1. The History
Owned by the well-known Clark family of Noblethorpe Hall, Old Sovereign Colliery was sunk at Dodworth Moor End in 1855. By then Robert Couldwell Clarke had died at the age of 46, in 1843 and the family businesses had passed to his widow Sarah Ann who ran things with her brother James Farrer before handing control of business affairs to her son, Robert Couldwell Clarke Jr. He took little interest leaving business matters to his uncle James who was probably responsible for sinking New Sovereign Colliery between 1861 and 1866. The family interests were later managed by G.H.Teasdale. The later history of the pits is not well recorded, but they were disused by 1906, although New Sovereign was later used as a pumping shaft by the National Coal Board.
Today, substantial remains can be found on both sides of Dove Valley trail consisting of a stone heapstead, drift, fan drift and engine house bases.
2. The Explore
A relaxed explore on a showery March Sunday. Very easy access and some decent light. Nothing spectacular by any means but do love remnants of the old coal mining industry.
3. The Pictures
New Sovereign 04 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Looking out:
Looking up:
And on the top:
This looks like an old platform:
Down the road is Hemmingfield colliery, but sadly this was a fail:
Owned by the well-known Clark family of Noblethorpe Hall, Old Sovereign Colliery was sunk at Dodworth Moor End in 1855. By then Robert Couldwell Clarke had died at the age of 46, in 1843 and the family businesses had passed to his widow Sarah Ann who ran things with her brother James Farrer before handing control of business affairs to her son, Robert Couldwell Clarke Jr. He took little interest leaving business matters to his uncle James who was probably responsible for sinking New Sovereign Colliery between 1861 and 1866. The family interests were later managed by G.H.Teasdale. The later history of the pits is not well recorded, but they were disused by 1906, although New Sovereign was later used as a pumping shaft by the National Coal Board.
Today, substantial remains can be found on both sides of Dove Valley trail consisting of a stone heapstead, drift, fan drift and engine house bases.
2. The Explore
A relaxed explore on a showery March Sunday. Very easy access and some decent light. Nothing spectacular by any means but do love remnants of the old coal mining industry.
3. The Pictures
New Sovereign 04 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Looking out:
Looking up:
And on the top:
This looks like an old platform:
Down the road is Hemmingfield colliery, but sadly this was a fail:
