| Entry Type | Corporate |
| Corporate Name | Markham Colliery |
| Parent Body | Staveley Coal and Iron Company Ltd (1882-1947) |
| National Coal Board, later British Coal (1947-1993) |
| Place | Staveley |
| Place | Staveley |
| Epithet | coal mine |
| Dates | 1882-1993 |
| History | The mineral rights for what would become Markham Colliery were taken out by the Staveley Coal and Iron Company from the Duke of Devonshire and B. H. G. Arkwright. Four shafts were sunk between 1882 and more followed in 1887. In 1910 a further shaft was sunk for ventilation. All the shafts worked as separate units with separate workforces, but shared the same pit yard. The seams worked were the Top Hard, High Hazel, Waterloo, Blackshale and Deep Soft coal seams. Palterton Colliery was also absorbed into Markham in 1918, and turned into a ventilation shaft in 1919 as it wasn't productive. It was also used for underground haulage. The site was first electrified in 1918. Most of the workforce lived in Duckmanton, and housing was first specifically provided for the workers in 1920. Pithead baths were opened in 1938.
The colliery was transferred into the control of the National Coal Board in 1947 as a result of the nationalisation of the coal industry, becoming part of the East Midlands Division Area No. 1, later becoming part of the North Derbyshire area in 1967. Ireland Colliery at Staveley was later absorbed into the Markham complex to become Markham No. 5 in 1975. Markham became the largest colliery in the North Derbyshire area. The site was eventually closed in 1993. The site has been redeveloped into Markham Vale business park.
Markham Colliery experienced three major disasters. In 1937, an explosion resulted in the loss of 9 lives. In 1938 another underground explosion, caused by a tub train accident which damaged a power cable, happened just as a night shift started; the accident killed 79 and injured 40. In 1973 a descending cage carrying miners failed to stop and crashed to the pit bottom, whilst the ascending cage crashed into the roof of the winding engine house. The accident killed 13 men who died at the scene and 5 who died in hospital afterwards. Another 12 men, including a rescue worker, were seriously injured.
KEY EVENTS
1882: First sunk
1937: Explosion
1938: Explosion
1947: Nationalisation
1973: Cage accident
1993: Closed |
| Source | ‘Palterton Air Shaft’, http://www.oldminer.co.uk/palterton.html
Amos, D. and Braber, N., Bradwell’s Images of Coal Mining in the East Midlands (Sheffield: Bradwell Books, 2017)
Bell, D., Memories of the Derbyshire Coalfields (Newbury: Countryside Books, 2006)
Bridgewater, A. N., The Local Collieries
Griffins, A. R., Mining in the East Midlands, 1550-1947 (London: Frank Cass & Company Limited, 2005)
Northern Mine Research Society, Markham Colliery, https://www.nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/coal-mining-in-the-british-isles/derbynotts/chesterfield/markham/
Survey Department, History of Markham Colliery (1967)
The Mine Story, 1973 – Markham Colliery Disaster, https://markhamstorymine.org/1973-markham-colliery-disaster/ |
| Authorised Form of Name | Staveley; Markham Colliery; 1882-1993; coal mine |
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