Langwith Colliery Remembered.

Subscribe to my youtube channel for 300+ coal mine tributes and counting. Langwith Colliery was a coal mine in Derbyshire, operated by the Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Co., that was sunk between 1876 and 1880 and closed in August 1978. It was a significant industrial site, and its development led to the creation of a purpose-built village with 152 cottages and amenities like a recreation ground, welfare institute, and a Co-Operative Store. During World War I, a secret munitions factory was built nearby, relying on the colliery's byproduct plant for chemicals. History and development Leasing and sinking: In 1873, the land was leased from the Earl of Bathurst, and sinking began in 1876. Coal was reached by 1880. Village development: A village was built for the miners with 152 houses, a sports and recreation ground, and a welfare institute built in 1901. Community facilities: In 1884, land for allotments was leased from the Duke of Portland. By 1912, the site also included a Co-Operative Store and cinema. Nationalisation: The colliery was nationalized in 1947. By-product plant: A plant was established in 1908 to process the coal "slack" into chemicals, ammonia, and tar, a facility that would later become crucial for the WWI munitions factory. World War I: A secret munitions factory was built near the colliery to produce chemicals for sea mines, using gas from the byproduct plant. The factory drew in workers from a wide area, sometimes causing disputes with the local industries that already existed. Closure: Langwith was the last pit owned by the Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Co. to close, shutting down in August 1978 after 99 years of operation. Key features Name origin: The pit got its name from the nearby Langwith station on the Midland Railway, according to Healey Hero. Facilities: The colliery had pithead baths, a pumping station, and railway sidings. Power generation: By 1947, the colliery was generating enough electricity to supply parts of the connected village.