GRIFFYDAM HISTORY

Coleorton Colliery Bug and Wink

1875 - 1933

Charles Abbott Pepper

Charles Abbott Pepper was in charge of a Butty Gang at Bug & Wink employing his sons. They walked from Osgathorpe to get to work. Charles is the great grandfather of Griffydam resident John Bramley

Two Coleorton “Bug and Wink” miners

Photograph taken in Pit Lane c.1910. Tom Fairbrother is seated, and he is recorded in the 1901 Coleorton census aged 23 and living with his wife Ada in ‘Rotten Row’

Gin Stables

Taken at the “Gin-Stables” in Coleorton adjacent to Lower Moor Rd early in the 1900’s. They hired horses out to the mine operators on a shift basis. Evidence of several gin pits have been identified in this area. Sir George Beaumont kept his race-horses at the Gin-Stables

Snibston Colliery Rescue Team 1913

Frederick Barkby in the photograph was born in Coleorton and lived there all his life. At one time Fred was a carpenter and Medical Officer at Coleorton Number 3 Colliery (“Bug and Wink”),

Coleorton Bug & Wink Rescue Party

1913 William Fowkes age 33 from Moor Lane James Clifford age 44 born in Thringstone & living in Coleorton with his wife, 7 children & father-in-law Alfred Wainwright age 25 born in Belton

The Edward Medal

The Edward Medal (the miners Victoria Cross) was awarded to William Birch, by King Edward Vll at Buckingham Palace for an act of bravery in trying to save a fellow miner Charles Marshall during a roof fall at Coleorton Colliery, on Dec 16th 1910

Thomas Lord (Miner)

Killed at Coleorton Colliery in 1911 aged 32

Lount Colliery

Photograph probably taken c.1930 based on the size of the coal tip

Photograph1924

The sinking of New Lount Colliery

Photograph early 1960’s

Taken from pit yard showing head stocks, coal wagons and pit banks (spoil heaps). In the distance is the conveyor system which took the coal from all the seams to the screens

Locos at New Lount

George Stevenson on the left and Thomas Hill Diesel No. 1. on the right, with the colliery in the background

Lount Pit

Miners before shift underground

New Lount Colliery Football Team

1st Row seated LH side Mick Bradford 2nd Row Left to Right First person Les Bradford, Third person Matt Rowell Top Row Left to Right First person possibly Jack Richards, Stoney Ln, Coleorton Sixth person John Wilton

Martin Pepper

In his garden at Osgathorpe after a shift at New Lount Colliery. Martin is the uncle of Griffydam resident John Bramley

Underground At New Lount

Left to Right: M.Richards, A. Conkay, T. Ralph, A. Sykes, P. Matchett. Photograph 1965

Lount Coal Tip

Coal tip shown in distance in 1947 from Stoney Lane, Coleorton. They were known as Sabrina Pass for obvious reasons

New Lount Spoil Heaps

1962 Taken from a garden on Top Road, Griffydam

New Lount Colliery Wagon

The photograph is of a private owner’s 8 Ton wagon built early in 1894 by E.Eastwood. Note the underlined lettering on the side door of the wagon which reads “Empty to New Lount Colliery”. Presumably the wagon had been purchased by the “Leicestershire Colliery and Pipe Company” and transferred to New Lount Colliery after this was opened

Lount Pay Check

Lount Pit Head Baths Check

New Lount was the first colliery in the Leicestershire Coalfield to have pit head baths, and these were opened on July 12th 1930 by Frank Hodges. Presumably there was a charge of 3d (three old pennies)

Lount Clay Pit

c.1915 The strata’s of clay and coal can be discerned in the above photograph opposite the area known as Lount Wood

Local miners 1926 Strike

1.George Wheatley 2.Jim Hough 3.G.Birkin 4.Hardy Curtler 5.Jim Birkin 6.? 7.? 8. Bill Hicken 9.Jack Armstrong 10.Cutch Curtis 11.? 12.? 13.“Tadsa Walker” 14.George Robinson 15.Reuben Whyman 16.Bert Stacey 17.Oliver Curtis 18.Albert Robinson 19.Percy Hicken ? 20.Bill Johnson 21.Albert Walker 22.Jack Smith 23.Jack (Mugger) Smith 24.? 25.Bill Bird 26.Bill Collier 27.Fred Johnson 28.Jack Neal 29.?Hicken 30.“Sixer” Collier 31.? 32.Teddy Wright 33.“Sailor” 34.Armstrong