{{Short description|Former coal mine in South Yorkshire, England}} {{Use British English|date=June 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} [[File:Maltby colliery.jpg|thumb|right|Maltby Main Colliery in 2007]] The '''Maltby Main Colliery''' was a coal mine located {{convert|7|mi|km}} east of [[Rotherham]] on the eastern edge of [[Maltby, South Yorkshire]], England. The mine was closed in 2013.
==History== The first shafts at Maltby Main Colliery were sunk in 1910,<ref name="hcb">{{citation|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=WEIOAAAAQAAJ| title =The History of the Yorkshire Miners, 1881–1918| first = Carolyn |last=Baylies| publisher = Routledge| year = 1993 |isbn = 0-415-09359-7| chapter = 10. The Yorkshire Coalfield after 1900 – opening up of the Doncaster Area|at = Table 10.3 "Pits sunk near to or on the concealed coalfield", p.278 }}</ref> and the first coal produced in 1912, though not all faces were in production until 1914.<ref name="NMRS">{{cite web |title=Maltby Colliery - Northern Mine Research Society |url=https://www.nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/coal-mining-in-the-british-isles/yorkshire-coalfield/sheffield/maltby-colliery/ |website=nmrs.org.uk |accessdate=13 August 2018}}</ref> 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]], an estate of 400 houses.<ref name="YP">{{cite news |last1=Tuffrey |first1=Peter |title=The Main Story |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=26 June 2018 |location=Picture Past |page=10|issn=0963-1496}}</ref> The colliery was opened by the Maltby Main Colliery Company, a subsidiary of the [[Sheepbridge Iron and Coal Company]].<ref name="hcb"/> Before nationalisation the owners were given as [[Amalgamated Denaby Collieries Ltd]].<ref name="YP"/>
An explosion in the pit occurred 28 July 1923, resulting in 27 deaths.<ref>{{citation| url =http://www.rotherhamweb.co.uk/maltby/index.htm|title = Maltby Pit Disaster of 1923| work = www.rotherhamweb.co.uk|accessdate=28 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{citation| url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LPMqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PooFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1967,3313545| title = 27 Miners Killed, Terrific Explosion in Maltby Colliery, England| journal = The Montreal Gazette |date =30 July 1923|page =1|accessdate=28 May 2012}}</ref> A single unidentified body was recovered from the pit and buried in the local graveyard as ''The Unknown Miner''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Seddon |first1=Mark |title=The long, slow death of the UK coal industry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/apr/11/slow-death-coal-industry |accessdate=13 December 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=11 April 2013}}</ref>
The two shafts were deepened in the ten years from 1951 and this allowed horizontal access to the [[Barnsley seam]]. This also gave access to a new [[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]]. 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]] during attempts by contractors to carry out building work at the pit.<ref>Sources: *{{citation| url = https://www.theguardian.com/fromthearchive/story/0,,1309332,00.html| title = Five hurt as 6,000 picket colliery| first = Malcolm | last = Pithers | first2 = Patrick | last2 = Wintour |date = 22 September 1984| work = The Guardian |accessdate=28 May 2012}} *{{citation| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/21/newsid_2527000/2527559.stm| title = 1984: Maltby picket sparks violence| work = On This Day 1950–2005| publisher = BBC|accessdate=28 May 2012}}</ref>
The colliery was bought by [[RJB Mining]], later renamed [[UK Coal]], in 1994. [[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]], which will extend the life of the pit beyond that date.
In 2007 Maltby Colliery was sold by UK Coal to [[Hargreaves Services plc]] for £21.5 million, resulting in the continued employment of 500 people.<ref>Sources: *{{citation|url = http://www.dinningtontoday.co.uk/news/local-news/maltby-pit-still-going-strong-1-600650| title = Maltby pit still going strong| date = 9 November 2009 |work = Worksop & Dinnington Guardian|accessdate=28 May 2012}} *{{citation| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/6400421.stm| title =Jobs safeguarded as coal pit sold| date = 27 February 2007| work = BBC News|accessdate=28 May 2012}}</ref>
By the end of 1989, access to the reserves was gained by two shafts; No.2, {{convert|984|m|ft|order=flip}} deep and No.3, {{convert|991|m|ft|order=flip}} deep, with the capability of winding up to 1,500 tonnes of mineral an hour to the surface.<ref name="NMRS"/>
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]]), and was expected to cause a gap in production of 1.5 to 3 months.<ref>Sources: *{{cite web|url=http://online.hemscottir.com/ir/hsp/news_xml.jsp?item=1024407682197203 |title= Incident at Maltby Decreases 2012/13 Profit Outlook|date =28 May 2012| publisher = HARGREAVES SERVICES PLC |accessdate=28 May 2012}} *{{citation| url = http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/business-news/hargreaves-warns-of-mining-production-gap-1-4591411| title = Hargreaves warns of mining production gap|date = 28 May 2012 | work = Yorkshire Post|accessdate=28 May 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{citation| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-20237065| title = Maltby Colliery owner plans to mothball mine| date = 7 November 2012| work = BBC News|accessdate=30 July 2014}}</ref> In December 2012 Hargeaves announced that the colliery was to close due to the geological problems.<ref>{{citation| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-20757667|title =Owners confirm closure of Rotherham coal mine| date = 17 December 2012| work = BBC News|accessdate=30 July 2014}}</ref>
The mine was closed in 2013,<ref>{{citation|url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-22051348| title =Miners march to mark closure of Maltby Colliery| publisher = BBC News| year = 2013 |accessdate=10 April 2013}}</ref> and the above ground structures demolished in 2014.<ref>{{citation| title = BREAKING: Maltby Colliery has been demolished| url = http://www.retfordtoday.co.uk/news/local/breaking-maltby-colliery-has-been-demolished-1-6733174| work = Retford Today |first = Liam| last = Norcliffe| date =16 July 2014|accessdate=30 July 2014}}</ref>
==See also== *[[List of collieries in Yorkshire 1984-present with dates of closure|List of Yorkshire Pits]] *[[South Yorkshire Joint Railway]], rail connection for the colliery
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
===Sources=== *{{citation|title=Handbook of Maltby Main Colliery}} *{{citation|title = Railways in South Yorkshire| first = C. T. |last=Goode|publisher= Dalesman Publications|isbn= 0-85206-307-5}}
==External links== *{{citation| url =http://www.hargreavesservices.co.uk/maltby.aspx| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20091017193920/http://www.hargreavesservices.co.uk/maltby.aspx| archivedate =17 October 2009| work = www.hargreavesservices.co.uk|publisher = Hargreaves Services plc| title = DIVISIONS : Maltby}} *{{citation|url = http://www.minersadvice.co.uk/maltby.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010616054302/http://www.minersadvice.co.uk/maltby.htm |url-status = usurped |archive-date = 16 June 2001 | work = www.minersadvice.co.uk| title = Maltby Colliery}}
{{Coal mining in Yorkshire}} {{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Coal mines in Rotherham]] [[Category:Coal mines in South Yorkshire]] [[Category:Underground mines in England]] [[Category:Maltby, South Yorkshire]]