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Pye Hill Colliery 1874 to 1985 (Extracts from an National Coal Board Publication) For many centuries, the Erewash Valley was worked as an 'outcrop' where coal could be lifted from the surface of the ground. The original Pye Hill colliery at Pye Hill, Jacksdale was sited in an 'exposed' section of the Nottinghamshire coalfield, which made outcropping possible. Gradually outcrops gave way to 'bell pits' which were holes dug down into the ground and hollowed out in the shape of a bell. Left: Local coal miners in the early 1900s. Some of whom originated from Westwood. Note the makeshift 'uniforms' and Davy Lamps. |
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| Pye Hill was actually the amalgamation of three individual
pits sunk by different mining companies:- (i) Pye Hill, (ii)
Selston/Underwood, and (iii) New Selston (The Bull & Butcher).
The original Pye Hill pit was sunk at Jacksdale, but was later known as Pye Hill No 2, when the nearby Selston/Underwood Colliery became known as Pye Hill No 1. The No. 1 (downcast) shaft at Pye Hill No 2 (Jacksdale) was sunk in 1874 by James Oakes & Co. The shaft known as No 2, was probably actually sunk before No 1, in 1866. |
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Above: The James Oakes & Co Rescue Team |
Selston Colliery, later to become Pye Hill No 2 around 1900 |
