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Entry TypeCorporate
Corporate NameShirland Colliery
Parent BodyBeavan of Bristol (1864-1866)
Shirland Colliery Company (1866-1877)
South Yorkshire Miners' Association (1877-1888)
Blackwell Colliery Company (1888-1947)
National Coal Board (1947-1964)
PlaceShirland
Epithetcoal mine
Dates1864-1964
HistoryThe pit was opened in 1864 by Beavan of Bristol and financed by coal merchant Bailey. It then passed through the ownership of a number of companies, comprising Shirland Colliery Company (1866-1877), The South Yorkshire Miner’s Association (1877-1888) and Blackwell Colliery Company (1888-1947). By the time the Blackwell Company took over, it was employing around 500 men. It worked the Blackshale, Tupton, Furnace, Threequarter, Deep Hard, Deep Soft and Yard coal seams. The highest recorded output was 295,770 tons in 1957, with the highest recorded manpower of 545 men in 1961. There was an underground rope pumping system. A new Armstrong airbreaker method of shotfiring was introduced in Aug 1958, which lasted until the pit's closure in 1964.
Known managers: J. J. Barlow, Philip Casey, Moses Jeremiah Rhodes, William Elliott, George A. B. Miller, Norman D Todd, George A. B. Miller, Jack L Merry, Fred D. A. Boam, George Hodkin, Ray Gregory, Les Cumberland, Sid Vardy, Fred B Turton, Robert (Bob) Haworth, Arthur Townsend, Colin Wells. The pit village provided for the workers included a bowling green and the miner's institute was well known for its band practice sessions. Many of the miners who worked the pit lived on the road known as St Leonard’s Place.
Key Events1864: First sunk by Beavan of Bristol
1866: Taken over by Shirland Colliery Company
1877: Taken over by the South Yorkshire Miners' Association
1888: Brought out by the Blackwell Colliery Company
1947: Nationalised
1964: Closed
Source‘Collieries Sunk or Opened 1865’, http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/individual/Bob_Bradley/Bk-2/Bk2-1865.html
‘Shirland Colliery’, http://www.oldminer.co.uk/shirland.html
‘Shirland Colliery Closed After 100 Years’, http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/individual/Bob_Bradley/Bk-4/B4-1965-P3.html
Authorised Form of NameShirland; Shirland Colliery; 1864-1964; coal mine

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