Bentley colliery opened in 1908 and closed in 1993. Over the 85 years it was producing coal, there were many landmark moments; from its accolade as being one of the most modern pits in the country, Royal visits and output records, to devastating disasters, floods and strikes. The collapse of the coal industry in the early 1990's led to the demolition of Bentley pit in 1994.
This page is dedicated to photos of Bentley Colliery, and is arranged in chronological order to reflect the history and events of the colliery's history.
Contents
- Early Construction
- Later Construction
- Interior
- The 1920's
- The 1930's
- The Pit Disaster Of 1931
- The Funeral
- The Floods Of 1932
- Visit Of King George IV And The Queen
- February 1944
- Random Pit Photos
- 1960's To 1990's
- 1978 Pit Disaster
- The Miner's Strike
- Post-Strike To Closure
- Demolition
- Bentley Colliery Silver Prize Band
Early Construction
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Early construction 1905, note the name 'Arksey Colliery',
which was the original idea for the name. |
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| 1905 |
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| 1907/08 |
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| Construction of surface buildings 1908 |
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| Union Jack flag flying to show that coal had been reached, 1908 |
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| 1908 |
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| Construction workers 1908 |
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| 1908 |
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| 1909 |
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| 1909 |
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| 1909 |
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| 1909 |
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As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight |
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| Bentley pit top engine 1909 |
Later Construction
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| Charles Senior Smith, joiner, with a model of the headgear and heapstead. Photo courtesy of Elaine Spencer |
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| Construction of the Heapstead in 1910 |
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Construction of the Heapstead has moved on and now includes
headgear No 2, 1910 |
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Constructing headgear in 1910.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning |
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| 1910 |
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| 1910 |
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| 1911 and the construction of the No 1 headgear |
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| 1911. Photo courtesy of Jill Lowe |
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About 1911.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning |
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About 1911.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning |
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| 1911 |
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As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight |
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| 1914 |
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| Colliery offices post 1911 |
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| Coal wagons |
Interior
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| Boiler room |
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| Instrument room |
The 1920's
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| Lamp cabin, early 1920's |
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| Colliery soup kitchen, General Strike 1926 |
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| The pit surrounded by flood waters in 1932 |
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| Boating by the pit in 1932 |
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| Top of The Avenue and pit gates 1932 |
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| Miners returning to work after the floods |
Visit Of King George IV And The Queen
February 1944
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| At the pit gates |
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As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight |
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| At the lamp room steps |
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As above.
Photo courtesy of Tony Smith |
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Walking across the pit grounds.
Photo courtesy of Tony Smith |
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As above.
Photo courtesy of Tony smith |
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Walking up a ramp.
Photo courtesy of Tony Smith |
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| At the pit offices |
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As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight |
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At the pit offices.
Photo courtesy of Tony Smith |
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The Royal car leaving the pit offices.
Photo courtesy of Tony Smith |
Random Pit Photos
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| Pit workers, 1935 |
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View of the pit from back yards on The Avenue.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty |
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As above.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty |
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| Coal wagons |
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| Colliery entrance from The Avenue |
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| Filling water bottles in the 1930's |
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| Exiting the lamp cabin |
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| Medical room in the 1930's |
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Beautiful coloured postcard of the pit c1930.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning |
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| Pit cottages on The Avenue |
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As above.
Coloured version by Tony Sleight |
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| Pit Gates |
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| Underground |
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| Underground |
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Pit top engine.
Photo courtesy of Pete Dumville |
1960's To 1990's
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Colliery men in 1968.
Photo courtesy of Eric Peacock |
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| Underground, 1973 |
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| 1976 |
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| Colliery canary |
1978 Pit Disaster
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| Ambulance leaving the pit after attending the disaster |
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| The crashed paddy train |
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Early 1980's from the slag heaps.
Photo taken by Alison Vainlo |
The Miner's Strike
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| Soup kitchen for miners at Bentley Pavilion, miner's strike 1984 |
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| Miner's strike 1984/85 |
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| Children 'coal picking' during the miner's strike |
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| Miners returning to work after the strike, 1985 |
Post-Strike To Closure
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| Landmark celebrations in 1989 |
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| Cutting coal in 1991 |
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| Underground in 1992 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1993 |
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| Lamp room, 1993 |
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| Lamp Room, 1990's |
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Pit entrance, 1990's.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning |
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Pit offices, 1990's.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning |
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| 1993 |
Demolition
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| Demolition, 1994 |
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1994.
Photo courtesy of Tom Booth |
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| Post-demolition, 1994 |
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| 1994 |
Bentley Colliery Silver Prize Band
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| 1958 |
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In the Market Place, Doncaster, early 1960's.
Photo courtesy of Eric Peacock |
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1960's.
Photo courtesy of Eric Peacock |
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| Colliery Band on Victoria Road |
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Colliery Band in Bentley Park, around 1930.
Photo courtesy of Elaine Smith |
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