Rawmarsh & Parkgate Collieries
Long before the big pits came into production there had been mining all over the Rawmarsh and Parkgate area. The appellation 'Old Shaft' or 'Old Coal Pit' appears in many places on maps of the area. Coal mining at Aldwarke is documented from the 17th Century with references to tenants rights of way over the grounds and the river Dunne (Don) at Aldwarke ford, on both sides of river; and to any person fetching coals from pits.
In 1828 Fitzwilliam Collieries owned and operated pits at Swallowwood and Parkgate. I don't know wherw Parkgate colliery was situated
Aldwarke Main
Aldwarke Main was sunk on a triangular section of land in Parkgate, adjacent to Aldwarke manor house. The site was bounded by the main line of the Midland Railway, the Mexborough to Rotherham line of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and a local road known as Aldwarke Lane, a toll road across the lands of the manor of Aldwarke linking Parkgate to Dalton. The colliery was linked to both railway lines and to a staithe on the River Don Navigation.
The colliery was sunk in three stages, the first shaft reaching the Barnsley seam in 1867. It took until 1877 to deepen the shaft to reach the Parkgate seam and it was not until 1884, when the second shaft was sunk that the Silkstone seam was reached. Towards the end of the Second World War and afterwards the shafts were deepened to reach the Swallow Wood seam.
Ownership was in the hands of Sheffield steelmakers John Brown and Co. Ltd. and passed to the National Coal Board on nationalisation. The colliery was closed on 30th June 1961 and there are factory units now built on the site.
(Information from Roger)
Newbiggin Colliery
Newbiggin Colliery was situated to the west side of Parkgate. I think that it was originally called New Park Colliery but I have been able to find very little information about it. It was sunk to mine the Parkgate seam some time in the 1850s. The pumping station on Westfield Road with some associated buildings are now incorporated into Westfield Craft workshops. The smithy and stables are now private homes. The rest of the site was used as works for a while but was cleared and a small private housing estate built there. Now here is a bit of confusion for you. I have found a source that states the pumping station was built in 1828 which would perhaps indicate an earlier date for a colliery here.
Roundwood Colliery
Roundwood Colliery was situated on the borders of Parkgate and Rotherham, old maps showing this as 'Rounde Woode'. More recently it could be described as being a short distance to the north of Aldwarke Main Colliery between the main line of the Midland Railway and the Mexborough to Rotherham line of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway. Sinking commenced in the mid-1860's and had connections to both railways and to staithes alongside the River Don.
In 1880 the colliery was listed as being owned by Cooper, Sellars and Company, becoming The Roundwood Colliery Company by 1896. This company was purchased by Sheffield steelmakers John Brown a few years later and became the foundation of the Dalton Main Colliery Company. Dalton Main Collieries were responsible for the sinking of Silverwood Colliery. Roundwood and Silverwood were joined by underground tunnels. In 1947 the colliery became part of the National Coal Board and was closed in the early 1960s. Part of the site is now playing fields and golf course.
(Information from Roger)
Stubbin Collieries
There were at least three pits at Stubbin which was situated to the west of Rawmarsh. The land on which they stood belonged to Wentworth Estates and the pit was owned by Earl Fitzwilliam's Collieries Co. Ltd. up to nationalisation. The first sod of the new colliery development was cut by Viscount Milton, son of Earl Fitzwilliam, on November 14, 1913 and it took until 1915 to complete the sinking. One source has it that in 1920 Higher and Lower Stubbin Collieries closed. In 1933 Earl Fitzwilliam Collieries Co. registered and sank another pit called New Stubbin.
After 1948 the land was was leased to British Coal. A single railway line ran down Stubbin Incline to the Fitzwilliam Canal where there were coking ovens and coal wharves. New Stubbin colliery ceased production on 6 June 1978, all the buildings were demolished and the railway ripped up, however remained as an underground store until the mid-1980s.
The tip was seeded and planted with trees to counter slippage. The lease expired more than a decade ago and since then Wentworth Estates have been trying to find ways of making money out of the site. There have been at least three plans to opencast the old pit site but these have been turned down in the face of vigorous opposition from the locals, many of whom remember the dirt, dust and noise generated when the local fields were opencast. There are designated public bridleways across the site which will not be made permanent until the landowners make up their minds what to do with it.
Stubbin is a derelict site much abused by bikie boys, yobs with air rifles, car wreckers, tyre burners, fly tippers and arsonists that neither the police nor the local wardens care to tackle. Having said that it is also a haven for wildlife. Walk up there on a day when the snow has left a good dusting on the ground and you can see the pug marks of many foxes, feral cats, rabbit, hare, and weasels criss-crossing the open areas. The site is home to many species of birds, insects and wildflowers and in my opinion it is more deserving of Nature Reserve Status than many area that have it already.
Comments from Mike 20 Aug 2006 re New Stubbin, Low Stubbin Collieries
"Hi,
I worked for the NCB ( No 3 Area ) for 12 years and have distinct memories of both New Stubbin Colliery, the old workings of Low Stubbin Colliery along with the old workings of the Old John Brown's Colliery. In 1968, I was called upon to investigate a rapid increase in the air temperature rising up the New Stubbin Colliery's Upcast Shaft. After detailed investigation and research it was revealed that the goaf fires reported in 1894, 1901 and 1907 in the Old Parkgate pillar and stall workings of the old Low Stubbin Colliery had re-ignited owing to the under working of the Thorncliffe Seam at New Stubbin Colliery. I found that the underworking, had cracked the numerous stoppings and earlier firewalls that had been put in place, thus allowing air to pass through the old workings and re-ignite the old stall waste. As a result, numerous stoppings had to be re-built in the Old Stubbin workings and it's Addit along with capping the main upcast shaft in Stubbin Village.
It was also recorded that owing to the underground fires, the fields surrounding the Stubbin area were able to harvest two crops per year. Anyone hoping to outcrop this area, I wish them the best of luck. The Parkgate Seam is burnt out in this area. Anything else, they must go deeper, Barnsley Seam extensively worked using pillar and stall methods. Yes pillars are available at 11ft thick, but deep for opencasting in this area. Anything else in this area is a little too deep for open casting.
Regards Mike"
Contact Mike Email mlogan753atbtinternet.com (remember to change at to @).
Swallow Wood Colliery
Swallow Wood Colliery was sunk to mine the Swallow Wood seam. It appears to have been in operation by 1828 although one source states that it was not sunk until the 1850s. It was situated in the West Field to the west of Parkgate and Rawmarsh and had disappeared from the map by 1901.
Warren House & Warren Vale Collieries
Warren House Colliery - This information is from Roger -
"This colliery was situated on Wentworth Road to the north of Rawmarsh. It was opened in the early 1800's and closed, I believe in the First World War, or shortly after.( My grandad worked there from 1912 until moving to New Stubbin ). The pit was owned by the Earl Fitzwilliam's Estates and leased to J. J. Charlesworth & Co. It was, as far as I know, never rail or canal connected and possibly the coal was brought up at either Piccadilly or Kilnhurst. The buildings were still in situ in the early 1970's but may have been demolished. There was a small spoil heap adjacent to the pit top but, again, this may have gone."
Warren Vale Colliery - Comments from Roger 2007:–
"Also known as Piccadilly Colliery it was situated alongside Warren Vale Road, north of Rawmarsh in the valley of the Collier Brook, which runs west from Kilnhurst.
Sinking of the colliery commenced in the late 1840's with production commencing towards the end of 1850. The colliery was owned by Earl Fitzwilliam's Estates and worked by J. & J. Charlesworth & Company. Coal was worked from two seams, the 5 ft. seam was worked at a depth of 90 yards, the 9 ft. seam being found at 127 yards. These seams were connected by a shaft.
The colliery suffered a major disaster in December 1851, which was thoroughly reported in the local and national press.
The colliery was rail connected to nother Charlesworth operations at Warren House and Kilnhurst Colliery and so to the main line railway (The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, Sheffield to Doncaster line)
I have no date for closure but I remember some buildings still standing in the 1960's.
Part of the site became the works of Bessacarr Caravans."
And from Roger again:–
"Just a few words of correction for the Warren Vale Colliery bit. The second sentence shouldread:–
"The colliery was owned by Mr. G. S. Foljamb of Osberton, the Lord of the Manor and worked by J. & J. Charlesworth & Company."
In the section relating to the accident I can now add as follows:–
"The colliery suffered a major disaster in December 1851, which was thoroughly reported in the local and national press. A firedamp explosion in the northern section of the 9ft seam killed 51 persons, approximately half being 16 years of age or less, the youngest being 10 years old, some being sons working with their fathers. The cause was given as being a naked flame, a candle by which the miners were working, igniting the gas."
Contact Roger Email roger-milnesatfsmail.net (remember to change at to @).
another source states that the Warren Vale Colliery, formerly the Rawmarsh Colliery Victoria Pit, was sunk in 1837 and worked until 1897.
Warren Vale Colliery Disaster
The colliery had been operating for less than a year when, in December 1851 an accident took place. The Underground Steward went to inspect the workings just prior to the start of the day shift (around 6 a.m.) and was followed shortly afterwards by the miners. About an hour later an explosion took place which "astounded not only those at the pit but the whole neighbourhood". Two corves (small tubs of coal), one filled with 16 cwts.(approx. 1650 kg) of coal and one empty, were propelled skyward out of the shaft and became entangled in the heargear. Another report pointed out that "Some idea may be formed of the effect of the explosion, when it is stated that a man standing at a door of a cottage, upwards of a mile distant, was completely blackened!"
By 9.30 a.m. repairs had been effected to the headgear to enable access to the mine and 14 injured men and boys were lifted out. By mid-afternoon a further 24 men and boys were brought out alive with the first of those killed.
The cause of the explosion, which took place in the northern end of the 9 ft. seam, was cited as a roof fall which blocked the air flow and caused a build up of foul air which became forced into areas where the miners were working with candles to give light.
In total 51 persons were killed, 24 of these being 16 years or below. In some cases these were fathers and sons, working together. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death and commented in his summing up of the lack of inspectors for coal mines, there being only 4 of these in the country, and suggested that the Government should increase this number as soon as possible for the benefit and safety of the workers involved in the industry.