# Upton Colliery

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Former coal mine in West Yorkshire, England

Upton Colliery A memorial plaque to miners of Upton Colliery Upton Colliery Location within West Yorkshire Location Location Upton County West Yorkshire Country England Coordinates 53°36′50″N 1°16′23″W / 53.614°N 1.273°W / 53.614; -1.273 Production Products Coal History Opened 1924 Closed 1964 Owner Company Upton Colliery Company Dorman Long National Coal Board

**Upton Colliery** was a coal mine near to the village of [Upton](/source/Upton%2C_West_Yorkshire) in the [West Riding of Yorkshire](/source/West_Riding_of_Yorkshire), England. The site was 8.5 miles (13.7 km) north west of [Doncaster](/source/Doncaster) and 10 miles (16 km) north east of [Barnsley](/source/Barnsley).[1] Coal was transhipped from the colliery by the former [Hull and Barnsley Railway](/source/Hull_and_Barnsley_Railway) line.

The colliery had a short life of only 40 years. Geological faulting and a serious explosion in 1964 led to its closure.

## History

Work on the site started in 1924, but preliminary works at the site meant that coal was not raised until 1927. Two shafts were dug throughout 1925 and 1926 to a depth of between 260 yards (240 m) and 300 yards (270 m).[2] By 1927, the seams were located at a depth of 711 yards (650 m), with the coal seam itself extending for 94 feet (29 m).[3] Upton mined mainly from the [Barnsley Seam](/source/Barnsley_Seam), but also had workings in the [Beamshaw](/source/Beamshaw_Seams) and [Winter](/source/Winter_Seam) seams.[4][5] Coal was taken out of the site via the former Hull and Barnsley railway line (which was being run by the [London and North Eastern Railway](/source/London_and_North_Eastern_Railway) by the time of the colliery's operation).[6][7][8]

In 1952, the [National Coal Board](/source/National_Coal_Board) opened the new £115,000 pit-head baths at the site. The NCB also spent a further £500,000 at Upton in an effort to get the saleable coal output to rise from 24 short hundredweight (2,400 lb; 1,100 kg) per shift to 27 short hundredweight (2,700 lb; 1,200 kg).[9]

The colliery was run by the Upton Colliery Company ([Bolckow Vaughan & Co](/source/Bolckow%2C_Vaughan). Ltd and the Cortonwood Co. Ltd) between 1924 and 1939, by [Dorman Long](/source/Dorman_Long) between 1939 and 1947, and under the National Coal Board from 1947 to 1964.[5]

The colliery coal tips were cleared in the early 1970s, and the surface area of the coal mine site is now the Upton Country Park.[10][11][12] The site now has a pond, a memorial garden and a pit winding wheel sunk into the ground.[13][14]

## Incidents

- 4 June 1940 - an explosion in the Barnsley Seam at the mine killed two men outright, and injured eight others, with one dying in hospital the same night. The other seven casualties all died from extreme burns.[15]

- 20 May 1964 - an explosion in the Barnsley Seam led to an evacuation of the colliery. The area was sealed off which rendered the mine unworkable. Coupled with the bad geology in the seams, the site was closed in November of the same year.[5]

## Notable colliers

[Charlie Williams](/source/Charlie_Williams_(comedian)) worked in the mine during his youth and played for their own team, [Upton Colliery F.C.](/source/Upton_Colliery_F.C.)[16] He was scouted by [Doncaster Rovers](/source/Doncaster_Rovers), and post football, was recognised as one of the first black comedians in the United Kingdom.[17][18]

[George Ashall](/source/George_Ashall) played for Upton F.C. and was a coal-miner before his footballing career.[19]

[Joe Shaw](/source/Joe_Shaw_(footballer%2C_born_1928)) worked briefly as a coalminer at Upton and played for Upton Colliery F.C., before moving on to playing football full time with [Sheffield United](/source/Sheffield_United).[20]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Durham Mining Museum - Upton Colliery"](http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/u011.htm). *www.dmm.org.uk*. Retrieved 27 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** "News". *The Science and Art of Mining*. 4 August 1926. p. 26. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [2450431](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/2450431).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "News and Notes". *The Science and Art of Mining*. 2 July 1927. p. 389. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [2450431](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/2450431).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "Colliery Explosion Six Miners Lose Lives". *Derby Evening Telegraph*. 5 June 1940. p. 1. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [17645774](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/17645774).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NMRS_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NMRS_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NMRS_5-2) ["Upton Colliery"](https://www.nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/coal-mining-in-the-british-isles/yorkshire-coalfield/doncaster/upton/). *nmrs.og.uk*. Retrieved 27 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["LNER Encyclopedia: The Hull and Barnsley Railway: Trivia"](https://www.lner.info/co/HBR/trivia.php). *www.lner.info*. Retrieved 30 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Wrangbrook Cutting, Upton"](https://www.wyorksgeologytrust.org/lgssheets/wakefield/Wrangbrook%20Cutting,%20Upton.pdf) (PDF). *wyorksgeologytrust.org*. Retrieved 30 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-YP_8-0)** Newton, Grace (23 June 2020). "Heritage line plans to resurrect station". *The Yorkshire Post*. p. 6. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0963-1496](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0963-1496).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** "Pithead baths for all in North-East by 1954". *The Yorkshire Post*. 13 October 1952. p. 3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Colliery Company Schemes (Hansard, 17 June 1925)"](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1925/jun/17/colliery-company-schemes). *api.parliament.uk*. Retrieved 27 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Upton Colliery"](https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/upton-colliery/). *woodlandtrust.org.uk*. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Upton Country Park LNR"](https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1453002&SiteName=&countyCode=47&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=). *designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk*. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Map 35, Upton; circular walk on the site of Upton Colliery"](https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/shortwalks/35-map-upton-circular-walk-on-the-site-of-upton-colliery.pdf) (PDF). *wakefield.gov.uk*. Retrieved 27 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Wakefield Metropolitan District Council"](https://mapping.wakefield.gov.uk/UDP/text/p2_v4_04_ems.htm). *mapping.wakefield.gov.uk*. Retrieved 30 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Explosion, Upton Colliery (Hansard, 5 June 1940)"](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1940/jun/05/explosion-upton-colliery). *api.parliament.uk*. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Leigh, Spencer (4 September 2006). ["Charlie Williams"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/charlie-williams-6231808.html). *The Independent*. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Comic Charlie Williams dies at 78"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5309634.stm). *BBC News*. 3 September 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Charlie Williams"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1527951/Charlie-Williams.html). *The Daily Telegraph*. 3 September 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["England Uncapped Players - George Ashall"](http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersA/BioAshallGH.html). *www.englandfootballonline.com*. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Ponting, Ivan (4 December 2007). "Joe Shaw- Obituaries Sheffield United stalwart". *The Independent*. p. 32. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0951-9467](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0951-9467).

## External links

- [Aerial image of the site from 1928](https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw020758)

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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Upton Colliery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upton_Colliery) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upton_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.