I recently received some disappointing news about the old Nutbrook Colliery ventilation furnace cupola. This structure resides at Lound Hall near Bevercotes, and was left over when the mining museum there closed, and is at possible risk of demolition due to redevelopment of the site. Nigel Hunston, a Planning Officer at Bassetlaw District Council has tried hard on my behalf to get the structure listed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

On the basis of assessment by English Heritage, they have decided not to add it to the statutory list due to it not being of "sufficient architectural or historic interest". And the reason for this - the cupola has;-

1. been moved and
2. is no longer connected to its original functioning ventilation system (I doubt that many, if any, are).

It has thus lost its "historic context". So the bizarre irony is that in the early 1970s it was seen as of sufficient interest to protect it from destruction during opencast mining, and to move it brick by brick some 40 miles, yet today the fact it has been moved makes it more or less worthless!

Nigel Hunston was similarly disappointed by this outcome, and has stated that he will attempt to keep an eye on what happens at Lound Hall to secure the future of the cupola, but it's not a good situation.

I have informed both the National Mining Museum, and Erewash Museum of the situation, but with no response so far. I get the impression that they are not that interested, which is a shame, as most of our local mining heritage has already been swept away.

Has anyone other ideas what can be done to secure a future for this structure?

Rgds, Joe.

Fri 23/May/2003
Hi Fionn
I am compiling a list of coal mines for the West Hallam opencast action group on the Newdigate (old coal screens site). Could you pass a message onto Joe Henshaw for me, I can't find his e-mail address. This is regarding a cupola chimney that is still standing on the Shipley West site. I am deeply concerned of the fate of this chimney if the opencast goes ahead. The chimney stands on the Mapperley Brook feeder reservoir which was constructed to give extra water to the Nutbrook Canal in times of drought. The chimney was built c1830.
Regards
Roger Wood

Hi I have discovered A Ventilation Furnace at Cwm Ebbw Vale Gwent. I have lived here 71 years and only traced it last week. It is a Grade 2 listed building and is on CADW No.15836 and dated 1840 – 1876. Mervyn Robbins

14 October 2010

Dear Fionn
Further to our email above I am pleased to inform you that I have several organisations interested in developing our site at Cwm Ebbw Vale.
            
We are in the early stages but people interested are, Local Authority Heritage, Welsh Assembly Heritage, Schools, Keep Wales Tidy, Tidy Towns, Probation Service and my own Voluntary Group i.e. CWM COMMUNITY CARE Blaenaue Gwent County Council Regeneration department are also showing interest.
 
Will keep you informed of progress.

Thanks for your help 
Yours Sincerely
Mervyn Robbins

Dear Fionn Browsing through our new website I noticed that the above cupola may be demolished. I am sorry to hear this and hope you can save it. Apart from the one in our village are there any others you know of?

Our new website is www.cwmcommunitycare.co.uk  

Yours Sincerely
Mervyn Robbins

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