Dear All,
 
Sadly I am sure that much has been destroyed one way and another. I am sure  
that whilst lamps were indeed thrown down shafts, it was also a place to put  
things to save wasting time in burning them - inevitable.
 
In the late 1970's, I looked in at the not long before closed Haile Moor  
iron mine in W.Cumberland. The office floors were strewn with time books, pocket  
books of pencil and byro entries for shift and Team production, reports, and 
all  manner of other paperwork. Most of it was soaking wet, some  had been 
burnt for fires by tramps etc., but generally it was probably  a haunt for 
youngsters to mess around. I managed to salvage some bits and  pieces, but only 
items that were in a condition worth taking.
 
I know that about twenty years ago a S.Wales steel works burnt a  great deal 
of colliery records of colls. that had many years before been owned  by that 
works and others (it had been gathered together there). Apparently there  was a 
huge room full of stuff where it had lain for many years, but it was  deemed 
on closure and before demolition that it was to be burnt and that was  that - 
some was salvaged I believe, but only a tiny fraction.
 
In the days before Iron/Steel and coal nationalisation, all Co.'s obviously  
had accountants and auditors, and much data was kept by them - let alone  
solicitors offices that had been Reg.Offcs.. In the good old days when the  
professions were not under so much stress with storage/work space, huge amounts  of 
paperwork were kept. I am aware of numerous instances of office moves where  
huge amounts of old material was burnt - 1960's and 70's..
 
Obviously WW2 bombing put paid to vast quantities historical data.  Much (or 
most), of John Taylor & Co.'s records went that way sad to say, let  alone 
countless solicitors offices, etc., etc., etc..
 
As to smaller mining concerns (1870's - 1930's, coal and metal), once  closed 
that was that, and anything paperwork being of no further use was just  
simply thrown out. However, some did make it's way into private hands even then,  
but over the years indifferent attitudes and lack of understanding resulted in  
yet more disposal, but surprisingly (miraculously!), stuff still turns up 
from  time to time. In the wrong private hands historically valuable material has 
 been wantonly destroyed by deceased's relatives due to nothing more than  
sheer ignorance and an unbelievable attitude that no one else should have it  
(whether museum or anybody else), and I am aware of one partic. case of  this 
only seven or eight years ago - another that took place many many years  ago, 
but thankfully not all of it was destroyed.
 
At the end of the day, my feeling is that we must be lucky for what we have  
left and forget what has been lost - as seriously irritating as this can be  
sometimes!
 
Regards, Bernard