- Joined
- Apr 10, 2015
- Messages
- 104
- Reaction score
- 27
- Points
- 28
History
Thoresby colliery opened in 1925. The first two shafts in 1925 were sunk to 690 metres (2,260 ft). The shafts were deepened by 109 metres (358 ft) in the 1950s. After privatization of the National Coal Board in the 1990s the mine was taken over by RJB Mining (later UK Coal as UK Coal Thoresby Ltd).
Coal seams worked by or available to the pit included the Parkgate seam (from 1977 after closure of Ollerton Colliery); the Deep Soft seam; and the High Hazels seam (working ceased 1983).
At one time the pit produced up to 100,000 tonnes in a week, making profits of £50m a year, but by April 2014 it was announced that the pit would close in July 2015. The colliery's 600 employees had been reduced to 360 by the time of the closure in July 2015. Following this announcement, the government offered a loan of £10m to carry out the manager closure.
The reasons for closure were blamed on falling coal prices and a fire at Daw Mill Colliery in Warwickshire.
The Explore
Visited here with Session9. So, a colliery has been on the “to do” list for quite a while now and we set off to see this especially as coal mines are soon to be totally extinct from British engineering. Access was easy due to the enormous size of the site, but security is a constant threat with guards and dogs patrolling all day.
Once inside, we went straight for cover and moved quietly and strategically from place to place. We tried to remain out of sight for the best part of the day and avoided exposed positions by using the conveyor belts to navigate undetected. However, after looking at some of the freshly made paw prints not even in the conveyors were we safe from being spotted. My guess is judging by the tracks made; security teams let the dogs loose through the conveyors and re-attach them at the other side (saves them from having to wade through instead).
We headed towards the coal preparation plant and walking through some muddy coal residue as we went. It got suddenly very deep, so much so that Session9 got completely stuck shin deep in it – It was a case of: Lose the camera or lose both shoes - This was very bad as it was in an extremely exposed position. After a good 10 minutes of trying to escape, a nearby squeegee came in very useful as a makeshift shovel. After regrouping in the coal preparation plant with S9 emptying his mud filled shoes, we continued.
The coal preparation was defiantly my favorite part - I’ve never seen anything like it. With large, rusty, old industry being my favorite I was totally in my element here. There are some enormous crank shafts and pieces of oily machinery in there, but the light is very poor and with the contrast of the sunlight outside, it made for difficult photos.
After cutting through a few more conveyors and taking a few aerial shots, we headed for the headstock itself. It was well guarded, with CCTV pointing directly at it, whether it was working or not, who knows?? We slipped inside out of sight however and spent a good while photographing the mineshaft as well as the bulk and housing from inside. The shaft office and control room was interesting also. After exiting the headstock, I went to get some aerial shots from on top of it but then spotted security heading our direction. We headed back off into the coal preparation plant again to avoid being spotted and soon afterwards decided that it was time to leave. About a 5-6 hour total exploring time, but plenty left to see still.
Pictures
Coal Preparation Plant
The Headstock
The Shaft Control Room
Looking Up
Looking Down
Thank you all for viewing.
The Lone Shadow
Thoresby colliery opened in 1925. The first two shafts in 1925 were sunk to 690 metres (2,260 ft). The shafts were deepened by 109 metres (358 ft) in the 1950s. After privatization of the National Coal Board in the 1990s the mine was taken over by RJB Mining (later UK Coal as UK Coal Thoresby Ltd).
Coal seams worked by or available to the pit included the Parkgate seam (from 1977 after closure of Ollerton Colliery); the Deep Soft seam; and the High Hazels seam (working ceased 1983).
At one time the pit produced up to 100,000 tonnes in a week, making profits of £50m a year, but by April 2014 it was announced that the pit would close in July 2015. The colliery's 600 employees had been reduced to 360 by the time of the closure in July 2015. Following this announcement, the government offered a loan of £10m to carry out the manager closure.
The reasons for closure were blamed on falling coal prices and a fire at Daw Mill Colliery in Warwickshire.
The Explore
Visited here with Session9. So, a colliery has been on the “to do” list for quite a while now and we set off to see this especially as coal mines are soon to be totally extinct from British engineering. Access was easy due to the enormous size of the site, but security is a constant threat with guards and dogs patrolling all day.
Once inside, we went straight for cover and moved quietly and strategically from place to place. We tried to remain out of sight for the best part of the day and avoided exposed positions by using the conveyor belts to navigate undetected. However, after looking at some of the freshly made paw prints not even in the conveyors were we safe from being spotted. My guess is judging by the tracks made; security teams let the dogs loose through the conveyors and re-attach them at the other side (saves them from having to wade through instead).
We headed towards the coal preparation plant and walking through some muddy coal residue as we went. It got suddenly very deep, so much so that Session9 got completely stuck shin deep in it – It was a case of: Lose the camera or lose both shoes - This was very bad as it was in an extremely exposed position. After a good 10 minutes of trying to escape, a nearby squeegee came in very useful as a makeshift shovel. After regrouping in the coal preparation plant with S9 emptying his mud filled shoes, we continued.
The coal preparation was defiantly my favorite part - I’ve never seen anything like it. With large, rusty, old industry being my favorite I was totally in my element here. There are some enormous crank shafts and pieces of oily machinery in there, but the light is very poor and with the contrast of the sunlight outside, it made for difficult photos.
After cutting through a few more conveyors and taking a few aerial shots, we headed for the headstock itself. It was well guarded, with CCTV pointing directly at it, whether it was working or not, who knows?? We slipped inside out of sight however and spent a good while photographing the mineshaft as well as the bulk and housing from inside. The shaft office and control room was interesting also. After exiting the headstock, I went to get some aerial shots from on top of it but then spotted security heading our direction. We headed back off into the coal preparation plant again to avoid being spotted and soon afterwards decided that it was time to leave. About a 5-6 hour total exploring time, but plenty left to see still.
Pictures
Coal Preparation Plant
The Headstock
The Shaft Control Room
Looking Up
Looking Down
Thank you all for viewing.
The Lone Shadow
