I just wonder if there is anyone who might have information regarding the Amblecote clay mine?
Until I was in my late teens I lived in Parkfield Road Stourbridge and from by bedroom window could see the pithead gear and engine house chimney some two miles or so away across the Stour vale. I can remember as a youngster being fascinated by the steam billowing from the chimney and the wheel turning on the headgear and spent ages watching this strange apparatus in the distance.
In the late 1950's when I was older my parents acquired a dog and when time allowed I would take him for a long walk which inevitably led towards Stourbridge locomotive sheds at Amblecote. Once I had crossed the river Stour by the footbridge next to the railway viaduct in Birmingham Street I would take the path which led up along the western edge of the main Stourbridge to Wolverhampton line. Not too far along and the path then passed through a small tunnel beneath the track to emerge in open countryside with Amblecote mine at the crest of the hill.
I can't remember how I managed to get close to the pit but I do recollect at one time seeing a black and white poney being led by a kindly man who waved to me. The poney was pulling two tubs on a small tramway from one corrugated tin shack at the base of the headgear towards another rusting shack. I have vague recollection of the engine house but in those day cameras were a luxury so I never had the opportunity to take pictures of the site. By the time I did have a camera the mine had closed and open cast mining had begun to extract coal.
As I stated at the beginning I just wondered if anyone might have access to some pictures of the mine for I would like to see the old place again.

Paul Miles.

Hi paul m, Just seen your message on Amblecote Clay Mine, on on aditnow.
You will find photos and information on amblecote clay mine in the book, The South Staffordshire Coalfield, by Nigel A. Chapman.
All the best Madabout mining

Many thanks for your reply. Will track down a copy.

Regards

Paul m

Many thanks for your reply. Will track down a copy.

Regards

Paul m

I have plenty available

http://www.moorebooks.co.uk/shelves/cart.php?target=product&product_id=18258&substring= 

Mike

Mike, you may want to edit that page on your website - you're crediting the book to Simon Chapman in the description.....

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Mike, you may want to edit that page on your website - you're crediting the book to Simon Chapman in the description.....

So easy to mix up the Brothers Chapman
:oops:

Mike

No it isn't. I'm the good-looking one!

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No it isn't. I'm the good-looking one!

and he only writes about the softy midlands and welsh mining areas unlike the real mans work up in the North East!!

You will be pleased to hear your name has been removed from the South Staffs coalfield book - shame you could have claimed all the glory!!

cheers

Mike