Had a run out to Notts today and called in at Bestwood and Clipstone to see how things are shaping up on the way home.

Bestwood
At Bestwood the ugly grey pointed fencing is gone and the whole site now generally tidied up with new fencing and landscaping around the engine house. The headgear and engine house have been cleaned and restored to a very high standard :thumbsup: . The engine house now looks fabulous but not overdone 🙂 . In order to run the engine a return pulley has been fitted a few feet below ground in the old shaft and a dummy cage built above, this means that the engine can now run on demonstration days. Further info see http://coalmine.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=bc&action=display&thread=507 
🔗Bestwood-Colliery-Post-Restoration-Image-49525[linkphoto]Bestwood-Colliery-Post-Restoration-Image-49525[/linkphoto][/link]

Clipstone
At Clipstone the whole area around the headgears is now landscaped, grassed and dead flat, it now at least looks tidy. This has really emphasised how massive these structures are and I decided to try and get a few pics from a distance to emphasise this, lets hope that the campaign to save them works out.
🔗Clipstone-Colliery-Coal-Mine-User-Album-Image-49564[linkphoto]Clipstone-Colliery-Coal-Mine-User-Album-Image-49564[/linkphoto][/link]

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Nothing's been done with clippy yet then? Last time I checked they'd ramped up security, which can only be a good thing.

Errrrrm not really, big grey security fence all around buildings forming inner perimeter, no way in. And nobody on the gate into the outer site perimeter other than 1 guy on a bulldozer fro East Mids demolition.

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Ah that fence was there when I went in, they must have repaired it all now though. At least they're looking after it more now.

Managed to blag an "official" visit to Clipstone the other week. Chap from Coal Authority said that they are continuing with land remediation around the site, but despite trying they are unable to off-load the headsticks & winding house. The place is in a state inside, anything of value has been smashed & stripped, sad really. Apparently there is an active group who are trying to save it & are actually entering the buildings and tidying up, can only wish them good luck.

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Did you get inside on the official visit? I tried to get one but they wouldn't let me so I casually ambled in a few days later, then casually ambled up the headstocks...

Yes we were given a guided tour of the buildings and around the top of the downcast shaft. Managed to arrange it as a return favour for information/ advice given to a member of Coal Authority with regard to other remaining headsticks/ winding houses (I'm involved with Friends of Chatterley Whitfield).

Will have to get around to posting some pics, but does that only encourage "unauthrised" access...? But thats another subject!

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Further info on Bestwood- apparently all works completed on winding house & headsticks and dynamo house. But work still ongoing with creating a visitor & community facility, basically internal works and external landscaping.

No definite opening times yet, but they hope to be erecting information signs at the gates in the next few weeks, with all facilities being open and functioning in June.

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Any chance you can get me a contact for Thoresby/Welbeck... never been in and wondered if it was worth asking? 🙂

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