People

People associated with the site and its history.

Message on a bottle

/ The Friends of Hemingfield Colliery (FoHC) / 10 Comments

In a bottle, surely?

– Not quite.

Image of whisky flask type glass bottle embossed with G Steeples, Milton Arms, Hemingfield
Flask bottle embossed with G. Steeples, Milton Arms, Hemingfield

The original contents of this particular whisky flask type glass bottle are unknown, although spirits seem more likely than the round bottles usually seen for beer. Starting with this object with a local provenance, and working with memories and records from Hemingfield families, this blog is an exploration of the changing times in the village, and a small contribution to sharing the stories of local people through to the present day, as part of The Friends of Hemingfield Colliery’s Hemingfield’s Hidden History project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It’s thanks to National Lottery players that this history and heritage work can be developed and shared with the public.

Made possible with National Lottery Heritage Fund support, thanks to National Lottery players.
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Up and Down

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Cloudy but still warm. View of the main headgear from the main gates. Saturday 15th August 2020

Cooler, but no less humid. Cloudy with no chance of downpours. But who trusts the forecasts? The Friends and volunteeers arrived for another COVID-catch-up session; safely-spaced and behind closed-gates to try and make good some of the lost weekends over the past few months that have cast such a long shadow over the country, and worldwide.

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In sickness and in health…

/ The Friends of Hemingfield Colliery (FoHC) / Leave a comment

In a pandemic world, hidden away from each other, we have time to look at history’s lessons – to research some local history on Hemingfield and its people, the history and geography of their health over time. Just as today we experience challenges to increased mortality and public health, so too our ancestors struggled as modern healthcare developed and new treatments became available. The following is a brief piece of research supporting our Hemingfield’s Hidden Histories project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Local Authority

At the end of the Nineteenth and beginning of the Twentieth Century, Hemingfield came under the local governance of Wombwell Urban District Council. The body oversaw most local services and reported on the health and welfare of the population, numbering an estimated 17,764 souls.

Detail of area from Ordnance Survey Quarter inch, Second Edition, 1914
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Well, well, well, what a curious time …

/ The Friends of Hemingfield Colliery (FoHC)

March-ing on, May-be?

Coronavirus is contracting space and dilating time, it seems. For their part, the Friends of Hemingfield Colliery continue their efforts, remotely: researching, planning and staying safe. We hope you and yours are safe and well. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to all those affected by this epidemic, all those lost to it, and all of those caring and keeping the rest of the country, if not the whole world, running as normal as possible.

But more anon: this blog has a little bit of catching up to do…

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Storm force from Hemingfield, or the Shipping Forecast.

/ The Friends of Hemingfield Colliery (FoHC)

What with Storm Ciara (pronounced keera) threatening proceedings, and suggestions of Storm Dennis barely a week away, the Friends threw caution to the – admittedly light – wind on Saturday 8th February 2020, and ventured down to site for a surprisingly storm-free open day at Hemingfield Colliery.

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Bright, shiny and new, Saturday 18th January 2020

/ The Friends of Hemingfield Colliery (FoHC) / Leave a comment
Wath Road entrance to Hemingfield Colliery

2020! The first Open Day in the new year and what a beautiful day. Bright blue skies above, clear views all around, and a quickening coldness which suggested frost, but was soon chased away by getting to work as the Friends of Hemingfield Colliery and the regular volunteers returned to the pit for another year of activity, in a new decade of life for the colliery.

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Seeking shelter, Open Day 26th October 2019

/ The Friends of Hemingfield Colliery (FoHC)

The rainclouds hung heavily overhead during the morning. Ever-optimistic, the Friends arrived on site, opened up the gates, and skipped over the puddles to get on with a list of tasks before the worst of the cold and miserable weather set in.

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Octoblur

/ The Friends of Hemingfield Colliery (FoHC)

Deliverance

Not quite October. Almost there. September was fast-retreating, but memories of the very successful Heritage Open Days lingered long in the mind as the Friends of Hemingfield Colliery gathered on site bright and early on Saturday 28th September 2019 to open the gates and to welcome the delivery of building materials.

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