COAL MINING IN STAPLEFORD

The coal seams leased to William Fyssher.

The existence of coal in the area was known from, at least, 1249, when there was a dispute about the working of a coal seam in Trowell.[5] In Stapleford, in 1576, Queen Elizabeth granted a lease for 80 years to William Fyssher to a number of lands and estates including “ mines and ‘le vaynes’ of coal called ‘pitcole’, ‘stonecole’ or ‘seacole’ in Lenton and Radforde, Stapleforde, Brampecote and Briston, co. Nottingham.” Although the lease is dated in 1576 it did not take effect as far as the coal mines were concerned until 1596, because they had already been ‘leased by patent, 6 March, 18 Eliz., to Edward, earl of Rutland, for 21 years from Michaelmas then last at a yearly rent of 10s.’ We do not know anything about William Fyssher. He was leased the lands and estates, ‘In consideration of the service of Alphonso de Ferrabosco, a gentleman of the privy chamber, and of the surrender of an annuity of £50, parcel of £100 granted him by the Queen for life; and at the same Alphonso’s suit.’ Ferrabosco was a musician, a close advisor to the Queen and, say his critics, a spy. We do not know how he was related to William Fyssher or why he gave up half of his pension of £100 per year in exchange for the leases being made to him.[6]

Agnes de Stapleford’s dower.

In 1317, when Agnes, the late wife of Richard de Stapleford, was being assigned her dower, 2 selions were described as ‘atte Pitte.’[7]

Constables Accounts.

The Constables’ Accounts (1650-1685)[8] contains 14 references to coal or coal pits. On six occasions the constable paid carters for fetching coal for odd individuals and on four occasions the constable paid out for ale when pits were being filled in. One payment was made for ‘coaling for two dayyes.’ and mention is made of a man from Sutton Bonngton going to the coals. He appears in the constable’s accounts because he killed a hedgehog on the way and was awarded 2d. The parish appears to have assessed the pit in 1680 when the entry appears ‘Ressevd For the Cole Piyt..£1 5s.0d.’ and again in 1683 ‘Recevefed of the colman 5s.’ The exact nature of the relationship between the parish and the pit is not clear. There appears to be some kind of communal responsibility when the pits are being filled in, whilst at the same time there is a distinct entity that can be assessed and which is expected to contribute towards the running of the parish.

Sir John Borlase Warren attempts to find coal.

Sir John Borlase Warren, in Stapleford, cast envious eyes into the neighbouring parish of Trowell where Lord Middleton was deriving enormous wealth from his coal mines. Sir John’s notebook concerning his mining activities is held by Nottinghamshire Archives.[9] He first became interested in 1805 and records that in 1791, when the Trowell Moor pit was sunk, a seam of hard coal nearly 6 feet thick was discovered at a depth of 320 feet. Measurements were taken of the distance from his lordship’s mine, and using the estimate provided by the Trowell colliers of the gradient of the seam, test diggings were made at the calculated site. Unfortunately, when he did so, it did not seem to be of sufficient thickness to be commercially viable.

Sir John records that borings were made in Codlings Close in 1818, Handkerchief Piece 1821, Paddock Stable and Coney Grey, this latter opposite Sir John’s study window. Pits were sunk in Codlings Close in 1807, Handkerchief Piece in 1819, Brick Kiln Close. The depths varied from 21 feet to 288 feet at Codlings Close. Only in the latter did they find the Kilburn seam of hard coal, once again of insufficient thickness.

A notebook of Sir John’s records the cost in 1818 of sinking a pit.[10] Pit sinking was dangerous work and those who did it were specialist teams, the elite of the mining community. who were called in to do this particular work. Two sinkers, paid £1 1s.0d per six day week, came to start the work and this was increased to four in the later stages of the sinking. They were assisted by local workers whose number increased to nine as the digging progressed. The local adult workers were paid 2s. per day. The sinkers also received board and lodging and coal. Gervase Attenborough supplied ale, costing in total £20 3s. 10d., to all the workers which, at a price of 6d. per pot,, equates to 808 pints drunk. Thirsty work. The sinking took 13 weeks at a total cost of £172 6s. 4d. of which £37 was for expenses and £30 to Mr Bailey for attending and inspection, the balance being wages.

STAPLEFORD COLLIERY

Development by Aaron Houghton

The colliery in Stapleford was developed by Aaron Houghton. He obtained, in 1868, from Frederick Piggin a 17 year lease of 17 acres of land between Pasture Road and Moorbridge Lane.[11] Houghton was born in Eastwood in 1819. He first worked as a coal miner[12] but in 1861 describes himself as an iron and coal agent.[13] The agent is the senior colliery manager and it is probably in this capacity that he became involved at Stapleford. The colliery came into existence, therefore, between 1868 and 1871, the date of the transfer of the undertaking to the company.[14] In 1871 Houghton describes his occupation as ‘colliery agent, unemployed.’[15] He went on to become an architect,[16] and was responsible for the design of the Baptist chapel in Albert Street, Stapleford.

The early development of the colliery then took place. A report by Saunders & Lewis of Full Street, Derby dated 13 August 1870[17], probably commissioned by the Barrows before they acquired the colliery, states that two shafts had been sunk to a depth of 47 yards and a start had made on excavating the coal, which they believed was the Kilburn seam, and which at that point was four feet eight inches thick.[18] About 50 yards of face had been opened and this had advanced about 10 yards from the opening head. The report recommended certain alterations at the pit bottom for safety reasons and pointed out that there were no slides or cages in the pit and these should be put in hand at once, both for safety and economy and also to conform with the Mines Inspection Act. They recommended that a lease be procured on adjoining land and that if this is secured, and the colliery carried on with good and economical management, there is little doubt but that a considerable profit may be realised to pay a good percentage on the amount of capital proposed to be raised.

Sale of the colliery to the Barrow family.

Aaron Houghton sold the colliery for c£5,115[19], and assigned the lease from Piggin, to Richard Bridgman Barrow(1809-1876) (RBB) and his son Bridgman Langdale Barrow (1844-1922)(BLB). The Barrows were both solicitors, as was their father George Hodgkinson Barrow (1779-1853)(GHB). The family came from Southwell, where for over 40 years from 1799[20] to 1840[21] GHB was Receiver General of the Chapter's Revenues and Rents, kept the accounts of the Chapter Rota and was also Clerk of the Fabrik.

GHB married the widowed Elizabeth Mather Lowe in 1805. Elizabeth’s father, Walter Mather, had been the proprietor of the Staveley Forge and Iron Works since 1783 and left Staveley to his sons-in-law when he died in 1796. When her first husband, Edward Lowe, died in 1800, Elizabeth had directed the business in partnership with her brother-in-law, William Ward. In 1815 GHB took over the ground leases from the Duke of Devonshire and assumed sole responsibility for the works. He built Ringwood Hall, completed in 1830.

Two of GHB’s brothers, Richard Barrow(1787-1865)(RB) and John Barrow(1790-1871)(JB) were very wealthy having made fortunes trading with Spain and Portugal. Some sources say that GHB handed control to his brother, Richard Barrow(RB) in 1840. His will, written in 1843 states that he is leaving all his real and personal estate to his brother Richard in "recognition that he has advanced towards the Staveley Iron Works and Collieries much more money than they are really worth" and leaving it to him to make such provision for his (GHB) children as he shall think fit if the business prospers. [22] GHB died in 1853. The works prospered under RB's direction. It was formed into a public company in 1863 and when RB died 10 January 1865 his estate was valued at approaching £500,000. 

Richard Bridgman Barrow(RBB) in 1841[23] and 1851[24] was living in Westgate, Southwell. He succeeded his father at Southwell as Receiver General of the Chapter’s Revenues and Rents, keeper of the accounts of the Chapter Rota, and Clerk of the Fabrik and occupied this position between 1841[25] and 1847.[26] By 1861 he had moved to 8 Conduit Street, London and gave his occupation as a Justice of the Peace in Derbyshire.[27] In 1871 he was living at Sydnope Hall in Darley Dale (Derbys)[28] where he describes himself as a justice of the peace and landowner and where he lived until his death in 1876. He left an estate valued at under £30,000.[29]

Bridgman Langdale Barrow(BLB), his son, was articled to Frederick Baker, a Derby solicitor, and was living with him and another articled clerk at The Mount, Duffield in 1861.[30] After qualifying he moved back to live with his parents at Sydnope Hall.[31] He inherited Sydnope on the death of his father and in 1881, now married, he gives his occupation as farmer, employing four men and a boy.[32] In 1891[33] his occupation is magistrate living on own means. In 1901[34] he is living at Sydnope in some style with his wife and three children, governess, cook, kitchen maid, house maid and three parlour maids. again living on his own means. In 1911[35] he describes himself as a retired solicitor. He died in 1922 leaving an estate valued at £22,926.[36]

Formation of the Stapleford Colliery Co.

The Barrows, having purchased the colliery from Houghton, formed a company in 1871 to purchase it from them and take forward its development.[37] The capital of the company was £20,000 in £5 shares and the first directors were Richard Bridgman Barrow(chairman), Richard William Mills Nesfield, Reginald Darwin, Captain Darwin and John Huish. The secretary and solicitor was Bridgeman Langdale Barrow. The Barrows agreed to take the purchase money in fully paid up shares and £500 in cash. Prior to incorporation they had managed to obtain a lease from Mrs. Sherwin Gregory to mine the coal under her estate. Great emphasis was laid on this in the prospectus and it was contemplated that other shafts would be sunk to work that coal more advantageously.[38]

At first the company appeared to be successful, although even by February 1873 the output had not exceeded 120 tons a day.[39] In November 1873 100 workmen from the colliery met in the Warren Arms to make a presentation to the manager William Boole with a handsome gold watch and chain. The proceedings were interspersed with music and singing.[40]

The situation at board room level was not so optimistic. The company flotation had provided very little extra cash and by May 1872 the directors were divided as to the best way forward. A report by W Armstrong in March 1875[41] lists the problems that the colliery faced and these must have, by this time, been known by the board.

The Kilburn seam was very close to the surface, on the bassett edge, and it was of low quality and the seam was rough and intermixed with split coal bands. The overlying strata was broken and fissured and in winter the water in the flat lands close to the River Erewash found access to the workings and the pump engines have to be worked to full power to keep it under. Finally, the seams dips at a gradient of 1 in 9 in a north easterly direction and the further away the working face the greater the cost and effort of transporting the coals up the hill to the pit bottom.

Board room divisions

The directors were divided over the relative merits of sinking the present pit deeper and digging a level drift to intersect with the coal seam, so that at least some of the journey to the pit bottom would be on the level, or investing considerable capital in sinking new pits further into the coal field where the quality of the coal might be better and where the gradient would assist transport to the pit bottom. They wrote to G B Forster., a well-known mining engineer from Durham, and asked him for his advice.[42] Forster's office files in the Northern Institute of Mines contain numerous letters backwards and forwards before the report was finally produced. He made estimates of the tonnages which could be worked and the profits that would be realised and valued the present workings, after spending £3000 sinking the pit 50 yards below the Kilburn scheme, at £28,865 and the value of two completely new pits, after deducting £80,000 as the cost of the new winning, at £39,201.[43]

Lord Middleton’s lease.

In the meantime discussions had taken place with Lord Middleton as to the terms of a lease for the extraction of coal under his land. It was essential to have this in place if a sale of the colliery was to take place. This correspondence is held in the Middleton Papers in the Manuscripts and Special Collections Dept. of Nottingham University. There is extensive correspondence between agents, solicitors etc. which starts with a letter from the colliery’s engineer, J G Kimpton,, in October 1971 to Lord Middleton’s agent. An agreement was drawn up in or about March 1873 and contained a term that £1000 should be deposited as evidence of good faith by the colliery. This was never paid. In April 1875 Lord Middleton refused a request from the company to break the agreement.[44]

The capital of the company was increased from £20,000 to £100,000[45] in August 1973.

Report by W Armstrong.

In March 1875 another report on the company was done for a client of W H Stevens by W Armstrong, an eminent north country consultant viewer or mining engineer. His report continues details of the trading for the second half of 1874 which showed a loss of £1,010 on coal sales of £4,121 or 7,965 tons. He says “The plant is inadequate and inferior and independently of all questions of liability under the lease-I feel quite certain that there is no value its future.” He was equally dismissive of the proposal to sink two new pits at the junction of Coventry Lane and Moor Lane, Bramcote. “With everything depending upon the value of one seam of which nothing is known positively but as being inferior and unprofitable and where all hinges upon the probability of what the this seam may become under additional pressure I dissuade you from running such a risk and when to these is added that you will be committed to your last shilling and to your last acre to discharge all the rentals under the leases by a present payment of equivalent value the conclusion is obvious that your clients should not meddle with it. It may be as far but still a very speculative adventure disassociated from the Stapleford Colliery but coupled with it’s the value of the interest of the lessees in their leases and properties is in my judgement worth less than nothing.”[46]

Agreement to sell to R T Gilibrand

Others did not agree and in June 1875 the company agreed to sell its plant and the interest in the leases to Robert Thomas Gillibrand for £9,000, a Lancashire cotton manufacturer.[47] This agreement was never executed. When the company was incorporated one of its stated attractive points was the lease from Mrs.Catherine Sherwin-Gregory of her coalfield at “very reasonable terms.” The lease had a clause prohibiting reassignment without her approval and she, no doubt thinking that if the company regarded it as very reasonable, she herself had been too generous and the balance needed to be redressed more in her favour, and she refused the request for reassignment and the agreement fell through.

Order made for winding up.

The company was finding itself in increasing difficulty and a number of petitions had been made in 1875 for the winding up of the company because of unpaid bills. In January 1876 the petitions were granted and an order was made for the winding up of the company[48] and the affairs of the company came into the hands of the Official Receiver.[49]

Vague references to a potential investor had been made during this period and this transpired to be Dunn Bros., the owners of four mines in the Lanarkshire coalfield. They agreed to purchase the plant, machinery, leases etc. for £6,500.[50] When the transaction was completed, they discovered that the Sherwin-Gregory lease had not been re-assigned. Dunn Bros. took the Official Receiver to court in an attempt to rescind the contract and secure compensation. However, a close scrutiny of the actual agreement showed that the Official Receiver had only given an undertaking to obtain a renewal of the lease on as favourable terms as the circumstances would permit. It is not known whether the Dunn Bros. were careless in reading the agreement or were taking a calculated risk that the lease would be renewed on the same terms as before. The Court found that that the Official Receiver had done all that he had contracted to do and ordered that Dunn Bros. pay the £6,500 in accordance with the agreement entered into on the 16^th March 1876.

The Official Receiver encountered further problems when he attempted to extract from Bridgman Langdale Barrow the amount still due on the family shareholding-Richard Bridgman Barrow having died, Langdale was acting as his executor.[51] The court found in favour of the Official Receiver but Barrow took the case to appeal. The Master of the Rolls upheld the appeal in respect of part of the shareholding and, perhaps more importantly, as the appellant had partly succeeded and partly failed in his appeal, he made no order for costs and also relieved hm of the costs of the lower court.[52] The case is still widely quoted and remains, perhaps, the colliery’s only lasting legacy.[53] The company was finally dissolved on the 11 August 1881.[54]

The Abandonment Plan.

It is not known whether Dunn Bros., actually worked the colliery. There are occasional reference to it being owned by the Stapleford Lime.Co. with subsequent workings but these are difficult to confirm. The abandonment plan is dated 14 October 1875 and shows that the mine worked up to Michaelmas 1875. The colliery had four pits, No. 1, the winding pit, was 45 yards deep. No.2, the pumping pit was 47 yards deep, No 3 the upcast pit was 19 yards deep and No.4, a new sinking, was 65 yards deep.. There was a chimney 14’ 4” in height over No. 3 pit which was ventilated by a furnace. No. 3 upcast pit was on Hickings Lane and is not as deep as the others, partly because the ground level at the site of the pit on Pasture Road is higher than Hickings Lane, although rumours that you could hear the jingle of the bells on the pit ponies is probably apocryphal. The section of the map tinted green was to the west of Pasture Road and was worked first. THe section next worked is tinted pink and lies between Pasture Road and Hickings Lane. The final section to be worked is tinted blue and lies to the east of Hickings Lane. The workings were roughly in a south easterly direction and cross Hickings Lane near Sefton Avenue and Rycroft.[55] 

Hewitt’s Colliery

There was a second mine in Stapleford at the junction of Hickings Lane and Ilkeston Road worked by George Hewitt. The abandonment plan for this mine is dated 6 January 1928. There were 10 pits dug to a shallow level. A coal seam of 4’ 6” thickness was found when No. 1 pit was sunk.[56] This mine caused problems when the Hickings Lane estate was being built and old workings had to be filled in.[57]

The colliery on Pit Lane, Trowell also mined under Stapleford, with extraction under New Stapleford and reaching past Hickings Lane. Maybe it was their ponies that could be heard.

Opencast mining.

Opencast mining has taken place north of Ilkeston Road. The first site to be excavated, in 1946, was the Fields Farm Site which worked both of the Black Shale seams. The thickness of the Bottom Seam was 3.8 ft and the Top seam was 4.0 ft.[58] Further opencast mining took place at the Hemlock site when the Ashgate and Mickley seams were worked.[59] An attempt, which was defeated, was made to mine south of Ilkeston Road in 1948.[60]

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