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Florence colliery Profile

Researched by John Lumsdon

Florence colliery was originally named after the eldest daughter of the owner, the Duke of Sutherland. Three shafts were sunk from 1874 to 1916.

 

November 1898. The signals now in use are the old ones, being only single line in the shaft connected with a hammer at the top. When the line was pulled, it raised the hammer and when released the hammer struck an old railway truck bumper to give an audible signal. It has been decided to replace these with electric signals.

February 10th 1899. A start was made and although the work is in a much unfinished condition the bulk of the yard seam output has been screened daily since. Experiments are been made with mesh plates in order to make the best of the coal and slack, at the same time as far as possible to meet the wishes of the company`s customers.

June 1899. It has now become necessary to face the question of laying down machinery for transmitting power for lighting, pumping and haulage. The writer has given the matter very careful attention and he has come to the conclusion that the only method worthy of consideration in this case is to apply electricity, especially when it is apparent that coal cutting by machinery will have to be faced in the near future.

March 1901. I would respectfully urge the board to allow the Managing Director and myself to negotiate for the purchase of a coal washer. There would then be no difficulty in selling all the Moss and Yard slack either for house purposes as nuts and briquettes or for mixing the whole lot and selling it as potter`s slack which at present prices would yield a very handsome profit.

April 1902. Electric haulage gear has been fixed and put to work in the Moss seam. With the exception of some slight trouble, with the clips which are still to

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be remedied, this plant is working very satisfactory. Electric signals underground have also been put in, in connection with it.

There was a £7 million major reconstruction scheme from 1950 to 1964, which increased the colliery`s potential from 400,000 tons to nearly one million a year. Under this re-organisation No3 shaft was deepened by 230 yards to 960 yards to serve the lower horizons and exploit the much needed coking coals.

At the same time No 1 and 2 shafts were enlarged in diameter and 6000 yards of underground horizon roadways were driven. The entire surface facilities, including the coal preparation plant were renewed and electrified. In May 1974 the National Coal Board announced that Florence was to merge with its neighbour, Hem Heath colliery, to form a giant mine complex with combined output of two and a half million tons of coal a year.

The scheme, known as the Trentham Project was substantially completed in May 1980, at a cost of about £30 million. The main provisions of the project were: 1) two underground roadways to link the two collieries, which are about two miles apart. 2) The driving of a 2837 yards long drift from Hem Heath surface to underground. 3) The building of a new coal preparation plant and rapid loading system at Hem Heath, which is next to the main railway line.

The new coal preparation plant came into operation in the autumn of 1978 and by July 1980 two further phases, an underground link and a new drift had been completed. All the Florence output was now transported via the drift to the surface at Hem Heath, while the Florence shafts continued to be used for man riding, materials transport and ventilation.

The scheme enabled a large part of the tipping area at Florence to be reclaimed. Some re-grading work had been carried out and 45 acres of spoil was grassed and fenced. The first 500 sheep were moved onto the land in the spring of 1983 (their droppings acted as fertilizer) Tree planting was also planned to improve the general landscape. Florence colliery produced coal from a number of faces in various seams, all of them Advanced Technology mining with heavy duty equipment, adjacent control supports and larger cutting discs. About 80% of the colliery`s output went to power stations, and the rest for industrial and domestic markets.

Florence Pithead Baths 1930

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The pithead baths which have been provided at the Florence colliery, Longton, the first installation of the kind in the North Staffordshire Coalfield were opened on Saturday 26th April by Viscount Chaplin. Erected at a cost of £17,000 out of money from the Miners’ Welfare Fund, they will supply accommodation for no fewer than 1,428 men.

Mr John Cocks in introducing Lord Chaplin announced that the District Committee had funds amounting to £104,000 and it was expected that in the next two years, all the North Staffordshire collieries would be similarly equipped. A presentation to Viscount Chaplin was made at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Mr John Cocks of the Shelton Iron Steel and Coal Co and President of the North Staffordshire Coal Owners Ass who presided, was supported by Viscount Chaplin, Director of the old Florence Coal and Iron Company who performed the opening ceremony. There were many others from the coal industry, including a large batch of the Florence workpeople, together with members of their families.

District Committee Policy

The chairman having extended a warm welcome to Viscount Chaplin said those present might think that the District Welfare Committee had been rather dilatory in getting their schemes going and in spending the money that had been contributed for a period of seven years. But they would realise, if they thought for a moment, that that tremendous amount of money which was at the disposal of the District Committee might easily be frittered away if the method of applying it to the whole of North Staffordshire were not carefully considered and placed upon a sound foundation. It had been the experience in some districts that big sums of money had been spent on building which had been allowed to become derelict and they had been anxious to avoid such a state of things in North Staffordshire. What their District Committee to do was to give them something in the shape of bricks and mortar which would help to improve the social conditions in which they lived and add to the amenities of life in the North Staffordshire coal field.

In 1927 their local committee decided that it would be a wise policy to try to introduce pit-head baths and a sum of £13,000 a year was earmarked for four years making a sum of £52,000. To this sum the Central Committee added a similar sum making so they had a total of £104,000 which was to be used between now and 1932 on pithead bath installation.

The support for the movement had been rather slow and a certain amount of education had to be necessary to induce the men to take the initiative.

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After all the money to be used was that of the Welfare Fund to which the men contributed and if the baths were to be a success the support of those who were to use them was requisite. The men in that colliery did take the initiative. There was a ballot and as a result 98% of the men voted in favour of the baths.

Viscount Chaplin

Viscount Chaplin said there were two reasons why he very greatly appreciated the compliment of being asked to come for the inauguration of those baths. The first was that his family had been connected with the Florence Colliery from its inception. He believed he was correct in stating that the third Duke of Sutherland commenced sinking the Florence pit in 1872 and began to draw coal from it in 1878. That was carrying them back quite a long way.

The present Duke of Sutherland would have been there that day if he had not been on his way to India. His second reason was that the opening of those baths, in his opinion marked the beginning of a new era in the mining world of the district. The baths would add greatly to the comfort and convenience of those connected with the Florence Colliery.

They were the sign of the co-operation the employers and the employed which was very much needed and cordially welcomed. After all the only sure basis of success and the best in a great industry especially one as important as coal mining was mutual trust and good will between those connected with it. The miners’ Welfare Fund was an admirable illustration of what could be done by a small levy.

The baths would be a great saving of labour and worry to the wives in the homes of the men. He hoped that the same system would be adopted in the collieries throughout the district and that the men would faithfully follow the advice given them in the excellent pamphlet which has been printed respecting the use of the baths. It was his great privilege and pleasure to declare the baths open.

Mr Finney, in proposing a vote of thanks to Viscount Chaplin and the chairman observed that the baths were quite in keeping with the policy of the Miners’ Federation. The Federation had been asking for baths a long time in 1911 and before 1911.

Now their object had been achieved. He hoped that the baths would be diligently used, not merely because of cleanliness and for the trouble and inconvenience that would be saved in men’s homes, but because of the great aids to health that they would prove. The motion was seconded by Mr H. Leese supported by Mr S. Haile, and cordially adopted.

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Presentation

Then the Chairman announced that Lord Chelmsford, as Chairman of the Welfare Fund had suggested that Viscounts Chaplin’s presence that day would be recognised by some tangible appreciation of his services. He had been asked therefore, by the builders to request their extinguished visitors’ acceptance of the pictures which now decorated the walls of their canteen. But added, the Chairman amid laughter they all hoped that Viscount Chaplin would leave the pictures behind. Col Williamson following, handed to Viscount Chaplin as a souvenir of his visit, a small Wedgwood basalt vase decorated with gold figures. They had all been delighted to have Viscount Chaplin with them because of his long connection with the colliery and because of the esteem they all felt for him. When invited to come he willingly consented. Responding, Viscount Chaplin acknowledged the gift of the vase, ad smilingly declared that he would have great pleasure in handing back the pictures. The company proceeded to inspect the baths and tea was afterwards served in a marquee erected on a plot of ground adjacent to the entrance gates of the colliery.

                                                       Florence Pit-heap 2002

Ernest Albert Egerton VC Born 10th Nov. 1897 Died 14th Feb. 1966He won the Victoria Cross for bravery in the first World War. He born in Longton, he was educated at Queen's Street, Cooke Street and Blurton Church Schools, and started Florence Colliery at the age of 16, joined the army on his 18th birthday.

Egerton was granted extended leave to attend an official reception where directors, managers and workers at the Florence Colliery presented him with an inscribed silver cigarette-case and war bonds worth £85

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  Florence 1940s      1912 Strike

 

An historic link-up, over half a mile underground, between Florence and Hem Heath Collieries on 25th May 1979.

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Florence Colliery Death MINER Terence Hand died as a result of a pit accident more than 50 years after it happened. The 73-year-old was paralysed in a roof collapse at Florence Colliery, near Longton, in his early 20s. His kidneys, abdomen and spine were crushed in the accident and Mr Hand, of William Avenue, Meir, spent the rest of his life on dialysis three times a week. He died in February last year after a pressure sore became infected, leading to blood poisoning. But medical experts said contributing factors were "acute renal failure and back injuries sustained as a miner approximately 50 years ago".

At his inquest yesterday, Anthony Curzon, deputy coroner for North Staffordshire, recorded a verdict of accidental death, adding: "I'm satisfied that the injuries from that accident contributed to his death all these years later." Mr Curzon told Mr Hand's family an inquest into a death due to an industrial accident would usually be heard by a jury, but in this case no records of the incident could be found and very little evidence existed. He said: "We have had help from The Sentinel looking into old records, the miners' union and used the internet, but nothing could be found. “Relatives said despite Mr Hand's life being blighted by the results of the accident, he remained happy and at the centre of family life.

Brother Keith Hand aged 61, also of William Street, Meir, said: "He lived off a pittance from his disability payments and really the accident ruined his life. “It was the reason he never married or had children. But he wasn't bitter. He was always cheerful despite his problems. “Sister Linda Bridgewood, aged 57, of Meir, added: "Everyone called on him, he was the centre of the family and he's terribly missed." Following the accident, Mr Hand was told he would never walk again, but with physiotherapy he managed to regain some use of his legs, though walking was painful.

His lack of mobility is believed to have caused the pressure sore that led to his death at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire last year. Pathologist Dr Cordelia Phelan said: "It's a vicious circle. The infection led to him feeling unwell, he became less mobile and the pressure sore got worse." Keith said: "He was in hospital every week and I think in the end his body just gave up, worn out with all the dialysis."

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Florence Colliery Mines Rescue Team at Berry Hill Mines Rescue Station, Stoke-on-Trent circa 1983. Photo: Geoff Oakes, Ball Green,

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Mines Rescue competition 1967 was won by Hem Heath followed by Holditch, Wolstanton and Florence.

Florence Team (Top Row Left to Right)John Lumsdon Gerald Shaw. R. Baskerfield Sam

Clowes,Bottom Row R. James (Capt) and E. Keay

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Last Miner Killed at Florence CollieryEv. Sentinel Jan 27th 1989 Co. edition page 43

Florence Preparing Food Parcels 1984 Strike

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Florence Colliery Cage Accident 1891

Some sensation was caused on Saturday afternoon, 25th April 1891 when it became known that a serious accident had occurred at the Florence colliery, near Longton belonging to the Duke of Sutherland. It appears that between eleven and twelve on Saturday morning the cages got out of position, and were jammed together between the Great Row and Moss seams. This had the result that the miners, who numbered about 200, were compelled to remain in the workings for about 13 hours.On the state of affairs becoming known on the pit bank a large number of women, children, relatives and friends of the men in the pit, flocked to the colliery. They were immediately informed that no danger existed to those below, as it was only a matter of time for their release. The men were almost

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without food, but the manager with admirable promptness, sent a good quantity of refreshments.The anxiety as to the safety of the colliers was soon alleviated, but it was not until 1am on Sunday morning when the last batch of men was brought to the surface in bogie buckets. Gangs of men were working all Sunday in repairing the damage and on Monday, work was resumed as usual.

Florence colliery Brass Band

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The "HandoverIn 2001 it became apparent that the band needed to be self-financing, and at this time Florence Sports and Social Club came forward and "adopted"

the band - hence we became Florence Brass

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Florence Colliery

Going

Going

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Gone

Florence Colliery Memorial

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(with kind permission of Mathew Boote, Grandson of (Dicky Boote Manager

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With kind permission of Mathew Boote, Grandson of (Dicky Boote Manager

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Florence colliery summer 1959 with kind permission of Mathew Boote, Grandson of (Dicky Boote Manager

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North Staffs Bevin Boys With kind permission from Viviene Slater Sec of N/S Group

Florence Colliery

N. Brown. R.Brown I. Batton H. Collis D.P. Coburn. C. Ewen K. Goodwin J. Hancock A. Leadley. R.H. Munt R.H. Squire P.H. A. Ward A. S.N. Wheeler.

Gob fire Florence 1937At the Florence Colliery, Longton, on Wednesday morning, a gob fire was detected in old workings, and sealing off was at once commenced. The shift working in the pit, numbering between 150 and 200 men, was withdrawn, and a rescue team from the colliery descended under their captain, Mr. L. Gregory, to begin the work of sealing off the affected area. Later, a rescue team from the Holditch Colliery, Chesterton, went down to assist in the work. Subsequently, at about 11.30 a.m., a third team descended, composed of members of the Florence Colliery and Hanley Deep pit rescue teams. The following official statement, signed by Mr. John Walker (general manager) and Mr. G. I. Adkins (agent) was issued on Wednesday afternoon: "Gob stink was detected early this morning issuing from old workings in the Yard seam. Precautions were immediately taken, and all men were withdrawn from all the seams. Rescue men were summoned, and the building of stoppings commenced. One is already made up, and others are being put in. The work is proceeding satisfactorily. Normal work will be resumed very shortly." The colliery is owned by the Florence Iron and Coal Co. a subsidiary of the Shelton Iron, Steel Coal co. Ltd