Following up on a recent bait-time discussion, does anyone know where the surviving headgear (and its now scrapped winder) at Grove Rake No.2 shaft originated?

I heard a rumour ages ago that the structure was brought from a 'Co.Durham Colliery'

Any info greatly appreciated!

MARK

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no idea, but I shall consult the oracle this afternoon when I see him, If he don't know, I doubt anyone will!

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http://www.aditnow.co.uk/Mines/Hazard-Colliery-Coal-Mine_20909/  Can you see any similarities?

Thanks for the prompt reply. There are similarities, but plenty of differences. I'd say the GR headgear dates no earlier than 1960's, definitely not 1930's, the beams look too modern. I'm sure there will have been modifications, but WLC won't have wanted to muck about with it too much, so would expect the basic appearance to be largely unchanged. The addition of the external staircase is probably WLC, likewise the internal gubbins to change between cage and skip functions and link same to the spar conveyor.

Cheers MARK

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seem to have a figure of 1965 in my head from somewhere, this un sorta ties in with that..

🔗71139[linkphoto]71139[/linkphoto][/link]

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Hi Mark How did you know it came from Co Durham? (which ties in with what the elderly Gentleman said) I does sound strange that it went there not unrealistic, The new Headgear at the Hazard dates from around 1935ish though it closed shortly after, It remained in situ for many years (not sure when it was actually dismantled). If it is the same Headstock then the alterations were possibly due to corrosion or just needed to be altered for new application ?

The Durham connection was from a thread on Jiscmail posted around 2005 by Peter Claughton. Might be a red herring, but he seems a reliable source.

I had another look at the Hazard Pit photo and now realise that its 2 superimposed headstocks, and that the newer one with the straight legs is a good fit with GR. I'd say that GR is somewhat taller, but if additional steelwork was put in to elevate the whole, then it would be an even closer match.

The sheave platform appears to have a projection on it. Would be interesting to see if traces of this remain at GR. A better look at the main steelwork might also point to a production date.

Mark - 1965 seems a believable date for its relocation at GR, based on yours cited, and other old photos from that era.

Durham or Northumberland are (in my mind) likely candidates as there were numerous smaller, shallower mines around that time, as opposed to the deep coastal pits. The winder in Burtree Pasture came from Kimblesworth, that at Redburn from Tanfield, clearly there was no shortage of gear in those days!

Mark

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Well, I've now had a really really good look at both headgears.

[photo]101889[/photo]

The proportions are very similar, the stairway access to the sheave deck is in the right place, the deck is the right shape, the upper horizontal members are spaced in the same proportions. I think I owe Lyons a Pint :thumbup:

Many thanks

MARK

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Well that clears that up... I think The N/E was the hardest hit in The 1960s as Britain turned to Diesel/Oil and Gas here is a list of closures 1960s COLLIERY CLOSURES (Northumberland and Durham)

During the 1960s the Durham coalfield quickly declined, losing half of its workforce and half of its pits. When the Rising Sun Colliery at Wallsend closed in 1969, Tyneside had lost all its collieries on the north bank of the river. Pits in Northumberland and Durham that closed during the decade include:
•Addison Colliery
•Barcus Close
•Barlow Towneley
•Beamish Mary
•Bedlington F
•Bedlington Doctor
•Bowburn
•Brancepeth
• Brandon
• Burnopfield
• Cambois
• Chester South Moor
• Choppington A
• Chopwell
• Clara Vale
• Crofton Mill (Blyth)
• Crookhall (Lanchester)
• Deaf Hill (Trimdon)
• Dean and Chapter (Ferryhill and Chilton)
• Dinnington
•East Tanfield
• East Walbottle
• Esh
• Hamsterley
• Handenhold
• Harraton
• Harton
• Hazlerigg
• Heworth
• High Marley Hill
• Kimblesworth
• Lambton D
• Lanchester
• Leasingthone
• Linton
•Lumley Sixth
• Longhirst (Ashington)
• Mainsforth
• Malton (Lanchester)
• Middridge
•(Ferryhill)
• Newbiggin
• New Shildon
• Pelton
• Randolph
• Ravensworth
• Anne (Gateshead)
• Ravensworth Park
• Ravensworth Shop
• Rising Sun (Wallsend)
• Roddymoor
• Ryhope
• Seghill
• Sherburn Hill
• South Pelaw
• Staindrop Field House
• Stanley Burn
• Stanley Cottage
• Stargate
• Tanfield Lea
• Thrislington
• Trimdon Grange
• Tudhoe Mill
• Tudhoe Park
• Ushaw Moor
• Washington F
• Waterhouses
• West Auckland
• West Thornley
• Wheatley Hill
• Whitburn
• Wingate Grange
• Witton

http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/1950to1969.html  Interesting to know where all those Headstocks went (though some of the mines listed were Drift) The only one I know was one at Lynemouth ended up at Sacriston. 🙂

Thanks for posting, quite an interesting list.

Redburn Mine (fluorspar) just down the valley from Groverake acquired equipment from Tanfield (ca1964)

Further downstream, Stotfield Burn mine at its No.4 U/G Shaft had a similar arrangement to Gargetts Shaft at Burtree Pasture, ie with inclined cable tunnel running from the winder to the headgear above the shaft. No idea where that gear would have come from, but probably earlier than 1960's. Now THERE's a dig!

Groverake No.1 winder is, of course, still in-situ , although heavily stripped for scrap and with the winder house collapsing around it. This is another ex-colliery bit of kit, provenance unknown, and significantly predates the larger No.2 shaft winder. Lamentably the headgear was stolen about 10 years ago. When drawing operations ceased from that shaft it was laddered as an escape (ca 1991) and despite some damage, most of the ladderway is intact and can be descended to water at the 30fm level horizon.

MARK

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the Number 1 headgear sheave wheel was 'recycled' from the original boltsburn headgear that sat over the very first engine shaft before they sank the new one down Watts level, which makes it's theft even worse. Somewhere I've a pic of that wheel lying on the ground next to the new head frame just after it started operating

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Thanks for voting on The Hazard Headgear, However The photograph actually belongs to Mr Moody! He has quite the collection of Hetton-Le-Hole / Houghton-Le-Spring area, though I suspect He was given the picture.

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/Mines/Ryhope-Coal-Colliery_9055/  went to Wearmouth for the newly built D pit around 1965.

Fenwick (East Hollywell) Winder went to Woodhorn.

Elemore George Winder went to Bentnick.

Whilst The disastrous Rothes winders went to Penalta ?

Could start a new thread "Where did everything go?"

Trying to work out the date that the headgear was installed at Groverake. if you check the photos in the aditnow archive, the date would appear to be no earlier than 1968. Prior to that date, the other shaft on site seems to have been the haulage shaft, so presumably the mine was redeveloped and the existing headgear installed. Any comments?

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I'll ask lenny. He was working there when it went up so if any one knows it will be him

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