Babbington Colliery

Babbington Colliery
Babbington Colliery is located in Nottinghamshire
Babbington Colliery
Babbington Colliery
Location in Nottinghamshire
Location
ProductsCoal
Opened1841
Closed1986

Babbington colliery, which was adjacent to Cinderhill Colliery, was a coal mine in Cinderhill, Nottinghamshire, England. The mine opened in 1841, and was the first large-scale coal mine in the county. It took its name from its original owner, the Babbington Coal Company, founded in 1839 to work shallow mines near Babbington, a hamlet some 2.5 miles (4.0 km) to the west of the later colliery. Babbington Colliery had a long life.

By 1982 Babbington was the oldest working colliery, with an expected remaining life of nine years, and the worst financial loss-maker in the Nottinghamshire coalfield. In the year 1981-82, the colliery recorded a loss of £20.6 million, greater than all the rest of the Nottinghamshire coalfield. The National Coal Board had proposed in 1981 to link up Babbington with Hucknall Colliery to form a Hucknall-Babbington Complex.: 38  Owing to its proximity to Junction 26 of the M1 motorway, during 1984–1985 United Kingdom miners' strike, Babbington Colliery was one of the Nottinghamshire collieries the hardest hit by picketing. Early on a Babbington National Union of Mineworkers spokesman said, "...this picketing is likely to put the men against a strike.": 68  The police attempted to protect working miners from aggressive picketing, notably in April and July 1984. After its formation, the Hucknall-Babbington complex closed in September 1986.: 224 

The site is now the location of a business park, and the Phoenix Park tram terminus of the Nottingham Express Transit. It lies within the current boundaries of the City of Nottingham. The Phoenix Park branch of the Nottingham Express Transit uses the route of the Cinderhill Colliery Railway that linked the colliery to the wider railway network.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Thoresby Colliery to close in July with loss of 600 jobs". Nottingham Post. 16 May 2015. Archived from the original on 13 October 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Pioneer owner North died at 57 in poverty". Nottingham Post. 21 August 2010. Archived from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Amos, David (2012) [December 2011]. "The Nottinghamshire miners', the Union of Democratic Mineworkers and the 1984–85 miners strike: scabs or scapegoats?" (PhD dissertation). University of Nottingham. pp. 248–250, 291, 293, 349–363. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "On this day, 9 April – 1984: Dozens arrested in picket line violence". BBC News. 9 April 1984. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Morley, Mike (25 July 1984). Central News East: 25.07.1984: Picket Line Violence (Betacam SP). MACE Archive. Media Archive for Central England: Central Television. work43117. Retrieved 28 August 2026.