# Maltby Main Colliery > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Maltby_Main_Colliery > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Maltby_Main_Colliery.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltby_Main_Colliery > Source revision: 1324447173 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Former coal mine in South Yorkshire, England Maltby Main Colliery in 2007 The **Maltby Main Colliery** was a coal mine located 7 miles (11 km) east of [Rotherham](/source/Rotherham) on the eastern edge of [Maltby, South Yorkshire](/source/Maltby%2C_South_Yorkshire), England. The mine was closed in 2013. ## History The first shafts at Maltby Main Colliery were sunk in 1910,[1] and the first coal produced in 1912, though not all faces were in production until 1914.[2] Situated in a wooded area on Tickhill Road the colliery was some distance from the township of Maltby and in order to gain a workforce the colliery company commissioned the building of [Maltby Model Village](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maltby_Model_Village&action=edit&redlink=1), an estate of 400 houses.[3] The colliery was opened by the Maltby Main Colliery Company, a subsidiary of the [Sheepbridge Iron and Coal Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sheepbridge_Iron_and_Coal_Company&action=edit&redlink=1).[1] Before nationalisation the owners were given as [Amalgamated Denaby Collieries Ltd](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amalgamated_Denaby_Collieries_Ltd&action=edit&redlink=1).[3] An explosion in the pit occurred 28 July 1923, resulting in 27 deaths.[4][5] A single unidentified body was recovered from the pit and buried in the local graveyard as *The Unknown Miner*.[6] The two shafts were deepened in the ten years from 1951 and this allowed horizontal access to the [Barnsley seam](/source/Barnsley_seam). This also gave access to a new [Swallow Wood seam](/source/Swallow_Wood_seam). By 1969 the Barnsley seam was considered exhausted and production went over to Swallow Wood. In 1981 a major project commenced to mine the [Parkgate seam](/source/Parkgate_seam). Costing £18 million the first coal was brought to the surface just one year later. The colliery was mass picketed during the [1984–1985 miners' strike](/source/1984%E2%80%931985_miners'_strike) during attempts by contractors to carry out building work at the pit.[7] The colliery was bought by [RJB Mining](/source/RJB_Mining), later renamed [UK Coal](/source/UK_Coal), in 1994. [Silverwood Colliery](/source/Silverwood_Colliery), the adjacent mine, closed in 1994 but had good reserves which could be worked from Maltby. Uncertainties with contracts, notably with the electricity generators, production was stopped in 1997. The pit recommenced operations and coal was gained from both the Parkgate seam, which is estimated to be exhausted by 2014, and the [Silkstone seam](/source/Silkstone_seam), which will extend the life of the pit beyond that date. In 2007 Maltby Colliery was sold by UK Coal to [Hargreaves Services plc](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hargreaves_Services_plc&action=edit&redlink=1) for £21.5 million, resulting in the continued employment of 500 people.[8] By the end of 1989, access to the reserves was gained by two shafts; No.2, 3,228 feet (984 m) deep and No.3, 3,251 feet (991 m) deep, with the capability of winding up to 1,500 tonnes of mineral an hour to the surface.[2] In May 2012 unusual and dangerous geological conditions (oil, water and gas ingress) were discovered in workings of the T125 block that was to be exploited in 2013, resulting in abandonment of the tailgate for that block (see [Longwall mining](/source/Longwall_mining)), and was expected to cause a gap in production of 1.5 to 3 months.[9] In late 2012 the 540 employees were given redundancies notices, and the pit owner announced it was to mothball the colliery due to dangerous underground conditions.[10] In December 2012 Hargeaves announced that the colliery was to close due to the geological problems.[11] The mine was closed in 2013,[12] and the above ground structures demolished in 2014.[13] ## See also - [List of Yorkshire Pits](/source/List_of_collieries_in_Yorkshire_1984-present_with_dates_of_closure) - [South Yorkshire Joint Railway](/source/South_Yorkshire_Joint_Railway), rail connection for the colliery ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hcb_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hcb_1-1) Baylies, Carolyn (1993), "10. The Yorkshire Coalfield after 1900 – opening up of the Doncaster Area", [*The History of the Yorkshire Miners, 1881–1918*](https://books.google.com/books?id=WEIOAAAAQAAJ), Routledge, Table 10.3 "Pits sunk near to or on the concealed coalfield", p.278, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-415-09359-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-415-09359-7) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NMRS_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NMRS_2-1) ["Maltby Colliery - Northern Mine Research Society"](https://www.nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/coal-mining-in-the-british-isles/yorkshire-coalfield/sheffield/maltby-colliery/). *nmrs.org.uk*. Retrieved 13 August 2018. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-YP_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-YP_3-1) Tuffrey, Peter (26 June 2018). "The Main Story". *The Yorkshire Post*. Picture Past. p. 10. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0963-1496](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0963-1496). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Maltby Pit Disaster of 1923"](http://www.rotherhamweb.co.uk/maltby/index.htm), *www.rotherhamweb.co.uk*, retrieved 28 May 2012 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["27 Miners Killed, Terrific Explosion in Maltby Colliery, England"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LPMqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PooFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1967,3313545), *The Montreal Gazette*: 1, 30 July 1923, retrieved 28 May 2012 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Seddon, Mark (11 April 2013). ["The long, slow death of the UK coal industry"](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/apr/11/slow-death-coal-industry). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 13 December 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Sources: - Pithers, Malcolm; Wintour, Patrick (22 September 1984), ["Five hurt as 6,000 picket colliery"](https://www.theguardian.com/fromthearchive/story/0,,1309332,00.html), *The Guardian*, retrieved 28 May 2012 - ["1984: Maltby picket sparks violence"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/21/newsid_2527000/2527559.stm), *On This Day 1950–2005*, BBC, retrieved 28 May 2012 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Sources: - ["Maltby pit still going strong"](http://www.dinningtontoday.co.uk/news/local-news/maltby-pit-still-going-strong-1-600650), *Worksop & Dinnington Guardian*, 9 November 2009, retrieved 28 May 2012 - ["Jobs safeguarded as coal pit sold"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/6400421.stm), *BBC News*, 27 February 2007, retrieved 28 May 2012 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Sources: - ["Incident at Maltby Decreases 2012/13 Profit Outlook"](http://online.hemscottir.com/ir/hsp/news_xml.jsp?item=1024407682197203). HARGREAVES SERVICES PLC. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2012. - ["Hargreaves warns of mining production gap"](http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/business-news/hargreaves-warns-of-mining-production-gap-1-4591411), *Yorkshire Post*, 28 May 2012, retrieved 28 May 2012 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Maltby Colliery owner plans to mothball mine"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-20237065), *BBC News*, 7 November 2012, retrieved 30 July 2014 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Owners confirm closure of Rotherham coal mine"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-20757667), *BBC News*, 17 December 2012, retrieved 30 July 2014 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [*Miners march to mark closure of Maltby Colliery*](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-22051348), BBC News, 2013, retrieved 10 April 2013 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Norcliffe, Liam (16 July 2014), ["BREAKING: Maltby Colliery has been demolished"](http://www.retfordtoday.co.uk/news/local/breaking-maltby-colliery-has-been-demolished-1-6733174), *Retford Today*, retrieved 30 July 2014 ### Sources - *Handbook of Maltby Main Colliery* - Goode, C. T., *Railways in South Yorkshire*, Dalesman Publications, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85206-307-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85206-307-5) ## External links - ["DIVISIONS : Maltby"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091017193920/http://www.hargreavesservices.co.uk/maltby.aspx), *www.hargreavesservices.co.uk*, Hargreaves Services plc, archived from [the original](http://www.hargreavesservices.co.uk/maltby.aspx) on 17 October 2009 - ["Maltby Colliery"](https://web.archive.org/web/20010616054302/http://www.minersadvice.co.uk/maltby.htm), *www.minersadvice.co.uk*, archived from the original on 16 June 2001 v t e Coal mining in Yorkshire Coal mines in North Yorkshire Selby complex2 (Gascoigne Wood, North Selby, Riccall, Stillingfleet, Whitemoor Wistow) Tan Hill Coal mines in South Yorkshire1 Aldwarke1 Askern Barnburgh Barrow Bentley Brodsworth Brookhouse Bullcroft1 Birley Cortonwood Dalton Dinnington Elsecar Fence Harry Crofts1 Hatfield Hickleton High Hazels Huskar Kilnhurst Kiveton Park Maltby Manvers Markham Main New Stubbin North Staveley Nunnery1 Orgreave Rossington Rother Vale Rotherham1 Roundwood1 Silverwood Smithies Thorne1 Thurcroft Tinsley Park Treeton Waleswood Warren House Warren Vale Wath Wharncliffe Woodmoor Yorkshire Main Coal mines in West Yorkshire Caphouse Flockton Frickley Garforth Collieries (Isabella Pit, Sisters Pit, Trench Pit) Kellingley Killingbeck Middleton Shuttle Eye Prince of Wales Upton Waterloo Main Wheldale Woolley Incidents Allerton Bywater Colliery Explosion Cadeby Main pit disaster Lofthouse Colliery disaster Lundhill Colliery explosion Oaks explosion Peckfield Colliery disaster Coalfields and seams Coal seams of the South Yorkshire Coalfield Ingleton Coalfield South Yorkshire Coalfield Industrial relations UK miners' strike (1969) UK miners' strike (1972) UK miners' strike (1984–85) Battle of Orgreave South Yorkshire Miners' Association West Yorkshire Miners' Association Yorkshire Miners' Association Other articles Geology of Yorkshire List of collieries in Yorkshire (1984–2015) Monckton Coke Works National Coal Mining Museum for England British MPs sponsored by mining unions Notes 1 Pre 1974, most coal mines in South Yorkshire were actually in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Those annotated with a number 1, were closed before 1974. 2 The Selby Coalfield straddled the border of North and West Yorkshire Authority control databases International VIAF National United States Israel [53°25′34″N 1°10′19″W / 53.426°N 1.172°W / 53.426; -1.172](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Maltby_Main_Colliery¶ms=53.426_N_1.172_W_) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Maltby Main Colliery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltby_Main_Colliery) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltby_Main_Colliery?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.