Hi, I am currently writing a piece on Chatterley Whitfield and can't seem to find any contact email or numbers on the 'Friends of Chatterley Whitfield' site. I was hoping to get in touch with a historian/someone in the know, who specializes on Chatterley so that I can acquire some first hand material for my writing. My focus is on the people, the history and the demise of the colliery.

Thank you for looking. My email is [email protected]

Liz.

Hi there,

If you go onto the FoCW website (www.chatwhitfriends.org.uk), on the home page look for THE FRIENDS, which gives a drop down menu including CONTACT, which gives email of their secretary.

Hope this helps if not give me a shout

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Thanks very much. I did go there first and wrote an email from the contact page, which was then returned. Now on your referral I have just had another look and realised I spelt the name in the email address wrong!
So I've sent another one with the correct spelling now. Thanks again for the link, much appreciated. :flowers:

Liz,

if you require any first hand info about Chatterley then I can probably help you out. Such a shame to see the place the way it is.

I would love that thanks! My email is [email protected] if you want to send info via email. Any info, pics, history would be great and so helpful. It is such a shame to see it in the state it is in now. The rejeneration project has not helped the site as a whole and at such a great cost. Bleanavon in South Wales although a little on the clinical side for portraying mining, has preserved the site as a whole. I don't understand why it couldnt be one of the best mine attractions/museum as opposed to an urban explorers dream! Thanks so much for the offer which I would definately like to take you up on.

I tried to get a visit to the place with help re contacts off this site (thanks guys I did try, & thats meant without sarcasm 🙂 ) but just met a wall of no response :bored: , no interest so have given up.... having walked the perimeter the place has stunning potential but little public visibility... sad really as this has to be one of the best disused coal mining sites in Europe.

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Unfortunately there appears to lots of sympathy regarding CW and its current state, but very little positive help, that includes English Heritage too :curse:

http://www.derbyscc.org.uk/namhoconference2012/conf_surface.php 

Other than that it'll probably be the usual Heritage Open Day in September, all being well!

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Very sad as its obviously a superb site... Looks like I'll be doing NAMHO if thats the case..... Thanks for your help originally I tried all you said to contact but never got a reply.... at least thru NAMHO I have a shot! Cheers... 🙂

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Mmm, yes its all very frustrating unfortunately. Lots of staff changes at the Council, changes in the plans, etc, etc. But hopefully the fact that permission has been given for the NAMHO visit might herald a new beginning, but wouldn't hold my breath ::)

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It's so disappointing to see it in he current state. I had the opportunity of going underground there years ago when it first set up as a museum. I was even allowed 'off piste' into the winding house which still had shift record books, some alas thrown on the floor and damp. A sad waste.

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I tried to get a visit to the place with help re contacts off this site (thanks guys I did try, & thats meant without sarcasm 🙂 ) but just met a wall of no response :bored: , no interest so have given up.... having walked the perimeter the place has stunning potential but little public visibility... sad really as this has to be one of the best disused coal mining sites in Europe.

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=67953  you even get your'e own free escort.. :lol:

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Indeed, the place has a so-called Masterplan which I have a copy of, but its questionable if any of it will ever happen due to lack of funds and the will to progress. Most of the buildings are still packed with machinary and mine records and it criminal that its not a museum really. The Council seem only to want to preserve part of it and the rest to follow the precedent set when they converted the lab and office into an 'enterprise park', the concern being of what will become of the content of those buildings.

The Master plan was never formally adopted, although Phase 1 (refurbishment of the Main Offices, access road, etc) and Phase 1a (landscaping and formation of the Country Park) have been successfully completed. Since the inception of the project to "save" CW the main priority has been that it should be self funding. Therefore if buildings such as the offices, geology building and at some date the workshops, could be brought into economic use, this would pay towards the preservation & upkeep of the "heritage" buildings and structures. Unfortunately there seem little commitment from either the City Council (site owners) or the local communities to push forward and actually acheive something before its too late, or maybe thats the plan :curse:

Yes there is concern for the various artefacts and archives still on site, but there is an opprtunity for people to become involved- join the Friends of Chatterly Whitfield and help ::)

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