I work at Matsuura Matsuura Machinery which is on the site today, I have overlay plans of the site as it was and now, also tunnels. Pit head stones still visible.
Comment posted by Michael ,that was my hobby ,I would scramble away on former colliery sites and find bricks with colliery name on it ,had over 200 at one time but had to leave when I moved ,do you know what the more I look at these colliery workers and it’s almost if you could still meet them at the bus stop today ,gosh it’s just a generation gone ,so sad ,
These photos and news clips are so poignant,this was.a industry that disappeared in front of our eyes,yes when nothing left to mine or dangerous conditions then Unions with management generally worked together and there were good relationships between both sides ,watch Joe Gormley and Derek Ezra talking constructively ,Then 1974 plan for coal and the development of the Shelby coalfield is a classic example ,but then politicians came to power who had a planned vendetta for previous industrial disputes ,Result tonight the last coal fired power station officially closes ,Another generation will reap the rue ,when I left school at 16 in Sunderland there was a guaranteed apprenticeship at the Pit or Shipyard .cant do that ,university unheard of ,girls to get a good job at Woolies can’t even do that now ,we’ve thrown it away ,Coal ,we had a full coal fired range ,cook on it ,heat water on it ,back boiler gave you hot water ,see by eat ,relax in front of it keep warm in front of it and even get rid of your household rubbish on it ,ps try sea coal ,it was wonderful ,Thank you to our miners from generations passed,
