Harworth and Bircotes

Work was restarted on the shafts over the period 1920-1924 and the Top Hard/Dunzil Horizon seams were accessed. No 1 shaft is 888 metres deep with No 2 shaft 896 metres. The first coal to be produced was in 1925.

Bircotes grew at this time with men coming to work at the mine from other counties. As with most new villages, churches were built for the community. "Christ Church" was built on Whitehouse Road and dedicated in 1924. The Barber Walker Company funded the Church and also built a Church Hall and Vicarage. Around a year later a Methodist Church developed on Waterslack Road which is still prominent today.

In the later part of the 20s the UK experienced industrial problems, and Harworth and Bircotes did not escape the General Strike in 1926. Unions were established who represented men at the colliery, the Spencer Union (Nottinghamshire and District Miners Independent Union) and the Miners Federation. Still industrial relations affected the 30s and in 1936 a "Checkweighmens" strike caused a divide in the workforce. The police were brought in to protect miners who wanted to work; these men were well known as the chain gang.

Production returned to more normal levels after the strike and the workforce grew again, but some 3 years later, the Second World War resulted in manpower levels reducing. The villages were greatly affected throughout the war years but people united.

In1947 the Coal industry was Nationalisation, and the colliery entered a new era in its life under public ownership. Most coal was obtained by pick and shovel, and miners were often at risk. After the war years and in particular the 50s and 60s, industrially there was a continuing trend towards mechanisation and modernisation to improve safety and reduce the price of coal. Gone were the pick and shovels and in came the heavy Coal Cutting Machinery. next page previous page

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