Tribute To The Proud Coal Miners Of Snibston Colliery.

Subscribe to my you tube channel for 220+ more coal mine tributes and counting.The colliery was commenced in 1832. Two shafts were sunk, 9 yards apart. The downcast shaft was 8 feet diameter and the upcast 10 feet diameter. At the top of the shafts 52 yards of Triassic was passed through, this formation lying unconformably on top of the Coal Measures. Unlike Snibston No.1 Colliery, no igneous rock was encountered. Total depth sunk was 309 yards and boring was continued for a further 46 yards and 2 feet. The shafts were lined with 9 inch red brickwork for the first 14 yards, cast-iron tubbing for 90 yards followed by 9 inch red brickwork for the remaining 205 yards to the bottom of the shafts at 309 yards.Water feeders into the shafts from the Triassic were quite low and during sinking were adequately dealt with by winding the water in barrels.though the two Stephensons, father and son, were very closely involved with Snibston No.2 Colliery, the extensive research by Dr. Colin Owen had indicated a strong possibility that the colliery was commenced by a landowner named Fosbrooke of Ravenstone Hall and Snibston Grange. Fosbrooke died in 1830 and Dr. Owen’s research has revealed that his estate, which was advertised for sale in 1831, contained a partially completed colliery. The colliery was described as having an 80 horse power Boulton & Watt engine, three boilers, a whimsey and a range of colliery equipment. A figure of 80 horse power for the engine seems high for the time and could be an error on the part of the selling agent.To finance the purchase of the Snibston Grange estate, George Stephenson entered into partnership with two Liverpool merchants to form the Snibston Colliery Company, and the purchase was made in 1832. Whilst this date is generally regarded as the commencement of Snibston No.2 Colliery, the Stephensons may well have had a flying start by utilising an already partially completed colliery.Snibston No.2 Colliery was located about half a mile to the west of Snibston No.1 Colliery and was the longest lived of all three of the Snibston collieries. Although there were some hiccups in the 1870’s and 1880’s, the colliery was in use until 1983. The problems arising in the 1880’s were largely to do with drainage due to the waterlogged old workings in the exposed part of the coalfield in the Swannington area.A description of the Snibston collieries appeared in an 1892 issue of the Colliery Guardian. By this time the collieries were in the ownership of the South Leicestershire Colliery Co. Ltd. Although the writer of the article was very circumspect it may be inferred that the collieries were old fashioned, even by the standards of the time. At this time Snibston No.2 Colliery was the only one in production, No.1 Colliery already being closed whilst No.3 was in the process of being re-opened. Winding - A tandem headgear was erected over the two shafts, arranged to wind one cage in each shaft. The cages had two decks, each deck carrying two tubs. At the downcast shaft, the tubs were of 5 cwt. capacity, these being used in the north side of the mine where the coal seam was thin. The upcast shaft served the south side of the mine where the coal seam was thicker and the tubs here were of 10 cwt. capacity.Winding ropes were of plough steel and were 4¾ inches circumference. The cage conductors were of pitch pine, 6in. by 4in. section, two being provided for each cage. The headgear and associated framing were of pitch pine. In 1892 an average of 480 tons of coal were being wound in the course of an 8½ hour shift.Pumping - The make of water into the mine was minimal, most of it being seepage into the shafts. This water was raised by the winding engine in two hours during the night according to the Colliery Guardian report.In the shafts a seam of coal was present above the Roaster, with about 4 yards of intervening strata between them. To the south this intervening strata thinned until the two coals joined to form a single seam 5ft. 8in. thick. Large tubs of 10cwt. capacity were used in this section of the mine.
All workings, North and South were on the longwall face system. Naked lights were used throughout the workings, although a safety lamp was kept burning at each working place as a precautionary measure.Underground Haulage - Apart from a 600 yard self-acting incline in the North workings, all haulage was by pony and horses, about 50 being employed. At this time (1892) the installation of engine powered endless rope haul ages on the main levels was being considered.
Coal Preparation - In the late nineteenth century, coal preparation for the market at the colliery was rudimentary. Large coal was picked straight off the tubs by hand and deposited in railway wagons. The tubs and what coal remained in them, were then raised oh a creeper incline and tipped on to fixed bar screens for grading into cobbles and nuts, the “slack” falling through the screen. House and steam coal were sorted separately.

[@andrewh5457]

Went down snibby pit on a school trip in 1974 , and had my medical there in 75 before starting at Bagworth.

[@wardog_5972]

Hey mate, do you happen to have a list of source materials for this vid? Specifically looking for the footage starting from 2:20