Colliery exploratory: Hatfield

Hatfield's first deep shafts were sunk during WW1 by the Hatfield Main Colliery Company.

Ownership transferred to the Carlton Main Colliery Company in 1927 before it became part of the National Coal Board in 1947, closing under British Coal ownership in 1993. Hatfield Coal Company announced plans to reopen a year later and though it made a profit in its first year of operation, it eventually closed in 2001.

In the same year RJB Mining took over - its parent company Coalpower had plans to build a power station but problems led to Coalpower going into administration and closure in 2004.

Buoyed by rising coal prices, mining resumed under Powerfuel in 2006, who had plans for a carbon capture and storage power station which unfortunately also ran into problems and saw Powerfuel go into administration in 2010.

In December 2013 the employee-led Hatfield Colliery Partnership Limited bought the mine with plans to move production to a new pit face, but 18 months later factors such as "low coal price, a switch to renewable energy and large coals stocks" (BBC) saw it cease again, with HCPL wound up earlier this month.

An exploratory seemed appropriate.

Most main buildings seemed sealed but it was possible to inspect some of the machinery, conveyor belts and a headstock.

These belts would take coal away from the pit to be taken away by lorries or rail via the track further left.

Interesting switch box in the left-hand building above.

Headstock 1 seemed to have been the best maintained.

Everything here is covered in grease.

Including the steep stairs.

No. 2 Winding House - to be looked into.

That's all for now, thanks for viewing!