Thanks Buckhill. First time I've ever seen pictures of Mainband Colliery. How far did the venture get, both in terms of distance and production (if at all). I think you mentioned in an earlier post that the drift is now sealed. Have we seen the last of the operation or was there anything worth going back for in the future?

The possibility of finding & working the inland coal in the St Bees area was first raised in the late 19thC but little proving was done except a few holes "on the heads" in connection with Ladysmith and a possible new shaft sinking above Fleswick Bay. The coal under the valley and village was proved in the 1970s by the NCB but they decided that the area would not support a mine capable of the productivity levels they wanted.

Following the closure of Haig (and 150 other pits) there was interest from the private sector in a few areas, St Bees being one. The company surfaced in late 1987 and 12 months later with all consents in place the job started. The initial licence area (a kite shaped take about a mile each way) was estimated to contain 12m tons of good quality coal in situ (at least 40% recoverable) with much more in the western and south-western extensions. In September 1989 the Main Band was met 500m from day and followed to the dip (south), reaching 900m before stopping. Lateral developments never went beyond 150m (east) and 60m (west) of the main roads.

In the 17 months up to closure in February 1991 the total output was 17,000 tons, a quarter of the anticipated development output even though some weeks returned 1,500 tons! Most of that shortfall was down to standing time as machines were taken from headings which had met faults to try elsewhere - a complete waste of time because ultimately everwhere was going to be standing with a prolonged period of zero output awaiting.

The initial layout (on the drifts) was £3m with the same spent afterwards. Proceeds were less than £500,000 due mainly to the decision to sell only to a power station 100 miles away and ignore the local domestic coal requirements. The mine closed due to the collapse of the parent company (Geevor plc) and after a couple of failed attempts to take it over it was bought by Egremont Mining Co in 1995. They did not have the resources to re-open it and eventually the licence and planning consent was withdrawn.

The reserves are there, but the reputation for difficult geology has put off many potential bidders in the past. The drifts were put down to suit the surface site and met the coal at the confluence of 4 major faults - not the best place to determine the normal conditions - but had development been pushed on the probability is that the steep dips and fault intensity would have eased as they did in the adjacent Ladysmith and with 2 seams 8-11 foot thick only 60 ft apart - well who knows what could have been.

Out of interest, Is there any access available into the mainband workings?
Walked down past the pond to the access road, but never ventured beyond the keep out private property sign!

It's now about 2 years since the Coal Authority sealed the drifts and demolished the surface buildings. Prior to that they were completely flooded up to surface. The last access was in April 1996 during the dewatering attempt when about a 200 metre length was recovered before being abandoned.

Thanks for that, the reason I actually asked was because a friend was talking about the whole mirehouse pond redevelopment and was convinced that the overflow at the far end of the pond was connected to the mainband via a previously used service adit which was now being used as a sort of culvert.
I walked to where I did to see if I could follow the line of it down which from my reckoning would be a good 4-500yds.