{{Short description|Colliery in South Yorkshire, England}} {{use British English|date=May 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox UK place | country = England | official_name = Cortonwood | coordinates = {{coord|53.509|-1.385|display=inline,title}} | static_image = CortonwoodShoppingCentre.jpg | static_image_caption = Cortonwood Retail Park | population = | metropolitan_borough = [[Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham|Rotherham]] | metropolitan_county = [[South Yorkshire]] | region = Yorkshire and the Humber | constituency_westminster = [[Wentworth and Dearne]] | post_town = Barnsley | postcode_district = S73 | postcode_area = S | dial_code = 01226 | os_grid_reference = }} '''Cortonwood''' was a [[colliery]] near [[Rotherham]], [[South Yorkshire]], England. The colliery's proposed closure was a tipping point in the [[1984–1985 miners' strike]]. The site is now a [[Shopping center|shopping]] and [[leisure centre]].
==History== Cortonwood colliery was sunk in 1873, a year after the formation of the Brampton Colliery Company, which took its name from the local parish of [[Brampton Bierlow]], near Rotherham. By March 1875, two shafts had been dug to a depth of {{convert|285|yard}} to work the [[Barnsley Seam]] which was at a depth of {{convert|218|yard}}. The shafts were two of the deepest in the [[South Yorkshire Coalfield]] at that time.{{sfn|Hill|2001|p=106}} In 1908, the depths of the shafts were increased to {{convert|506|yard}} to access the [[Parkgate Seam]] which was located at {{convert|481|yard}} down.{{sfn|Hill|2001|p=107}} From 1927 onwards, the [[Swallow Wood Seam|Swallow Wood]] and [[Silkstone seam|Silkstone Seams]] were being mined and the Parkgate and Barnsley Seams were worked out. During the 1970s, Cortonwood was producing only coking coal for steel plants.{{sfn|Hill|2001|pp=107–108}} The Silkstone Seam which was first developed in 1927, was to become just a few years later, on 9 December 1932 the scene of a tragic explosion in which 4 men lost their lives immediately and 3 more died as a consequence of it later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/accidents-disasters/yorkshire/cortonwood-colliery-explosion-barnsley-1932/|title=Cortonwood Colliery Explosion - Barnsley - 1932|accessdate=1 August 2020}}</ref>
In March 1984, when the price of coking coal had fallen dramatically,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Winterton|first1=Jonathan|last2=Winterton|first2=Ruth|title=Coal, crisis, and conflict : the 1984–85 miners' strike in Yorkshire|date=1989|publisher=Manchester University Press|location=Manchester|isbn=0-7190-2548-6|pages=66–67|edition=1}}</ref> the [[National Coal Board]] announced that the mine was due to close, due to the large stocks of coking coal that the colliery produced.<ref name=":NMS:">{{cite web|title=Cortonwood Colliery – Northern Mine Research Society|url=http://www.nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/coal-mining-in-the-british-isles/yorkshire-coalfield/barnsley/cortonwood/|website=Northern Mine Research Society|accessdate=8 May 2017}}</ref> The proposed closure of Cortonwood became the "final straw" in a series of closures which brought about the long-running [[UK miners' strike (1984–1985)]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Shannon|first1=Paul|title=Rail freight since 1968 : coal|date=2006|publisher=Silver Link|location=Great Addington, Kettering|isbn=1-85794-263-9|page=10}}</ref> The colliery officially closed on 25 October 1985 with full clearance of the stocks and buildings by the end of 1986.<ref name=":NMS:" />
The site has now been converted into a shopping and leisure area. It features big names such as [[B&Q]],<ref>{{cite news|title=New jobs at Cortonwood|url=http://www.southyorkshiretimes.co.uk/news/new-jobs-at-cortonwood-1-608260|accessdate=8 May 2017|work=South Yorkshire Times|date=8 January 2003|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709054246/http://www.southyorkshiretimes.co.uk/news/new-jobs-at-cortonwood-1-608260|archive-date=9 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Matalan]], [[Next (clothing)|Next]], [[Boots Group|Boots]], [[Morrisons]], [[McDonald's]], [[Argos (retailer)|Argos]], [[Pizza Hut]], [[Asda]] Living, [[Sports Direct]], SCS, [[Halfords]], [[Smyths]] Toys, [[Pets at Home]], [[TK Maxx]] and many factories and office buildings. Cortonwood now falls within the Hoober ward of Rotherham Metropolitan Council.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Online Planning – Full Details|url=http://planning.rotherham.gov.uk/fastweblive/fulldetail.asp?AltRef=RB2017/0476&Scroll=5&Nothing=4&Nothing=3&Nothing=2&Nothing=1&Nothing=2&zzAltRef=RB2017/0097|website=planning.rotherham.gov.uk|accessdate=8 May 2017}}</ref> It is accessed via the [[Dearne Valley]] Parkway ([[A6195 road]]).<ref>{{cite map|title =Sheffield & Barnsley|map =278 |date =2015|scale =1:25,000 |series =Explorer |publisher =Ordnance Survey|isbn =9780319244753}}</ref>
Work to extend the park began in May 2016. The expansion was expected to see the arrival of retailers such as [[River Island]], [[H&M]], [[New Look (company)|New Look]], [[Outfit (store)|Outfit]], [[Poundland]], [[JD Sports]], [[M&S]], [[Wilko]] and [[Frankie and Benny's]] and create up to 300 jobs for the local area.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ten national firms sign up to £36m Rotherham shopping park|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/business/ten-national-firms-sign-up-to-36m-rotherham-shopping-park-1-7915549|accessdate=8 May 2017|work=Sheffield Star|date=17 May 2016|language=en}}</ref>
== Heritage railway future == The [[Elsecar Heritage Railway]] were planning to extend to a proposed new railway station at Cortonwood in the future as finances allow<ref>{{cite news|title=Elsecar coalfield heritage railway poised to expand|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-22218677|accessdate=8 May 2017|work=BBC News|date=19 April 2013}}</ref> with certification from local councils and the Office of Road and Rail granting level crossing approved status being confirmed in February 2017. As of a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, plans were apruptly disrupted leaving the railway line unfinished of its plans. <ref>{{cite web|title=Extension to Cortonwood achieves major milestone|url=https://www.elsecarrailway.co.uk/index.php/blog/143-extension-to-cortonwood-achieves-major-milestone|website=www.elsecarrailway.co.uk|accessdate=8 May 2017|language=en-gb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828011056/https://www.elsecarrailway.co.uk/index.php/blog/143-extension-to-cortonwood-achieves-major-milestone|archive-date=28 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Sport== Cortonwood F. C. represented the village in the [[FA Cup]] during the 1930s.
==References== {{reflist}}
===Bibliography=== *{{cite book|last=Hill|first=Alan|title=The South Yorkshire Coalfield; a History and Development|year=2001|publisher=Tempus |location=Stroud|isbn=0-7524-1747-9}}
==External links== ===The mine=== *[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3733028.stm BBC News: The decline of the miners' union] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928003102/http://www.geographyinthenews.rgs.org/news/article/?id=273 Geography in the news: What killed King Coal?]
===The retail development=== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060506215826/http://www.st-pauls.co.uk/Public/press_releases_detail.asp?idListing=71 St. Paul's Developments plc: Asda's 'Living Store' comes to Cortonwood] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312234632/http://www.brandspace.co.uk/view-mall.php?mall=129 Brandspace: Our Portfolio – Cortonwood Retail Park]
[[Category:History of South Yorkshire]] [[Category:Coal mines in Rotherham]] [[Category:Coal mines in South Yorkshire]] [[Category:Underground mines in England]]