May 2025 was hot. Ridiculously so. Following April’s unseasonal heat, the burning sun clung on tenaciously until the late May Bank Holiday weekend.
Continue readingcanal
Late great starts – February 2025
After several false starts due to the weather in January, and only the stoic efforts of our regular volunteer Paul braving the elements with several small groups up until now, regular volunteers finally returned to site on Saturday 22nd February 2025 to ‘begin’ the year. And what a lovely day!
Continue readingSlow April, Slow season
April was a funny month in a year of only mildly amusing and, frankly, quite moderately cool and wet weather which felt never-ending.
Continue readingStormy weather and soggy weekends
October brought clouds and rain. It kept volunteer activity on site at bay, at times, but the hardy crew still managed to get some valuable maintenance work done, and even enjoyed an outing at the end of this most changeable of months.
Spring ebbs and June’s Summer flows
June. A beautiful time of year. The first steps of summer, without the school holidays. When the sun’s heat brings plants, people, and other wild-life out into the longer light of day.
Storm force from Hemingfield, or the Shipping Forecast.
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.
Continue readingBright, shiny and new, Saturday 18th January 2020
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.
Continue readingFrogs & flowers, Saturday 22nd June 2019
A nice prospect: the pit opening up, but tinged with frustration at criminal damage
It was an absolutely cracking day at Hemingfield for the Open Day. Compared to the previous fortnight when rain stopped play. The sun was beating down, baking the ground, drawing all the greenery higher. Set against the bright blue sky it was beautiful; still the crew were eager to get back on site and stuck in once more. Friends Chair Steve, and Site Manager Glen opened up, joined by regular volunteers John, Paul, Chris and Keith during the day which was equal parts glorious sunshine and hard yacker.
Many Happy Returns! – Come and join us on our first birthday on Saturday 27th June
The sun always shines in Hemingfield
Saturday 27th June 2015 is a very special date – the first birthday of the Friends of Hemingfield Colliery.
To mark the day we will be opening the site as a Open Day, enabling visitors to learn more about our work and future plans for the site. The site will be open from 10am until 5pm, so come and see us at any time during the day.
- Visit the pit yard, with its two shafts down to the Barnsley seam, and see the 1840s winding engine house.
- Meet the Friends who helped to save the site and are working hard to secure its future.
- Join our current volunteers and supporters in celebrating what we have learned so far, and reflecting on what the future has to hold.
Please share your memories, photographs and any questions with us.
On the day you’ll find a diverse range of experienced specialists and people passionate about the site, its history, machinery, working life and its people.
Friends of Hemingfield Colliery 