Dear sir
Is it possible to trace my uncle, he died in a South Yorkshire pit after 1946 but before 1950 his name was Rob Knaggs I would like to ask is it possible there’s something on the internet about were he worked and what did happen.

Thanking you
Mr. Brian Knaggs

Hi
I recently found one of my ancestors who died at Wingate Colliery, he was called Alfred Grimwood, born 1850, Tuddenham, Suffolk, married Ann Hunter, b 1849, Wigan, Lancashire. He died in 1878, aged 28. He was a collier and died in an explosion of gas in the Main Coal Seam while firing a shot next to goaf in broken workings.
Please can you tell me what the goaf is? and do you possibly have any more info, I found it on the Durham Mining Museum website he died along with 1 other man.

Many thanks for your time
Helen Jenner

According to Ian Winstanley Alfred Grimwood, collier died at Wheatley Hill Colliery, Thornley, Co Durham, on 25th March 1878 along with Joseph Walker, age 36 who was a deputy. The colliery was owned by Original Hartlepool Collieries Co Ltd
The Goaf or Gob is the parts of the mine where all the coal has been extracted and where the roof has fallen in.

In am researching my great grandparents Sarah Hannah Rigley b. 1857 ( father John Rigley blacksmith Eastwood, and Grandfather Samuel Rigley Collier Heanor) and her husband Samuel Wood b.\Selston 1850s Carman and later Coal Merchant in London)

I would like to know what is the difference between a collier and a coal miner and what is a carman? Can you help?

Any source of information about Heanor at that time, or if there is any way I can advertise my interest in these families would also be helpful.

Thanks a lot your site is very interesting.

Shay Habel

Would be grateful for help or any information on William Stobbs who died in Doctor Pit, Belington, Northumberland in 1907 or where I could get any information at all.

F Burt

My ancestor, James Spargo, drove the "Great Heading" for the Antegloro Coal Mine from 1800-1808. I have not been able to find any information on this mine. It would be greatly appreciated if you could point me in the correct direction to do more research.

Thank you.
Diane Spargo

Hi there trying 2 find any ex-miner who knew or worked with my father Colin Yeardley who worked at Orgreave colliery. He was a Trappana machine driver and taught people new to job.

Any info most appreciated

Thank you
Steve

Hello
I am trying to find out more details (and photographs) about my Great great Grandfather Thomas Arrandale who was Mine Manager of Bradford Colliery. Period 1860's to 1880's.

In his Obituary published in the Manchester Evening News at the time of his death 25th July 1886, stated that he was "Long time Manager of Bradford Colliery".

Anyone able to help please contact me:-

Brian Arrandale.

Waikato.
New Zealand.

Hello
I am trying to find information about my grandfather Edward Allen who, along with his wife and two small children, moved from Tydd St Giles in Cambridgeshire to Ellistown to work as a miner around 1903. We think his brother who was already in Coalville working on the railway got him the job.

I would dearly like to find out what happened to him, could you suggest where I could go for any information? Sorry details are so skimpy. We do know that he lived in Ellistown and they had at least 7 more children.

It looks like the old boy could not settle to mining after being a horseman and groom on a farm and went off wandering. I did hear that he used to sleep in a brickyard and there was a fire which he was lucky to escape, wonder where that was.

Regards
Rex Allen

Thank you so much for your reply, I will keep searching like many more I wish that I had started years ago instead of when I retired.

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