" A History of the Byfield Mine Combe Down" Richard Irving PB, A5,  80pp £9.95 + £1.00 P&P

The book covers the development and history Byfield and Firs Mine. The Author lives in the former Mine Managers House and actually discovered a hole in his garden that turns out to be in important portal with a staircase down into the workings which was carved out as a short cut for the Manager and possibly for the workers to gain easy access to the pub.

He has been supported by Dr Lynn Willies who has been carry out an archaeological survey of the mines for Oxford University and David Pollard who had previously written papers on these mines. The well written highly informative text is supported by Photographs,  Underground ones by Paul Deakin and a number of -plans, historical maps and records. In all a valuable piece of research into this important underground Stone Quarry

The South Staffordshire Coalfield, Nigel Chapman, PB , A5, 128pp £12.99 + £1.50 P&P

Any publication on mining in the Midlands with Simon Chapman's name on it is bound to good and accurate. This is no exception although more in the picture style used by Tempus. The book relates the History of the long gone Black Country Collieries which were considered to have one of the finest beds of Coal in the country. Nigel provides a fascinating insight into the workers and working of the big four collieries of Sandwell park, Hamstead Colliery, Baggeridge and Hilton Main 

Also details and photographs from the New British Iron Company and the Cannock Chase Collieries including Walsall Wood Colliery, Brereton Colliery, Valley Colliery, , Cannock Wood Colliery, Pool Lane Colliery,  Lea Hall Colliery Rugeley, ,Cannock and Leacroft Colliery,  Grove Colliery, Hednesford Colliery, Cannock Chase Colliery, Mid Cannock Colliery, East Cannock Colliery, Littleton Colliery, Coppice, Nook and Swan Collieries and a picture of the Dragline at the Poplars opencast .

Finally, 

Drakelow Unearthed by Paul Stokes, A4, Soft back, 36pp includes 6 colour and 46 B&W photos £6.50 + £1.50 P&P

 
This is the revised edition with 8 additional pages and new information. This is about secret History of an Underground complex at Drakelow which can be found West of Dudley West midlands.  which started life during World War Two as the Rover shadow factory, the site was quarried out over two year period and Paul records the history and developments of the site through the years to present time.

In the 1960's the complex was converted into a Regional Seat of Government as the result of threat of Cold war from the East and later in the 1980's was converted to a Regional HQ. This complex has fascinating history and anyone with an interest in underground structures and secret war facilities will enjoy reading this well written book which is most informative and is a very thorough record of this complex. 

IA Recordings have also produced a Video and DVD on the complex on the complex which I have reviewed previously and can thoroughly recommend


Mike Moore

See my new website for Mining, IA and Caving books   www.moorebooks.co.uk 
( please note there will be regular updates as I have many books in stock not yet listed)


Visit the following sites for references to all kinds of mining subjects

British Mining Database <http://www.ap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bmd/bmd.htm>

Snailbeach Mine <http://www.ap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/sbeach/sbeach.htm>

Shropshire Mines Trust <http://www.ap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/smt/smt.htm>

Tankerville Mine <http://www.ap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/tank/tank.htm>

Making a Roman pig of lead <http://pig01.012webpages.com/pig.htm>

Caves & Mines of Cyprus <http://a4.012webpages.com/cyprus/cyprus.htm>