Description by ICLOK
This mine was started in May 1983 on land purchased by the family of the owners as far back as 1945. The owners were H & C Hartshorne who have mined the Amber valley itself since about 1918 at various sites.
The first coal was raised in September 1983. The mine worked the Black Shale seam (below sandstone) eastwards into the valley side via two declines each fitted with 2 foot gauge rails. The easterly driven decline being the main haulage route to surface, cable haulage was provided by a small electric winder adjacent to the main railway line. In 1985 there were estimated to be 30 years reserves (approx 0.5M tons).
During 1991 H & C Hartshorne had sold a 2 year lease to the Amber Valley Colliery Co Ltd who by 1993 had failed to make the mine pay. The Hartshornes sold the lease again in 1993 but the new owners closed down the mine in 1996.
I was fortunate to visit the mine as a guest of Eric Hartshorne in 1990 and was struck by the home spun feeling to the mine which whilst old fashioned in operation seemed to function quite well given the use of hand tools and old Cincinatti coal cutters to loose out the black stuff. Tramming was by hand and considerable hand timbering was in place, proper girder and sheet arching being in place on the drives and thru loose ground.
Sadly the mine was stripped after closure and securely locked up circa Nov 1999. I last visited on the 29th March 08 when the site was being landscaped although the main shed building seemed intact, it is now used as stables. Both declines being securely closed up. No access permitted to the site.