‘I don’t think Broxtowe knew they existed’: Two mine shafts rediscovered at Brinsley Headstocks site

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By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter

Work to update part of the historic Brinsley Headstocks site in Broxtowe could be delayed after two old mining shafts were rediscovered.

A ground investigation of the area last week, which partly used old maps, uncovered two previously-unknown shafts in the wider land nearby.

Little local information is available about them, and the Coal Authority’s knowledge is also limited – meaning it is unclear whether they have been ‘capped off’ – or made fully secure so the ground is stable.

The shafts were found as part of ongoing work to prepare for a full oak replacement of Brinsley Headstocks after they were dismantled in December 2023 over safety concerns.

The headstocks were part of Brinsley Colliery, off Mansfield Road near Brinsley, which opened in 1842 and closed in 1934, although shafts at the site were kept open until 1970 for access to other pits.

After full closure in 1970 it was later reclaimed as a nature and picnic area, with the preserved wooden headstocks as a focal point.

Kennith Hamilton (left) is Chair of the Friends of Brinsley Headstocks group. Group member John Eyre (right) focuses on the wildlife of the site.

As part of the new plans for the area, Broxtowe Borough Council also plans to create new ponds to benefit the local wildlife, along with the clearing of grassland for a wildflower meadow and  community orchard.

One of the mining tunnels has since been found to be lying underneath the proposed orchard area. While it is inaccessible, there are concerns it may make land above unstable.

Kennith Hamilton, Chair of Friends of Brinsley Headstocks, the voluntary community group maintaining the site, said: “We didn’t know they existed, I don’t think Broxtowe knew they existed.

“They’ve got to do further inquiries whether they’ve been filled and capped off properly- if not, that’s got to be sorted as well- so we are just waiting to hear what the engineer report comes out [with], of what they’re going to actually do.”

He added the recent discovery should not delay the rebuilding of the headstocks, but says it might slow the planting of the remembrance orchard – which will commemorate the 27 miners who died at Brinsley Colliery during its operation.

He said: “Once they’ve done the engineer report on [the headstocks area], hopefully they can get the footings in, then wait for the timber coming.

“The timber has either got to come from France or the United States, it’s got to be green oak.”

Despite the new discovery, works at the headstocks site is still expected to be completed within the next year.

The rebuilding of the famous structure is stage one of the wider project, with an extension of the site’s car park coming under phase two.

Kennith added: “Everything’s going well, we’re probably more advanced than what I thought we’d be.

“[The headstocks] is something most of the village was brought up with, the headstocks being here.

“Their kids were brought up with the headstocks being there, their grandchildren are brought up with the headstocks being here- it’s something that shouldn’t be forgotten about.”

Kennith and John at the proposed orchard patch in which one of the rediscovered shafts lies beneath.

John Eyre, Wildlife Recorder for Friends of Brinsley Headstocks believes in the importance of educating younger people on the borough’s mining heritage.

He said: “It’s a vital part of our heritage and it shouldn’t be forgotten.

“Children won’t know what coal mining was- with the restored headstock structure at least we’ll have something to reference to explain what happened.”

Keith Simpson Associates Limited have been appointed as the engineer to design the heackstock’s new foundation and structure.

Councillor Helen Skinner, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change at Broxtowe Borough Council, said: “This is fascinating and really exciting news , I don’t think it will delay anything but it gives us greater insight into our history that we have been looking at.

“We want future people to understand the heritage, not forget what people gave for them what they sacrificed.”

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