Savage Memories Of Pilsley Pit

A Memory of Pilsley.

I have two professionally taken pictures of an official visit to PILSLEY COLLIERY, the pit as grandad called it, by what looks to be the colliers wives. The last pit closed in 1957 & I suspect the pictures are from around this time. Sadly I can't publish the pictures on here, but please use my email if you are interested.

Grandad Savage was the Pit Deputy until he retired when the pit closed & he lived in Station Road. My mother, also deceased, was born & brought up in Pilsley & worked in the coal board office. One of her jobs was to arrange for coal trains to be routed from the main line (presumably the Midland) to collect the coal from the Pit. Her most lasting memory was from the thirties, when out of work miners would line up at the back door of a Sunday evening in the hope of being set-on for the Monday shift. With a glint in her eye she would also talk fondly of cycling/walking across the fields to the dances held at Hardwick Hall during the war & of the Canadian Paratroopers stationed there!

I try to visit the family grave in St Mary's Churchyard every now again just to keep it tidy, but now in my 70's I fear such memories/responsibilities will soon be lost for ever, although hopefully grandads Davy lamp will inspire some interest in my grand children.

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