Mark
I am no expert on the area, and have never got closer to the area than
Newcastle Railway Station but, as I have not seen another reply, I have
found the following from the book 'The Harton Electric Railway' but
W.J.Hatcher.
"As a wartime economy measure, Hyndley [Lord Hyndley - in control during the
war] shut down both Westoe and St. Hilda Collieries on 6th September 1940.
Westoe required extensive rebuilding in order to make it profitable and its
closure was viewed as temporary, St. Hilda on the other hand was exhausted
having produced 18,488,872 tons since 1861 alone and would never re-open"
If you are interested in industrial railway systems, I can recommend the
book (but I must warn you, it has a sad ending!).
Andrew
----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2003 8:57 PM
Subject: St Hilda / Westoe Colliery
> I wander if any list members can help me with a query.
>
> St Hilda Colliery owned by the Harton Coal Company closed in 1940 but was
> re-opened as Westoe Colliery in 1947 by the newly formed NCB.
>
> I believe that the colliery was used as a training mine by the Harton Coal
> Company during the war years, which I find surprising considering the need
for
> coal. I myself have found Deputies reports and newspapers from the war
years
> underground and the Colliery plans show development work during this
period.
>
> What I haven't been able to establish is the reason why the Colliery
closed
> and why it sat idle for so long.
>
> Any help in resolving these queries would be much appreciated.
>
> Mark Robson
>
|