As you say, Clive - the Coal Authority is designed to ensure that the coal
mines it licences are run by those who them in a proper manner. Apart from
its continuation, what has that to do with mining history?
You also say that living history is disappearing infront of my nose and ask
why I do not do something about it. Well, even I do not wear my underpants
on the outside, but I would like to think that I've done a little for the
lead industry. In 1993, as NAMHO Chairman, I did organise a seminar on just
that topic of the destruction of coal sites and (in part) as a result
English Heritage and the Royal Commission took a much greater interest in
what was being lost. British Coal would not allow the latter on its (ours
really) property and so it did aerial surveys of existing mines.
I have used the NCB Records Offices at Lowton in Lancashire and Rawmarsh in
Yorkshire and always found them very helpful (being run by fellow diallers).
As part of my current research into the Yorkshire coal industry, I will no
doubt be spending time in the Coal Authority's archive, maybe even its
canteen. I do, however, eat at the canteen of the Northern Mine Research
Society's Records Office on most days. Visitors are always made welcome,
the research facilities are excellent and a cup of tea and a buscuit comes
free of charge.
Mike
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