sinking of two 13ft diameter shafts was commenced in 1874 by the Newstead Colliery Company, close to Newstead Abbey. The Top HArd seam was reached at a depth of 484yards at no1 shaft and 462 yards at no1 shaft the difference in depth being due to a 25 yard fault which passes between the shafts and runs in an easterly direction. The old village was constructed to house miners and their families in 1875 and the first coal surfaced a year later. Workshops and stores were built in 1880 and steam winding engines were erected in 1884. Electricity- generated by a 110volt scott and mountain dynamo was first used in in the 1890's for lighting in the pit bottom, and around the pithead and screens. A coal prep plant was erected in1903 and an additional Baum washbox for larger coal was added in 1928. In 1923 the colliery welfare club was built and a year later the new village was completed. Newstead had a good operational record and produced good quality steam coal, it was one of the few mines able to maintain full working and output during the depression. Mechanisation in the form of longwall advancing faces was introduced in 1933 replacing the staall method of working.The double unit faces were undercut by a 50hp samson coal cutter and coal was loaded onto canvas rubber face conveyors. the roof was supported by manually set wood and steel prps and bars, coal was transported by endless rope haulage systems. Pithead baths were added in 1935, to cater for 1,680 men and a canteen and medical centre built in 1942. in 1939 ownership of the colliery was taken over by the sheepbridge company. During the second world war the Dunsil seam was worked in the pit bottom area and limited working of the low Bright started.
This photograph is by am500 and was uploaded November 23rd 2008. © am500 please do not copy or distribute without prior express permission.
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