Silksworth Colliery cont..

Not only miners depended on the Pit for their livelihood – others did as well.  Silksworth Coal Merchants collected coal at the pithead and transported it in ton loads to businesses and peoples homes.  Most notable of these were David Lemon in Blind Lane (shop), and Jack Wilson, of Warwick Terrace.  The latter was firstly known as old ‘Tot’. On his retirement, his son, and then his grandson, all named John Thomas Wilson took over the coal and haulage business. The coal depot was sited near Wilson Terrace/Somerset Street behind the ‘Rec’.  Colliery wagons passed to and fro.  After the pit closed, the ‘coal men's' life changed and they later concentrated on alternatives like haulage, or retirement.

Deliveries in the 1950/60's were dropped on to the path outside coal houses with hatches.  When they were removed, the ton of coal was shoveled straight into the coal house.  Later, coal was delivered in sacks, ordered by number.  Coke is still delivered in a similar way today – Silksworth is a smokeless zone!

When Buzzers blew and mining grew
And smoke belched forth from chimneys tall,
When miners crawled underground –
And silent death lurked over all.

They toiled for coal – that was the goal –
Families staunch and true,
A pit village steeped in tradition –
This was the Silksworth I once knew.

Mining was the life and soul
of this Colliery Village of ours –
then demand reduced, the Colliery closed –
Would there be sunshine or showers?

A ski slope appeared, pit heaps were gone
The site became a new sports complex
A boating and a fishing lake, -
And everyone wondered – What comes next?

Football fields, an athletics track,
A model for posterity,
A colliery transformed – coal has gone –
The Pit is part of HISTORY.

  P. Burn

Facade
Silksworth Hall