1907

Advance On Wages

In January 1907 there was a 5% advance on wages (45% addition to the 1888 basis). Two further 5% advances followed in March and September. In March there was an improved price list at Bentinck also, giving an extra 2½d (1p) a ton in getting rates (New Hucknall Colliery Co). The Waterloo seam was opened at New Hucknall colliery, Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire by the same company, attracting my grandfather Eli White complete with his moleskin trousers and tea bottle to come from Silverwood in South Yorkshire to work there.

Shaft Accident

He related a tale to me about a pit he worked at, ‘Aldwarke Main’ nearby where he lived, when as a young collier he stood waiting to ride down the shaft with his friend and workmate. The cage was almost full and there was not enough room for both of them so his mate went first. There was a horrific accident and he was killed when the winding rope broke and the cage plummeted down the shaft. A close call he said. I do know that it frightened him. He moved on to the nearby new pit Silverwood colliery. Previously he had started work aged 13 at Denaby Main where his father was a collier.

His father Robert and mother Emma with Mary, Florence, Edith and Jessie, the daughters, and Eli and Florence (my Grandparents) moved to Sutton-in-Ashfield in 1907. Eli's two younger brothers Ernest and Robert stayed on living in Rotherham working at Silverwood pit.

Robert my Great Grandad had decided upon a new career and set up a Hawker's cart selling Greengrocery. Why Robert moved back to Sutton area after some twenty odd years in South Yorkshire I do not know but maybe his father Eli living at Huthwaite had suggested it. My Grandad Eli obtained work as a Collier at nearby New Hucknall colliery where a new seam, the Waterloo, had just been opened and good money was to be had.

Price Of Coal

The pithead price of coal nationally rose to 9s (45p) per ton.

Collieries Working in Derbyshire in 1907 (from North to South)

• Birley West
  
• Moor Hole
  
• Holbrook No1 and 4
  
• High Lane
  
• Marsh Lane
  
• Streetfield
  
• West Wells
  
• Hornthorpe
  
• Dronstone Silkstone
  
• Cowley
  
• Mickley
  
• Orchard
  
• Shady Hall
  
• Renishaw Park
  
• Rutland
  
• Cobnar Wood
  
• Barlborough
  
• Southgate
  
• Hartington
  
• Highfield No1
  
• Newbold
  
• Wallsend
  
• Seymour
  
• Ireland
  
• Creswell
  
• Whitwell
  
• Pearson’s
  
• Markham
  
• Oxcroft
  
• Calow Oaks
  
• Brampton
  
• New Riber
  
• Turnoak
  
• Calow
  
• Bolsover
  
• Langwith
  
• Avenue 9
  
• Avenue 11
  
• Bonds Main
  
• Grassmoor
  
• Williamthorpe
  
• Alma
  
• Glapwell
  
• Holmewood
  
• Clay Cross No2 and 3
  
• Clay Cross No 4
  
• Park House No7
  
• Pilsley
  
• Morton
  
• Tibshelf New
  
• Tibshelf Old
  
• Shirland
  
• Blackwell A Winning
  
• Blackwell B Winning
  
• South Normanton
  
• Alfreton
  
• Swanwick
  
• South Wingfield
  
• Cotes Park
  
• Old Birchwood
  
• Shady Birchwood
  
• Pinxton No1
  
• Pinxton No2
  
• Alderwasley
  
• Britain
  
• Brands
  
• Pentrich
  
• Hartshay
  
• Butterley Park
  
• Codnor Park
  
• Ripley
  
• Marehay
  
• Railway
  
• Waingroves
  
• Denby Hall
  
• Whiteley
  
• Salterwood
  
• Loscoe
  
• Bailey Brook
  
• Denby
  
• Ryefield
  
• New Langley
  
• Horsley
  
• Coppice
  
• Woodside
  
• Mapperley
  
• West Hallam
  
• Manners
  
• Stanley
  
• Oakwell
  
• Stanley Top Drift
  
• Dale Abbey.
  (92 Pits)

Collieries in North West Derbyshire

• Thatchmarsh
  
• Birch Vale
  
• Burn’d Edge
  
• Pingot
  
• Bugsworth
  
• Beard
  
• Whaley
  
• Furness Clough.
  (8 Pits)

Collieries in South Derbyshire

• Alliance
  
• Bretby
  
• Cadley Hill No1, No2, No3
  
• Stanton No1, No2, No3
  
• Cartwright
  
• Hill Side
  
• Swadlincote No1, No2
  
• Granville
  
• Church Gresley No1 and No2.
  (8 Pits)

Collieries in Leicestershire

• Bagworth No1 and No2
  
• Boothorpe
  
• Coleorton
  
• Desford No1 and No2
  
• Blackfordby
  
• Donington
  
• Donisthorpe No1 and No2
  
• Ellistown No1 and No2
  
• Ibstock No1 and No2
  
• Measham Main
  
• Rawdon
  
• Reservoir
  
• Nailstone No1 and No2
  
• Netherseal
  
• Snibston No2
  
• South Leicestershire No1 and No2
  
• Whitwick Nos 2 and No6 and No3 and No5
  
• Worthington.
  (18 Pits)

Collieries in Nottinghamshire

• Shireoaks
  
• Steetley
  
• Manton
  
• Warsop Main
  
• Mansfield
  
• Sherwood
  
• Teversall
  
• Silver Hill
  
• Sutton
  
• New Hucknall
  
• Kirkby Summit
  
• Langton
  
• Bentinck
  
• Portland
  
• Annesley
  
• Newstead
  
• New Selston
  
• Pye Hill
  
• Tunnel
  
• Selston
  
• Pollington
  
• Linby
  
• Brinsley
  
• High Park
  
• Plumptre
  
• Moorgreen
  
• Watnall
  
• Hucknall No1
  
• Hucknall No2
  
• Bestwood
  
• New London
  
• Digby
  
• Bulwell
  
• Gedling
  
• Babbington
  
• Cinderhill
  
• Cossall
  
• Broxtowe
  
• Newcastle
  
• Trowell Moor
  
• Wollaton
  
• Radford
• Clifton
  (43 Pits)

New Management Appointed

The Barber, Walker and Company appointed new management in January 1907.
Leonard Hodges (2548) age 27 from Cinderhill was appointed Manager at Brinsley and Selston and Herbert Greener from Co Durham at High Park and Watnall and John Robert Harrison age 38 remained Manager for Moor Green.
Alf Chambers, Isaac Chambers and George Harrison, all old Managers were retired.
The first electric haulages were installed at Easter 1907 in their Eastwood, Selston and Moor Green pits.

Brinsley pit is where the well known author DH Lawrence’s father worked.

Electric Lights At Warsop

Electric lights were introduced at Warsop colliery (Nottinghamshire) (Staveley Coal and Iron Co). At an unknown pit the first death by electric shock was registered in this year 1907.

Further Increase In Rates Of Pay

A further increase in rates of 2½p on charter price was obtained at Bentinck in March.

At Kirkby Summit a number of grievances were cleared up, one being the getting down of the Comb coal above the Top Hard seam and the ripping of batts.

New rates were obtained for boys and banksmen and the General Manager stated that he would notify all workmen that they must belong to the Nottinghamshire Miners’ Association.

An new improved revised price-list was issued at Portland pits in March.

Explosion at Silver Hill

On 13th May 1907 there was an explosion at Silver Hill colliery (Stanton Ironworks Co) in the Deep Hard seam at 12.45 pm. 3 men were burned and all were using naked lights.

Collieries Sunk or Opened in 1907

• Calow (HT Shardlow) began sinking Coal Aston Silkstone shafts (S Moseby) 20 Nov 1907
  
• Norbriggs (Lowton Bros) High Hazles.

Colliery Closures in 1907

• Birch Vale (John Bennett and Sons) Yard 2’ 9” (0. 84m), 7 day eyes, inc Sett, one air pit Sitch, start 1890,
  finished 1 Feb 1907, Yard seam, met old works all round, up to workings from Aspenshaw and up to the outcrop, Surveyor William Eagle and Son
  
• Birley South (Sheffield Coal Co) Silkstone, exhausted, noted that there was trespass into the lease by
  Wells and T Rhodes of Wiggin Tree pit (Birley Vale Colliery) (1865), Chief Surveyor Reg Ed Horrox, 30 Mar 1907
  
• Bole Hill (Lightwood Lane) (John H Fletcher deceased), Barlow, Silkstone, abandoned, stood since 1903,
  plan made by late William Wilde 1899 of Sheepbridge, Joseph Henry Harrison 5 Nov 1907
  
• Burn’d Edge No2 (Levi and Elijah Hall) 8 feet (2. 43m) dia shaft, 108 yards (99m) deep, Aug
  
• Coal Aston (Coal Aston Colliery Co), Dronfield
  
• Dronfield Main (R Smith and Weston) Mickley Thin, 1 Aug 1907, unremunerative working, Surveyor A Smith, Denton
  
• Dronfield Main No2 or Stubley Hollow (Dronfield Main Colliery Ltd) at Stubley Hollow, Silkstone, old workings all around and outcrop forced abandonment 4th March, Mickley Thin 1 Aug 1907, unremunerative working
  
• Duckmanton (Staveley Coal and Iron Co Ltd), Chesterfield, Deep Hard 15/8
  
• Hardhurst (Johnson and Lee), Unstone, 4/1
  
• Hartington (Staveley Coal and Iron Co Ltd), Staveley, Cannel (now called Yard) 10½ yards (9. 7m) deeper than Blackshale, 234 u/g / 37s/f, unprofitable, Surveyor JA Verner 28 Mar 1907
  
• Holmewood No1 (Hardwick Colliery Co) Top Hard at 61 yards (55. 75m) abandoned 30 Dec 1907,
  F Chambers Agent
  
• Moorhole Apr, Chief Surveyor: Reg Ed Horrox
  
• Park Hall (Park Hall and Barlborough Collieries Ltd), Spink Hill, Top Hard 102/30
  
• Portland No1 (Butterley Co Ltd), Top Hard
  
• Ramshaw (ED Fawcett) sunk 2 Oct 1906 to Ashgate, day hole and shaft 5 yards (4m) commenced 2 Oct 1906 abandoned 7 Feb 1907, and Blackshale, bad coal and met old works, Chas Everson ME Surveyor
  
• Rangeley’s Old Level, 5 adits, 5 shafts, Chas Everson ME
  
• Ramshaw Wood (ED Fawcett) Silkstone
  
• Stubley Hollow (Dronfield Main Colliery Ltd) Mickley Thin 1’ 5” (0. 43m) and 1’ 1” (0. 33m) fireclay, 62 yards deep (57m), old heading in Mickley Thick seam full of water, abandoned 1 Aug 1907, and Silkstone 30 Nov 1907, A Smith Denton and Co ME and Surveyors. (15)
  
• Alma (The Alma Colliery Co Ltd) Tupton worked out 28 Mar 1907, Henry Myles Tarlton Manager and Surveyor.
  
• Shipley Woodside (Shipley Collieries) 3 shafts, 87 yards (79. 5m) Waterloo pits, coal 2’ 0” (0. 61m) to 1’ 2” (0. 36m) soft, battey coal unsaleable 8” (0. 20m), Waterloo clunch 1’ 0” (0. 30m), connection to Coppice Waterloo pit, Surveyor E Wheldon, 1907.
  
• Beighton (Sheffield Coal Co) 450/175 and Birley East and Birley South was transferred to the Yorkshire Division to be overseen by the Mines Inspectorate for that district. High Lane was administered by the executors of A Vardy
  
• Hill Top Eastwood, changed hands from Mineral Estates Ltd to Hill Top Colliery and Brick Co
  
• Walton changed hands from HH Pearson to James Pearson Ltd. New management, Sutton and Co took over
• Staunton in June from Staunton Brick and Pipe Co following an auction, and changed the name to Worthington.

Fatal Accidents 1907

Included Renishaw Park, Charles Hayden (54) 28 Jan 1907
Bulwell, Alfred Sellars (32) 1 Jul 1907.

King and Queen of Spain

The King and Queen of Spain visited Welbeck Abbey and experienced the sensation of travelling along the labyrinth of tunnels. They were dug in the 19th Century by miners for the eccentric 5th Duke of Portland who was believed to be deformed and had the tunnels excavated wide enough for a carriage and 4 horses so that he could travel the 2 miles to Worksop station from the Abbey without being seen. It was also quoted that there was an underground ballroom and school. All the tunnels were lit with lamps.

Medal For Bravery Instituted

King Edward VII introduced the Edward medal for bravery in mines in rescuing miners on 13th July.

Avenue Colliery

Some surface and minerals were sold by Captain Hunloke to the Midland Railway Co to a depth of 50 yards in 1907 at Avenue colliery.

Output

Nottinghamshire pits produced 11,728,886 tons in total with a workforce of 25,415 men and boys.

Bolsover Colliery Co had 2 pits in Derbyshire, Bolsover and Creswell and one in Nottinghamshire, Mansfield and the company’s output for 1907 reached 758,000 tons.

1907 was a good year for coal overall.