The site was once the largest colliery in all of Europe in 1960's and the location of 3 terrible pit disasters, the worst pit disasters seen by Derbyshire Coalfield to date. The first disaster in 1937 saw the deaths of 9 men when an explosion occurred during shift change; Many more suffered severe burns or Carbon Monoxide poisoning as a result. The following year, a further disaster claimed the lives of 79 men and injured 38 more when sparks from an electric box ignited the coal dust. The penultimate disaster in 1973 claimed the lives of 18 men as the cage fell down a 600ft shaft. 11 other men were injured by the falling cage and many rescue workers present that day still carry the emotional scars of what they witnessed that day. To summarise, 106 miners in total have given their lives to provide for their families and their community; This is to say nothing of the suffering endured by the loved ones left behind. It is my express opinion that a pit wheel marking the site is the very least these courageous men deserve when one considers the harrowing circumstances of their deaths. (source: National Coal Mining Museum for England).
The commemorative pit wheel would serve as a towering symbol of remembrance and give a face to the hardships these miners faced and the suffering they endured in their final moments. It will act as a beacon of their legacy, endurance, and the sacrifices they made as well as become a symbol to all who see it that a pit and it's coalite existed there at all. It is truly a travesty that the suffering of these men and their families is lost in the sea of towering industrial buildings as though it were an after thought!
Started by: Emily Booth
This ePetition runs from 07/02/2025 to 08/08/2025.
One person has signed this ePetition.