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.
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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;-
- been moved and
-
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
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