Sheffield Independent – Tuesday 13 September 1938
Closed Pit Bombshell For Wombwell
“17 Strikes in Five Months”
To Wombwell the news came as a bombshell yesterday that Mitchell Main Colliery had closed down and “would remain closed.
The decision affects 1,200 workers, most of whom live at Wombwell, with a number from Darfield, Stairfoot and Barnsley. The colliery has been idle since last Thursday, when section of surface men struck work.
“Against Advice”
Their complaint was that, on afternoon, they were stopped at three quarter time instead of being able to work the full shift. The grievance affected only about 40 men at the outside, but the remainder could not work without them.
The steppage was said to be unauthorised and against the advice of branch officials.
After voting in favour of the resumption of work on Sunday, the men were faced today with a notice saying that the pit as closed.
Dated 11th September, the notice read: “ This colliery is close from the above date onwards. No underground workman will be required. No surface men will work, except by arrangement with the engineer or the manager.”
“Irrevocable”
A colliery official told a Daily Independent” representative that there had been 17 lightning strikes at the colliery, affecting different numbers of men, in the last five months, and it was quite impossible to carry the colliery under such conditions. The decision had been come to yesterday and was quite irrevocable.
He said: ” The men have closed the pit. The colliery company have decided to close down.” The official added that the trouble started last Tuesday, when was work for only men in a certain section of the seam. The men declined work unless the full complement of 36 men was taken on and eventually went home.
That continue all week and it was impossible to keep the surface men working all the shift.
On Thursday the surface workers went home.
Bid for Harmony
He said they had tried all along to avoid a policy of prosecution because they favoured harmonious working, and thought some compromise might be effected to the mutual advantage of all concerned.
That, however, had been found to be impossible, and the company had decided not to reopen the pit. There had been no prosecutions at all that that colliery. The decision was quite definite.
It did not affect the neighbouring Darfield Main Colliery, which the company also operate, nor the Mitchell Main by-product and coking works.
The officials last words were: “This pit will remain closed.”
Good Prospects
Main Colliery has been yielding coal consistently for more than half a century, and upon this undertaking that the prosperity of Wonibwell has largely been built tip.
The Barnsley Bed Seam worked out, but the Parkgate and Siikstone Seams were considered to have a good life.
The Fenton Seam was also started recently and great things were expected it.
An official admitted; “The pit had excellent prospects, but in the circumstances it was impossible to carry on.”
The mine has been working regularly through a period of depression. Mitchell Main Colliery is part of a combine which includes Shipley Collieries, Ltd. Interviewed last night, a leading tradesman and official at the Chamber Trade said the news would come as a bombshell to Womb well.
The town seemed to regaining its old-time prosperity and they were expecting great things from recent improvements and projected developments. He said the Chamber would take all steps possible to get the colliery company to reconsider their decision.