Shafts were first sunk in 1925, then deepened in the 1950s to make way for access to more seams. At this time nearby Cockglode House was demolished and buried under the pit top. Exotic plant species can be found in the remaining parts of Cockglode Wood, a legacy of the Victorian gardener.
The pit produced up to 100,000t of coal per week, making profits of £50m a year. Following privatisation in the 1990s, ownership transfered from British Coal to RJB Mining, then UK Coal, before closure this year.
The clear up is ongoing. The site is covered in slime which is precarious to walk on. In an adjacent wood a British Coal sign reads "Tip restoration experiment utilising digested sewage cake & digested liquid sludge" - wellies are recommended.
Must be a victim of anionic solution in the chemical dosing tank.
The headstocks are simlar to those at Hatfield. Having climbed the concrete clad one there, it was decided to head to this one.
Primary target
Up we go
A grease covered metal grille blocks access to the very top.
At this point somebody shouted and a dog barked - it was time to descend.
Thanks for viewing!
No comments:
Post a Comment