Hi
Anyone know anything of Birley East Colliery, Beighton?
In particular an explosion in 1924 resulting in some deaths, one of which was my wifes grandfather we have recently learned but cant find any references to it.
Any former miners who may have worked there know any details?
Thanks

Are you in Sheffield?

Yes, Norton Lees but know nothing of Beighton area

Have you tried www.picturesheffield.com ?

I think there's a piece of blurb on a bench carved like a train in the shirebrook valley too

Thanks
Found some old photos, do you know exactly where the mine was?

Nope. I think it was in the shirebrook valley at the beighton end of Woodhouse, but I couldn't be certain.

I'm an 'immigrant' to these parts :D

(Ask me about Liverpool's history :thumbsup: )

http://www.tidza.demon.co.uk/1896-1.html

actually, there appears to be 3 different birley sites, so I could be very wrong :(

Try a search for 'maps' on here. There are some useful historical ones listed in some threads :thumbsup:

http://www.n.f.wilson.btinternet.co.uk/677-689.htm

Dunno if that gives you any leads, don't forget that this part of the world used to be in Derbyshire :thumbsup:



Edit: I've found it!!!!

http://www.clickhere.org.uk/modules.php?name=1935&mapref=J7D6

Keep us posted! :thumbsup:

Thanks again, plenty of info and maps as to location.

Would dearly love to find out about the explosion in 1924 but none of the mining disaster sites mention it presumeably because there were less than 5 deaths? it doesn't get a listing.

Hmmm, I thought that was odd too.

Did you check 'derbyshire' too? It wasn't south yorkshire then. (I don't think)

If you come into woodhouse off the A57 and up Coisley Hill, take the first right into stone lane, you can park at the nature reserve car park and walk the rest of the way down stone lane. You want to be past the plastics factory. There's some ancient steps down the side of the plastics factory. The colliery might actually be the landfill site though. There are lots of information posts and boards in shirebrook valley, so it may be worth the trip. I dont' know if there's info on it in the nature reserve building (disused sewage works building - should be in AtoZ)

Yes, the only reference I can find is here
mininginstitute.org.uk/library/Accident_reports.html
I have emailed them to try to get a copy but had no replies.

http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/shirebrook/

Ther is a local historian who does talks and writs books on Woohouse and the local area.
We found a photo of our house being built in one of his books and he was more than helpfull lending us the original so we could have it copied in this book are some photos of Birley Pit. His name is Widdowson and he lives near Crystal Peaks. I probably still have his address. If anyone has any knowledg it it it'll be him

Sorry I cannot help re- the 1924 explosion, but I thought you would be interested to know that Birley East pit was sunk, commencing in 1887. It had just one shaft until the "upcast" was sunk in 1895. The pit was served by a branch off the Great Central Railway.

It raised its last coal in October 1943, but continued in use for some years as a training centre.

This information is extracted from the railway book "Scenes from the past 43 Sheffield Victoria to Chesterfield Central"

today i was walking round Woodhouse cemetery looking for my great-grandmother's grave which i didn't find but i recall reading one with someone who died tragically in the mentioned pit disaster

i'm going back later in the week so i will have another look at the grave and forward the details on to you

Providing you go in the day you can drive to the end of stone lane to the plastics factory and then carry on walking on the trans penine trail and you will find the cap for birley pit, apparently they are still pumping water out. The cap is similar looking to a trig point, the local historian is called george widdowson, you could maybe try woodhouse library for more info too.
The trans penine trail is on the old railway track that was used for transporting the coal from the pit back to coisley hill and down into normanton springs.
Where the terraced block is, is where the colliers used to live.

I am the fount of all knowledge on birley east colliery. Info, maps,plans, photo's, etc. If you wish to contact me then please do so in a private message throught this forum with contact details.
Alan

Thanks to everyone for your help.
We have since recieved the death certificates for my wifes grandfather Herbert Roper and his son Ernest, they didn't die at the pit but about a week later as a result of burns in the accident which happened 23rd February 1924.
Herbert was 41 and Ernest 20 and they lived at 1 Rainbow Forge at the time, does anyone know exactly where this was? I presume somewhere around where Rainbow Forge School is today.
With regards to a previous post over Woodhouse Cemetery, thanks for looking, we have no idea where they are buried or what would have been the most likely/nearest Cemetery in 1924 to have been used.
Thanks
Bob

Originally posted by alanr
I am the fount of all knowledge on birley east colliery. Info, maps,plans, photo's, etc. If you wish to contact me then please do so in a private message throught this forum with contact details.
Alan

Alan
Sent you an email, please post here if you didn't recieve it
Bob

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~exy1/images/Ecclesall_Bierlow_map.jpg

It looks like rainbow forge was where the current school is

i haven't recieved an email from you, i have recieved the general thank you. If that isnt the one you meant then please re-send
thanks

hi bobcaz, I have set up an email address if you wish to contact me regarding any information you might want concerning birley pit and the 1924 accident. I have written a book on the subject which includes this incident. My email is sergeantbilko@hotmail.co.uk
alanr

Originally posted by alanr
hi bobcaz, I have set up an email address if you wish to contact me regarding any information you might want concerning birley pit and the 1924 accident. I have written a book on the subject which includes this incident. My email is sergeantbilko@hotmail.co.uk
alanr

Done.
Thanks
Bob