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Report - - Barnsley Main Colliery - August 2014 | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Barnsley Main Colliery - August 2014

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Idle Hands

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member

Barnsley Main Colliery

As soon as I saw this pop up on the forum a couple of months back I knew I wanted to pay a visit. Having spent a fruitless day searching for mining remains in the north east a couple of months ago I'd already discovered that this kind of thing wasn't common place - much of it had seemingly been eradicated from the face of the earth - so it quickly shot to the top of my list. For a few weeks it seemed like so many people were exploring it the council may as well have put a turnstile in and made some money for its restoration. But then it went quiet.

By the time I got over that way I seriously expected it to have been sealed up again. It was the end of the day and I thought if all else failed I could get a nice silhouette of it against the golden sunset. But there it was like an oasis in the desert - an inviting entry point. I had a quick look inside but it was getting dark and I wasn't prepared for the climb that presented itself, so I took some externals and left. The day after however, armed with a torch, I was back...

Explored solo.


History

Deep mining had taken place here since Georgian times, and this site was one of the largest on the South Yorkshire coalfield, eventually merging with the Oaks Colliery. the seam was notorious for firedamp, but the high methane content of the coal made it a dangerous place to mine.

On 5 March 1847 disaster struck when an explosion killed 73 miners. An even more serious explosion on 12 December 1866 claimed the lives of a further 361, the blast being so forceful it sent the pit cage rocketing up the shaft and into the headgear. The day after, 27 rescuers were killed when a further explosion ripped through the mine. An inconclusive investigation suggested that mine workings ignited the firedamp and coal dust, leading to the successive blasts.

Originally closed in 1966 the mine was later reopened following the closure of the Barrow pit in 1985. It closed for good in 1991. Remarkably the pit head and engine house was left, finally getting Grade II listing in 2013 as a result of its historic significance.


Externals

external_zps59aa3cb2.jpg


sunset_zps164da4d4.jpg


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The day after: Inside

drop_zps6aba4260.jpg


interior_zpseaf421d9.jpg


Going up...

up_zpseca839e1.jpg


headgear-up_zpsb195f7a9.jpg


turn_zps4d3d2c3b.jpg


Barnsley never looked so good!

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wheel-side_zpsb484b3f9.jpg


down_zps74ec8066.jpg


This is one of my favourite shots of the day: The shaft, looking up. Not bad for a throwaway I took on the way back out...

shaft_zps36261186.jpg


gear_zps70cbb66f.jpg


dial_zpsb68d08ac.jpg


winding_zps2e146c26.jpg


I got so carried away with myself I didn't realise I had oil smeared across my face until I was halfway to the east coast. Which would explain all the funny looks I was getting in the nearby services...

Thanks for looking :)


 
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ACID- REFLUX

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Some nice pics you have there :thumb

It seems that nobody is in a rush to seal this "monument" up, and preserve what"s left :(

Funny your "Barnsley never looked so good" Quote........we all said the same lol
 

Rincewind

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Nice photos :D. We called past here a few days ago and they've now done a very half-arsed job of sealing it up, only my love of beer and pizza prevented us from going inside...
 

JaneEyre

The clumsiest explorer in Yorkshire!
28DL Full Member
yeah its "sealed" is very loose terms... unless your Rincewind, at which point half a stick of butter and a good shove might be needed ;)
 

ACID- REFLUX

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
yeah its "sealed" is very loose terms... unless your Rincewind, at which point half a stick of butter and a good shove might be needed ;)

Sounds more like the Godfather or Deliverance ;)

I"m sure another Transit sized opening will appear soon
 

Wakefield_josh

28DL Member
28DL Member
After reading this, I called a couple of days ago with some friends, it's been sealed up again and CCTV cameras are now present on the sides leading to the main door, a shame really
 
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