Coal Fields of North Staffordshire

[@MrConan89]

This is a wonderful historic record. I worked in Northumberland and North Notts with a future in mining assured for "400 years". I am sure most ex-miners would agree that it was not the terrible job that some folks claim. The 'craic' with your fellows and the community spirit was fantastic.

[@HaraldFinster]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful footage. It brings back sweet memories: I visited and photographed the coalfields in South Wales, Staffordshire and Nottingham area in 1990 - sadly too late for many of the pits shown here but I witnessed at least some of them still active. Too sad that too few people value the industrial heritage nowadays. Harald

[@valeite100]

Great video. We lived in Biddulph. My Dad worked at Hanley Deep then the Bull (Victoria). My Brothers worked at Whitfield and Wolstanton. Enjoyed this, thanks.

[@captnodge]

Amazing footage. I worked down Florence pit in the early 70s on the haulage. Great bunch of guys and many a laff.also a great challenge keeping bogeys on the tracks

[@navigator100group2]

Revisited this video. I thought I’d list the Mines that a I have work at both working for NCB/British Coal then as a small firm who specialised in Roofbolting. So here we go: Wolstanton, Silverdale, Holditch, Hem Heath, Apedale footrail, (pit Bottom of Snyde and Chattly Whitfield), Lea Hall, Littleton, Dawmill, Coventry, Bickashaw, Piont of Ayr, Parkside, Ashfordby, Markam, Mansfield, Manson, Selby, Rutherford, Annesley, Wearmouth, East Hetton, Castlebridge, Ulan(New South Wales) Lingan, (Nova Scotia). There is a couple of names I cant remember Yorkshire Notts area.

[@angusmeigh5141]

If only the UNEEKO Underground Toilet had been invented back then! Quote: "Unlike the conventional Toilet the Uneeko Underground Toilet processes the waste in situ so that it can remain underground far longer. It is designed to remain underground for twelve months or to fit in with each stage of the mine development, minimising underground interruptions and transport costs."

[@bigoldgrizzly]

@@angusmeigh5141 In my day, you'd shit on a shovel and lob it onto the belt. If no belt near, scuft out a hole in the floor and bury it like a cat, Everyone downwind knew your business '>))

[@Knappist]

Fantastic historical resource, thanks for posting I remember most of these pits as a child living in the potteries

[@stamrly418]

A fantastic record of a lost way of life. It brought back memories of my time in the NE as an apprentice. Everyone had a single goal....get coal... the energy still down there is enormous but now called dirty, polluting and a fossil fuel that should not be used. One day when the oils gone, and the land is too full of renewables we will go and get it. I just hope we remember how... AND not reinvent everything and every mistake we made is to be done again. It was not an industry it was a way of life. Would I do it again... without doubt. The best placeI ever worked. Amacf

[@t.d6379]

Great watch. My late father Doug Hughes worked Silverdale for a period.

[@leyland127]

Great video, thanks for uploading. Fantastic to see Norton - I grew up overlooking the colliery in it's final years. Excellent!!

[@peterwithington943]

A very informative video i really enjoyed watching it. I lived at Barlaston from 1966 to 1989, the potteries was so industrial it’s such a shame to see it as it is today 2020

[@saltspringrailway3683]

What an amazing historical record.

[@HARVEYOSCAR70]

Very Interesting especially liked the Hem Heath Footage cheers for uploading it.

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Great footage and pics - really good that you are helping preserve this history.

[@nidge2822]

Let us not forget all the brave men and boys who lost there lives .R.I.P.

[@welshcourtland]

Excellent video. An ex collier from South Wales here. Mostly worked the Small Mines but did work 6 years for the Board.

[@55pepperpot]

both my late dad's older brothers worked at silver Dale colliery and my cousin Kevin nadin was an electrician there until it closed good video thanks

[@robinyates9426]

underground coal is something I have never experienced.Opencast on big machines is something I have done.Cannock site the name escapes me

[@angusmeigh5141]

Open cast mines are far safer. But can only be built when the coal is near to the surface. There was a planned open cast coal mine on Berry Hill fields in the early 1990s. But that plan was defeated after loads of complaints by local residents.

[@robinyates9426]

worked with some ex miners from Rugeley and Rawnesley,,,,,,,,,,hard men with a great sense of humour

[@eamo106]

Comment on Hem Heath. VAST resources were available West under the M6 when it was closed and could have been accessed without any damage to the M6. Politics, Thatcher etc .

[@Acer_Maximinus]

Looks like some of those wedges could fall out at any time @25:08

[@andynicklin6420]

Chatterley Whitfield is a world heritage site under threat, please give the Heritage Centre your support and save this irreplacable historic site for future generations before it's lost forever

[@russellmurfin922]

As a derbyshire miner i have alot of respect for men who toiled in the bowels of the earth.. we lived with the angel of death evry day...the only good thing she did was get me out after 10 years ..saved my lungs old bo

[@RyanJohnson-ox3py]

My late dad worked at Victoria collery and hem heath

[@Stecluz]

crazy there's no such thing now

[@jamesshanks2614]

ste cluz All that's missing now is what was. On the surface. All the underground facilities still exist. Push comes to shove the mines could be reopened if necessary though it would be expensive to do it can be done. Respect to all miners.

[@merlinonline67]

@@jamesshanks2614 The mines are all flooded when Hem Heath closed they left all the cutting gear in situ so the mines wouldn't collapse which would have caused expensive subsidence at Barlaston, there are videos on youtube of people getting into drift mines of long-closed collieries, they can get so far underground until the drift disappears underwater kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGnSaniLrbOUa9E

[@angusmeigh5141]

Coal mining was a terrible job though. So I am glad that it is now gone. Replaced with cleaner industries.

[@christinespencer406]

Good old days