| Administrative History | The pit was first sunk in 1871. The rights were leased from Mrs HB Whitworth, who owned the royalties from 1875. It worked the Low Main and Deep Hard coal seams. The Silkstone seam was also worked but was abandoned in 1881. The coal produced was used for the domestic and manufacturing industry markets. In the early years the colliery produced about 1,500 to 2,000 tons per day. In the years leading up to the closure of the colliery, the Yard seam was experimented with but proved to be uneconomic. The highest recorded output was 578,059 tons in 1957, with the highest recorded manpower 1,342 in 1952.
The colliery was transferred to the National Coal Board during the nationlisation of the coal industry in 1947. There were 72 ovens onsite to produce coke, sulphate of ammonia and benzolm for the gas industry. The colliery was connected underground with Blackwell B Winnings and shared its surface facilities. The onsite railway sidings replaced the original line haulage system that had been in use since the colliery was opened. An aerial ropeway was also used to take away the spoil. Water was diverted to the colliery from Swanwick Colliery which closed in 1968. Blackwell ‘A’ Winnings itself closed in 1969. Even after closure, pumping at the site remained to take water away from Bentinck Colliery. Some of the men still working here prior to the closure were transferred over to Shirebrook Colliery.
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