The AIA sponsored book "Industrial History of South Yorkshire" edited by
Derek Bayliss, has the following entry - Barnsley Main Colliery, Oaks Lane -
Closed 1991. Brick Building with gable roof and steel headgear, from 1980
resinking but in traditional style. [not protected in 1995]
If I remember correctly this is the No.2 shaft and was retained by the
council as the best looking and closest to the town centre site. I agree
with Martin Roe that it make a very nice sight. At one time I think it was
floodlit at night.
I worked as a project engineer on a reconstruction job at the nearby No. 4
shaft in 1993/4 at which time those buildings that were left (from the 1986
rebuild) were either demolished or re fitted to become separate small
industrial units. At this time all the winder and the heapstead had been
removed and a temporary cap put on the shaft complete with a vent
incorporating flame traps.
As part of the job we had to put in cables and pipes in case pumps were
required by the rising water levels. The mine had been sealed from the
nearby Grimethorpe pit (called Southside by the remaining B.C. men) while
equipment was recovered.
I found a report in one of the abandoned offices stating how the closure of
the Barnsley collieries would have a major affect on the remaining Doncaster
collieries after between 15 & 20 years. There was also talk of problems
occurring at Caphouse Colliery (National Colliery Museum) in the coming
years as well as details of the non colliery sites that were supplied with
water pumped from collieries (fish ponds and a brickworks I think).
I also remember a man at Barnsley Main telling me that a few years earlier
the nearby B.C. garages had had a gas explosion in one of the vehicle
maintenance pits and traced the gas to a long forgotten and partially filled
drift working at the top of the site! This also had a vent with flame traps
at the time I was there.
I never heard if there was ever any pumping after my time there or if the
shaft was filled.
Andrew Hurrell
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