New Hucknall Colliery

Sinking the Modern Huthwaite Pit

The largest Huthwaite colliery forced into late 1860´s closure due to flooding was below Blackwell Road. A common mining danger long restricting attempts working greater depths. New plans for siting a modern village colliery were however next sought by executors to William Muschamp Esquire. They employed local Mineral Surveyors John Boot & Sons, whom still took almost eleven years before finally completing negotiations for leasing colliery rights in lower meadows called Hucknall-under-Huthwaite.

Digging out Huthwaites future prosperity appears starting here in 1876, when dating those workers sinking the first shaft for a New Hucknall Colliery Company. These remarkable photos were first supplied by the coincidentially named Mr John Boot, following his own prominently respected NCB employment at this village pit.

Rich fossil deposits forming a Top Hard seam of Barnsley bed were those eventually reached by sinking two shafts. Identified by paying tribute to this areas major land owners, those shafts were named Carnarvon (No.1) and Portland (No.2), from where first coals raised came through North side workings by 1877. Full production became more recognisable into 1878, under the required certified management of a Simeon Watson whom also filled dual role as their own qualified Mining Engineer.

Advancements in mining techniques and new forms of machinery centers Huthwaites future coal winning amongst deeper found seams extending far beneath larger colliery yards. National industrial growth created further demands for coal, a fuel driving revolutionary progress into steam powered mechanisation. Earliest machinery designed to drain mines had enabled deeper access needed down modern larger pits. Lowering and raising of miners by hand also progressed beyond pony power to retrieve heavier loads. New Hucknall colliery represented just one of many other Nottinghamshires deeper coal mines, planned to reach those previously elusive thicker seams offering greater productivity. Thus the machine shown left was quickly installed for that important task of driving the Huthwaite colliery winding wheel, carrying far heavier coal output on the miners much longer surface lifeline.

Harsh underground working conditions had changed little however after several centuries of our local mining heritage. For many more years even after 12 year olds endured exhausting shifts, this filthy poorly paid labour kept utilising hand picks and shovels swung in cramped, dark hostile conditions. Management did estimate their modern coal mine would eventually employ 1500 men. When that figure actually outnumbered our entire Hucknall-under-Huthwaite population, significant village changes were immediately required, included the building of far more affordable housing to invite an influx of mining families.