News - Teversal mining statue to be repaired following vandal attack

A STATUE which stands at Teversal as a tribute to mining in Nottinghamshire is set to be repaired more than a year after being damaged by vandals.

The bronze Testing for Gas statue, created at a cost of £50,000 after the closure of Teversal and Silverhill collieries, was damaged when thugs struck late last year.

It stands at Silverhill Wood, one of the highest points in the county.

Now work is underway to restore the statue, which depicts a miner holding a Davy safety lamp, back to its former glory.

Martin Sly, project engineer for Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Unfortunately the Silverhill Miner’s statue was vandalised around a year ago but we have had the piece which was damaged - the top half of the lamp - re-cast and we will be replacing it early autumn with a redesigned, secure fixing.

“We’ll keep local folks posted on when the work’s carried out so everyone will be able to enjoy the statue in all it’s glory once again.”

The statue was unveiled in March 2005 and was created by sculptor Antony Dufort following a public vote on the best design.

Its plaque lists all of the principle coal mines operating in Nottinghamshire between 1819 and 2005.

The sculpture was funded by money from WREN, from the Landfill Tax credit scheme and Nottinghamshire County Council.

While the plaque was funded by the county council’s Building Better Communities scheme.

From: http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/alfreton/teversal_mining_statue_to_be_repaired_following_vandal_attack_1_3639088

News - Mining disaster is remembered (Cadeby)

A GROUP of former miners and local historians has set up a committee to commemorate the centenary of a pit disaster.

The group plans to hold a series of events next year in honour of the 91 people who died following two explosions at Conisbrough’s Cadeby Main Colliery in 1912.

The committee is collecting information on those who died in the disaster and are asking descendents of the victims for photographs and any information they may have to help mark the anniversary.

Events being considered include an exhibition of mining memorabilia and an open air service at Denaby Cricket Ground.

The next committee meeting is at Denaby and Cadeby Miners’ Welfare on March 22 at 7pm.

Anyone wanting more information should contact Jeff Lovell on 01709 865522.

From: http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/doncaster-news/mining_disaster_is_remembered_1_3095642

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