighted in The Garden of Remembrance.
The Art Work below was completed by Linda Hayden.
Both photo's below were very kindly sent in by Peter Tuffrey (a writer of books about Yorkshire)
The photo below is Thurcroft Main Colliery
No 1 Downcast shaft is on the left of the photo, this was a typical type of head gear with the winding wheels side by side.
No 2 Upcast shaft [shonkey] is to the right, with the smaller head gear.
The photos below was taken from the same spot, there's 20 years difference in the shots.In the left hand photo just in front of tree line the yellow and black concrete bollards can clearly be seen these where just in front of the colliery weigh bridge.
The photo above is of the Upcast Shaft [shonkey] and the stock yard to the rear, The large building to the right was the Coal preparation plant [ Washer ],the big pile of material to the right of the photo and in front of the Washer is Hard Core that was used to fill the top of the upcast shaft when capping of the shafts was commenced. The Downcast shaft can be seen directly behind the upcast winding gear. The building in the fore ground was the fan house used for ventilating the mine.
The photo above is part of the Pit Head Baths complex; it shows the control room [ just behind the car ] and the pathway to the left behind the fence where the Miners went in to the baths to shower after work.
The only building still standing is the manager's office, the colliery manager was on the right hand side and the Deputy Manager was on the left.As you passed the the offices the Managers Barometer was always on display in his window.
The photo below is the managers office block being knocked down in early June 2023.
Thanks to Mick Hill for the photo
Thanks to Mick Hill for the photo
The photos below show the top of where both shafts used to be. The concrete block is on the top of the No.2 shaft
The information plate has been removed; this gave details of depth, width of shaft, depth of cap, date of capping etc.
The No.2 Upcast shaft was used for winding men and material for the day to day running of the mine.
There was [2] landing ( Levels) in the shaft which were the pump lodges where the excess water was pumped to the surface and the pit bottom at 650 meters, the distance between the shafts was 198 feet, [60.3]mts.
The No.1 Downcast shaft was mainly used for winding coal, this was done with mine (tubs) until 1975 and then via 2 X 10 tonne skips as the colliery underwent a modernisation and investment plan.
These skips could also be converted to carry men by the lowering of a steel plate but the number of men was limited to 10, it was only used for man riding on rare occasions i:e planned maintenance on No.2 shaft or in case of a emergency.
A metal fence now surrounds this shaft with the ventilation pipes emerging from it.
For almost 80 years men descended these shafts to win the coal below ground, millions of tonnes of coal was got over this time and millions of tonnes was left as the colliery closed.
(The term Upcast and Downcast is mentioned quite often, fresh air was drawn into the Downcast Shaft to ventilate the mine and expelled via the Upcast shaft)
No.1 Downcast shaft No.2 Upcast shaft
The photo's above are roughly taken from the same spot, on the right photo Laughton church spire can be just seen on the horizon.
The centre photo below with the trees in it is where the canteen, baths, time office and lamp room once stood.
The lamp room and time office had several homes at Thurcroft; this is where it was when the end came
The photo below shows some of the men and officials who were among the first teams to drive a Heading [tunnel] for more than 100 metres advance in one week at Thurcroft Colliery. All the teams were presented with a Dosco tie with the 100 metre motive on by Mr Concannon [under manager] and a rep from Dosco. Back row Dick Bingham [Electrician], Mick Roberts, Paul Andrews, Graham Green, [?] Martin Redman, Fred Gething, [Overman] Dennis Johnson [Deputy].Front row, Kieth Chapman Fitter, Peter Ives, Paul Garner, Charlie Thomas, Peter Floyd [Deputy].
The Photo below shows one of Thurcroft's two Mines Rescue Teams, the picture shows Mr D Weldon [ Manager ] and that years successful wining Rescue team with the winners Shield. Photo from Mid 1970s. Back row, George Edwards, Mr Weldon, George Allott, Malcom Rodgers.
Front Row, Brian Cravan, David Gray, Stuart Plant. The rescue team won first and second place twice and a third place.
With thanks to George Allott for the photo. Bottom two photos of team practising in pit yard, with thanks to Stuart Plant for the photo's.
Below are a selection of photo's from 1970 /71, at this time Thurcroft had a very successful Safety team, the team beat many colliery's nationwide in team competitions,getting to the semi finals in 1970 and the final in 1971, at the Cafe Royal in London.The photo's below show team members K Phillips, A Cloke, R Moss, W Hutchinson, D Gray. In the photo's are the safety team with Lord Robens [chairman of the N.C.B.] and with T.V. personality Hughie Green. Photo's supplied by kind permission of Bob Moss.
Thurcroft Pit Firefighting Team, 1957.
Back Row, left to right. R,Helliwell. R,Moss. [?]. C,Kiddie. D,Pickering. K,Phillips. J,Hudson. I,Little. H,Sparrum.
Second Row, left to right. S,Phillips. J,Helliwell. T,Oxley. T,Crofts. B,Thorpe. W,Lovely. D,Staley. K,Bennett.
Third Row, left to right. Mr Gale. D,Cauldfield. A,Challener. B,Sanderson.
Front Row, left to right. M Staley, F,O.Brian. Mr,Kelsall. Mr,Parker. Mr,Quinn. J,Rollett. A,Brierley. B,Cartwright. J,Lovely.
Small boys, David Cauldfield, Mick Phillips.
The Photo below by kind permission of [ rotherhamweb.co.uk ] and David Page.
Second Row, left to right. S,Phillips. J,Helliwell. T,Oxley. T,Crofts. B,Thorpe. W,Lovely. D,Staley. K,Bennett.
Third Row, left to right. Mr Gale. D,Cauldfield. A,Challener. B,Sanderson.
Front Row, left to right. M Staley, F,O.Brian. Mr,Kelsall. Mr,Parker. Mr,Quinn. J,Rollett. A,Brierley. B,Cartwright. J,Lovely.
Small boys, David Cauldfield, Mick Phillips.
The Photo below by kind permission of [ rotherhamweb.co.uk ] and David Page.
Above are some of the Ladies who worked in the canteen, the occasion is the retierment of one of the above, Left to right Mrs Walker, Mrs S Close, Mrs M Steer, Mrs V Rollison [manageress] Mrs Wheatley,Mrs Smith, seated Mrs M Podmore,
Thanks to Mrs S Close, for use of the photo.
The four photo's below were very kindly sent in by Jane Gee, Jane was one of the Ladies that got up at the crack of dawn to get us all a cup of tea and breakfast amongst other items in the canteen, first photo shows, Sheila, Vera, Margaret, Andrea, and Jane
Next two show some of the Ladies collecting for the charity Red Nose Day
Last one shows a cold, damp pit yard at 3am,as Jane arrived for work.
Below is a photo of the Yorkshire NUM Executive taken in Barnsley H.Q. in 1958. Celebrating 100 yrs after the Yorkshire Association was formed. Mid row 4th from the left is Mr Jack Finnie, Thurcroft NUM Delegate at the time.
Below is a photo very kindly sent in by Mr Les Walker of Brampton, it shows his uncle Mr Rob Lovley who was one of the men that looked after the Pit Ponys at Thurcroft.
The photo below was very kindly sent in by Mrs Jean Deakin. Taken some time in the 1960s at a Miners Demonstration or a Local Miners Gala. The men on the photo are from the left, Mr Jack Hood, Mr Jack Hutchinson ( Mrs Deakins Father ) and Mr Ron Thickett all well known NUM branch officials. Seated is Mr Beny Webster.
The Eight photos below were very kindly provided by Mr Edward Downs, they come from a collection of photographs
that were found in a skip in Doncaster. The first three look like roadways in the Barnsley seam. Photos from 1950s
that were found in a skip in Doncaster. The first three look like roadways in the Barnsley seam. Photos from 1950s
Below, Next Three photos of the old washery plant and pit top, photos from ( 1/6/1970 )
Photo below is Dated ( 12/3/1971 ) that is 5 months after the fire on HO2s,
Photo below looks like Haigh Moor seam, dated ( 28/3/ 1975 ) could be HO1s.
Below. This photo looks like it was taken at the loader gate end of a face in the Parkgate seam.
Photo from ( 1/10/ 1957), a Panzer being driven with a double drive, does anyone remember this Face.
Photo from ( 1/10/ 1957), a Panzer being driven with a double drive, does anyone remember this Face.
Photo taken in Pit Yard, New Dosco. Archie Yetman at the back, Steve Hartley, Ex MP, Paul Peak at the front. 1980s.
The two photos below were very kindly sent in by Neil Tomlinson and show the Thurcroft Colliery Fire Fighting Team
in the 1960s. Back Row, L to R. (?), Tom Drury, Harold Moss, (?), Jim Lovley, Ernest Crofts, Ingram Little,
(?), Brian Thorpe, Ralph Helliwell, Joe Rollett. Front, Frank Tomlinson, Taff Grifiths, Bill Lovely.
in the 1960s. Back Row, L to R. (?), Tom Drury, Harold Moss, (?), Jim Lovley, Ernest Crofts, Ingram Little,
(?), Brian Thorpe, Ralph Helliwell, Joe Rollett. Front, Frank Tomlinson, Taff Grifiths, Bill Lovely.