Clipstone Colliery Nottinghamshire: UK April 2017

All that remains of Clipstone Colliery are the headstocks and the powerhouse. They are grade ii listed due to significant historic interest. Construction was paused during WWi and it was finally operational in 1922.

One of the most productive collieries in the UK by the 1940's it was producing 4000 tons of coal a day. In the early 1950's it was discovered there was more coal under a deeper seam. A total upgrade was needed to access these rich reserves. Two headstocks (the tallest in Europe at the time) linked by a central powerhouse were built to the designs of architects Young and Purves of Manchester. The headstocks were constructed by Head Wrightson Colliery Engineering of Thornaby-on-Tees and Sheffield, whilst the winding engines based on the Koepe system were manufactured by Markham and Company in Chesterfield.

The colliery finally closed in 2003 sadly it has been heavily vandalised and raided by looters for items of value. Due to lack of maintenance to the site it is not the most solid structure and there have been requests for demolition.

However there is hope for the site as a form of activity centre the £25 million project requested funding around the time of my visit. So there is still hope for the site, but only time will tell.

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