1948
Nationalisation of the Railways
On 1st January 1948 the railways were nationalised and the 4 large companies (GWR, LMS, LNER and SR), Great Western Railway, London Midland and Scottish, London and North Eastern Railway and Southern Railways became British Railways.
Still At Work Aged 85
At Bestwood (Nottinghamshire) in January 1948, Cornelius Hardy aged 85 was still at work after 72 years. He had started work in the mines in 1876.
Meco-Moore Cutter Loaders
Meco-Moore Machine During January 1948, trials were begun with Universal Meco-Moore machines, at Thoresby (Nottinghamshire) in the thick Top Hard, at Williamthorpe (Derbyshire) in a 3 feet 6 inches (1.07m) thick seam and at Silverhill (Nottinghamshire) in the 3 feet 3 inches (0.99m) thick Deep Hard.
At Silverhill partial extraction by American system of Joy Loaders and shuttle cars had been tried in the Deep Hard North Dips area. However the system was uneconomic and aborted in favour of longwall panel working.
A diesel locomotive 'Cock o' the North' and manriding cars was introduced to transport men to the Hardwick Hall pillar area panels, to supplement a part ride down the steep rope-hauled Middle Dips manrider, which transported men to the inbye panels.
United Collieries Benevolent Scheme
On January 5th 1948 a monthly meeting was held at the Co-op Board Room, Queen Street, Mansfield for the United Collieries Benevolent Scheme. This was in regard of the 4 Stanton Ironworks collieries and was attended by Norman D Todd, General Manager and Chairman, Arthur Holmes, Manager Bilsthorpe, Joe J Brealey, Manager Pleasley, George G Heathcote, Manager Silverhill and Jacky P Mehers, Manager Teversal. The Field Club committee received 3s 6d (17.5p) attendance allowance. 62 applications from workmen for various reasons were approved at the meeting, Pleasley 16 (£53), Teversal 14 (£49), Silverhill 20 (£67) and Bilsthorpe 11 (£39). The transfer of funds was from the Stanton Ironworks Co to the Benevolent Fund.
Similar such Benevolent schemes were in operation throughout the Coalfields.
Demurrage For Wagons
On the same day concern was raised regarding demurrage charges for wagons at Bilsthorpe colliery. It was in reference to Saturday 21st February and 6th March 1948, both holidays, when men were not available to unload the wagons. During the period 12th and 13th February 39 wagons of timber and goods were received and on 19th February 1948 22 wagons of timber and goods. It was not possible to empty all the wagons in the time allowed before demurrage is charged.
Heavy Snowfalls
In February 1948 heavy snowfalls up to 6 feet (1.82m) deep disrupted all transport. Britain was in the grip of one of the worst winters with some of the worst affected parts being in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Difficulty was experienced at the pits and in delivering coal by road and rail. Some areas were practically impassable and train engines with snow ploughs had to be used to clear the lines, with great difficulty.
Some roads were also impassable and many areas had to be cleared by hand shovel as well as by snow plough. Priority for delivery of coal was given to hospitals and power stations and the vulnerable (where known about).
Pre-Fabricated Pit Head Baths
Oakwood Grange, near Ilkeston (Derbyshire) was the first colliery to have pre-fabricated pithead baths. These were erected as a cheap alternative to permanently brick built baths.
Screens Damaged By Fire
On 26th February 1948 the screening plant at Parkhouse Colliery (Derbyshire) was severely damaged by fire with an estimated cost of £20,000 needed to repair same.
Netherseal Colliery Closed After 79 Years, Flooded
Netherseal Colliery (South Derbyshire) was abandoned. It was sunk in 1867-1869 by Binns, Jackson and Co.
Taken over by Netherseal Colliery Co in 1874 and listed as in Leicestershire. It was a Limited Company in 1881.
From 1912 the pit was listed by HMI under South Derbyshire again.
The colliery was taken over by Moira Colliery Co Ltd in 1942. Electrical power used 500v DC. It was closed for production in December 1947 due to water problems as previously mentioned.
DC shaft 695’ 0” (211.8m) to Eureka and UC shaft 989’ 4” (301.5m) to Kilburn. Riddled with faults, washouts and bad work. The pit lay to the west of Overseal and to the south of Linton.
Manpower: Netherseal Colliery Co Ltd:
- 1894: 525 Main, Stockings, Eureka, 116 s/f
- 1895: 546 M, S, E, 123 s/f
- 1896: 511 M, S, E, 120 s/f
- 1897: 521 M, S, E, 129 s/f
- 1898: 493 M, S, E, 136 s/f
- 1899: 442 M, S, E, 119 s/f
- 1900: 447 M, S, E, 117 s/f
- 1901: 437 M, S, E, Woodfield, 114 s/f
- 1902: 454 M, S, E, W, 124 s/f
- 1903: 449 M, S, E, W, 124 s/f
- 1904: 464 M, S, E, W, 128 s/f
- 1905: 495 M, S, E, W, 140 s/f
- 1906: 495 M, S, E, W, 142 s/f
- 1907: 524 Main, Eureka, 143 s/f
- 1908: 516 M, E, 157 s/f
- 1909: 588 M, E, Kilburn, 142 s/f
- 1910: 590 app M, E, K, 145 s/f
- 1911: 607 M, E, K, 148 s/f
- 1912: 580 app M, E, K, 147 s/f
- 1913: 542 M, E, K, 146 s/f
- 1914: 535 M, E, K, Linton, 152 s/f
- 1915: 454 M, E, K, L, 143 s/f
- 1916: 462 M, E, K, L, Woodfield, 141s/f
- 1917: 460 app M, E, L, W, 142 s/f
- 1918: 552 E, K, L, W, 142 s/f
- 1919: 633 E, K, L, W, 161 s/f
- 1920: 650 app E, K, L, W, 170 s/f
- 1921: 655 app E, K, L, W, 170 s/f
- 1922: 661 E, K, L, W, 175 s/f
- 1923: 561 E, K, W, 169 s/f
- 1924: 538 E, Linton, K, Stanhope, 151 s/f
- 1925: 475 E, L, W, 136 s/f
- 1926: 477 E, L, W, 121 s/f
- 1927: 460 E, L, W, 146 s/f
- 1928: 478 E, L, W, 132 s/f
- 1929: 501 E, L, W, 136 s/f
- 1930: 500 E, Main, L, W, 139 s/f
- 1931: 493 E, M, L, W, 142 s/f
- 1932: 516 E, M, L, W, 144 s/f
- 1933: 517 E, M, L, W, 144 s/f
- 1934: 506 Stanhope, E, M, L, W, 141 s/f
- 1935: 517 E, M, L, W, 142 s/f
- 1936: 459 E, K, M, L, W, 148 s/f
- 1937: 399 E, K, L, W, 145 s/f
- 1938: 415 E, K L, W, 147 s/f
- 1939: 420 app E, K, L, W, 145 s/f
- 1940: 441 E, K, L, W, 140 s/f
- 1941: 445 E, K, L, W, 142 s/f
Moira Colliery Co Ltd:
- 1942: 448 K, L, Slate, W, 155 s/f
- 1943: 489 K, Stockings, W, 172 s/f
- 1944: 489 K, S, W, 172 s/f
- 1945: 464 K, S, W, 173 s/f
- 1946: Linton, Kilburn, Slate, 700, u/g and s/f
NCB EMD No7 Area: 1947: 328 Kilburn, Stockings, Woodfield, 156 s/f. All production finished in December 1947 due to influx of water from New Red Sandstone measures above, gradually flooding the pit, pumps unable to cope. Mine abandoned in early 1948.
Agents:
- Robert Howe pre 1883-1884
- Ernest Hague 1885-
- WS Greasley pre 1909-1923
- Chas Dickinson (2537) 1923-1932
- Francis Stanier (1609) 1932-1942
- John B Drinnan MBE (2803) 1942-1945 (to Mines General Manager)
- William Unsworth (2391) 1945-1946.
John B Drinnan No7 Area General Manager (he committed suicide later over a drunken driving incident when someone was killed).
Managers for Netherseal:
- Robert Howe pre 1883-1884
- Ernest Hague 1885-1886
- Thomas Wilkinson (1713 c) 1887-1890
- George Jonathan Binns (1054) 1890-1898
- C Dickinson (194) 1898-1932
- Francis Stanier (1609) 1932-1942
- H Bailey (331) 1942-1943
- Eric P Lawrence (3181) 1944-1946
- Jock R Gibson (4391) 1947-1948.
Undermanagers:
- Charles Percival (790 service) pre 1887-1891
- Joseph Percival (359 s) 1891-1899
- I Barraclough (3225 / 2) 1899-1932
- George Cooper (5760 / 2) 1932-1941
- R Mottershead (3596 / 2) 1941-1942
- Tom L Morris (3097 / 2) 1942-1943
- Ernest W Bosworth (5015 / 2) 1943-1944
- GE Bromley (5840 / 2) 1945-1946.
Surveyors:
- ? ?.... Frank H Liptrot (182) (22/7/1915) 1910s -1930s
- R Hughes (1015) (24/7/1931) -1947
Fatal Accidents Netherseal
- Alvin Foster (13) run over by tubs 7/2/1883
- George Bromley (38) fall of coal, 15/7/1873
- Frederick Fearn (14) fell out of the cage down the shaft 15/10/1873
- Thomas Hawcote (28) explosion of firedamp gas 10/10/1874
- John Vickers (31) fall of roof 17/2/1876
- Thomas Berridge (57) crushed by the cage 7/6/1876
- George Taylor (48) fall of coal 19/12/1877
- George Wykes (45) fall of roof 3/11/1880
- Thomas Shaw (31) run over by tubs 14/11/1881
- John Thorpe (?) crushed by wagons on the surface 14/11/1881
- Henry Donald (31) fall of coal 31/3/1882
- William Webster (60) run over by tubs 5/11/1883
- William Wood (62) fell over a tub and died from his injury 13/12/1885
- George Winfield (50) fall of roof 27/4/1887
- Thomas Tebbett (36) crushed by tubs on 17/5/1890, died on 30/8/1880
- Job Hackwell (21) crushed by the cage 20/12/1893
- Thomas Ashbury (65) crushed by tubs 7/1/1895
- Amos Liversuch (53) fall of roof 16/5/1896
- Thomas Betts (60) killed by an explosion of acetylene gas 31/1/1899
- John Whetton (44) crushed by tubs 7/2/1899
- Forrester Coxen (26) fall of roof 20/3/1901
- John William Johnson (43) fall of roof on 2/12/1902, died on 5/12/1902
- William Coleman (46) fall of roof 26/8/1903
- Joseph Pratt (38) fall of roof 31/8/1904
- Ernest Lee (38) fall in a roadway 23/10/1908
- William Roberts (44) fall of roof 8/2/1909
- John Sales (?) fall of roof 30/11/1910
- Conrad Cook (21) fall of roof 26/6/1912
- Aaron Hart Bradford (58) fall of roof on 23/5/1914, died on 25/5/1914
- George Harry Baxter (44) fall of roof 6/12/1916
- George Copestake (62) fall of roof 8/10/1917
- Frederick William Hines (27) crushed by a tub 17/11/1933.
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