Prompted by Alan Vickers' tip-off, I today visited the launch of the
Wheatley Hill Local History Club's new book, entitled "The Thornley Coal
Company, owners of Thornley, Ludworth & Wheatley Hill Collieries,
1830-1885". I found the book to be a mine (sorry) of information,
gleaned mainly from local newspapers of that period. I have not yet read
it right through. But the bulk of it is clearly more about people living
in those villages and working in those collieries (and in many cases
being killed or injured in accidents there) than about the company
itself.
The painstaking work that has gone into producing this book is
impressive. I understand it is the first of two and I look forward
eagerly to the second volume, which will cover the period from 1885 till
today.
Can anyone confirm for me, though, that Trimdon and Cassop collieries
(indeed, all three of the Cassop collieries - Cassop, Cassop Vale and
Cassop Moor) were also owned by the Thornley Coal Company, at least till
1852?
Mike Syer
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