A Bridge too Far: Travellers on the A639 to Leeds cannot have missed the metal track laid parallel to the railway line at ground level (Feb 2009). It would appear that Railtrack, or is … Continue Reading →
Opencast Mining Moss Carr Extension
1st February, 2001 So, the application to mine opencast coal on the 77 acre site at Boat Lane has been rejected by Leeds City Council, the application, which was to … Continue Reading →
Former Opencast Workings St Aidans
RSPB Nature Reserve – like a phoenix from the ashes of the opencast mine the now restored site will be officially open from 9.30am on Saturday 25th May. It looks … Continue Reading →
Whitwood Colliery – Tragic Accident
Mary Alnie Kaye When John Sigsworth contacted me making enquiries about St Phillip’s church at Whitwood and then went on to ask about the young woman who was the victim … Continue Reading →
Foxholes Colliery
Foxholes Pit Explosion The following appeared in the Wakefield Express dated August 26th 1877. ‘Great excitement prevailed in the Methley district on Wednesday morning when it became known that about … Continue Reading →
1911 Census
Census of England and Wales 1911 (Methley) The census was carried out for all persons present in the identified dwellings of Methley over the period Sunday night 2nd April, 1911 … Continue Reading →
Evictions 1863
A printed poster on view at the National Mining Museum at Caphouse Colliery describes the dreadful state of industrial relations in and around Methley at this time. This was a … Continue Reading →
Methley Junction Explosion 1875
On Thursday, December 9th 1875 an explosion occurred in the mine workings belonging to Messrs. Henry Briggs, Son & Co. killing 5 men and 1 boy. (A brief report of … Continue Reading →
Methley Junction Colliery
Benjamin Burnley commenced sinking the shafts in 1845 and the pit started to produce coal in 1851. In the early 1900’s severe flooding problems were experienced and as a result … Continue Reading →
Coal Mining Memorial
A crowd in excess of 250 people turned out to witness the dedication ceremony of a scuptured memorial to coal mining in the village of Methley. It was Saturday 24th … Continue Reading →
Shaft Incident 1929
Extraordinary Mining Accident Pontefract & Castleford Express 29th November 1929 Funeral of Mr A Parker Remarkable public sympathy was manifested at the funeral on Sunday of Mr Alfred Parker of … Continue Reading →