Going, going, gone...another giant of the coal era reduced to rubble (Welbeck)

THIS massive explosion brought decades of Notts history to the ground in a few seconds.

The 100ft coal loading bunker was the largest structure at the site of Welbeck Colliery, which closed in May last year.

But last Thursday it came down in a cloud of dust as part of the project to clear the site.

The pit was nearly 100 years old, and one of the last two in Notts when it closed

The bunker was used to fill coal trains, and was capable of filling a train with sixteen tons of coal in two hours.

Colliery manager Geoff Mountain, who is supervising the sealing of the mine and clean-up of the site, said: "Because of the height of the bunker and the fact that so much of the weight is in the top of the structure, it was decided that the quickest and safest way of demolishing it was to use explosives."

David Wall, contracts director of demolition firm Ron Hull, said: "It went down very gracefully and with remarkably little damage to the main structure.

"When the smoke cleared it was simply lying on its side. We can now get to work and dismantle it safely."

Mr Wall said: "The steelwork and metals are being removed to our recycling centre in Rotherham but all of the brickwork and stone is being crushed on site and is to be used in the operation to fill the shafts."

The filling work is set to start mid-February, and is expected to take two weeks.

The final stage of the clearance will involve the removal of the mine's two headgears by explosives.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Going-going-gone-giant-coal-era-reduced-rubble/article-3139340-detail/article.html