Bullcroft Colliery
Encyclopedia
Bullcroft Colliery was a coal mine situated by the village of Carcroft
north of Doncaster
. The Bullcroft Colliery Company was formed in April 1908 and sinking of the shafts commenced immediately. In January 1909, at a depth of 100 feet (30.5 m), a water course yielding over 1000 gallons (3,785.4 l) per minute was struck, it was capped back and sinking continued but only a month later, at 180 feet (54.9 m), another water course, big enough to be described as a "subterranean river", was struck - too much for the steam operated pumps to cope with. Electric pumps were brought in to cope with the flow but even with a capability of 6250 gallons (23,658.8 l) per minute they couldn't cope and sinking was stopped so the full situated could be assessed.
It was decided to withdraw the pumps and freeze the ground. Commencing January 1910 the first freeze was unsuccessful and a second, after the shafts had iron "tubbing" installed, commenced in February 1911. This was successful and sinking recommenced finally reaching the coal measures in December 1911.
The colliery worked normally until 1968 when it was joined to Brodsworth Colliery
by a 550 yard drift and a 1,800 yard long conveyor made it possible that Bullcroft coal could be brought up at Brodsworth for washing etc.
The collieries officially merged in 1970, the shafts at Bullcroft shafts were filled, using spoil from pit heaps and capped. Bullcroft Colliery kept its landsale depot to deal with concessionary coal and retained a locomotive to work it for about a year afterwards.
The colliery was served by a branch off the Hull and Barnsley and Great Central Joint Railway
and a connection to the West Riding and Grimsby Railway
.
Carcroft
Carcroft is a rural village part of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. The village is roughly six miles north north west of Doncaster.-Geography:...
north of Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
. The Bullcroft Colliery Company was formed in April 1908 and sinking of the shafts commenced immediately. In January 1909, at a depth of 100 feet (30.5 m), a water course yielding over 1000 gallons (3,785.4 l) per minute was struck, it was capped back and sinking continued but only a month later, at 180 feet (54.9 m), another water course, big enough to be described as a "subterranean river", was struck - too much for the steam operated pumps to cope with. Electric pumps were brought in to cope with the flow but even with a capability of 6250 gallons (23,658.8 l) per minute they couldn't cope and sinking was stopped so the full situated could be assessed.
It was decided to withdraw the pumps and freeze the ground. Commencing January 1910 the first freeze was unsuccessful and a second, after the shafts had iron "tubbing" installed, commenced in February 1911. This was successful and sinking recommenced finally reaching the coal measures in December 1911.
The colliery worked normally until 1968 when it was joined to Brodsworth Colliery
Brodsworth Colliery
Brodsworth Colliery was a colliery near Woodlands, South Yorkshire, England that closed in 1990. It was renowned for the superb model village of Woodlands that housed its workers...
by a 550 yard drift and a 1,800 yard long conveyor made it possible that Bullcroft coal could be brought up at Brodsworth for washing etc.
The collieries officially merged in 1970, the shafts at Bullcroft shafts were filled, using spoil from pit heaps and capped. Bullcroft Colliery kept its landsale depot to deal with concessionary coal and retained a locomotive to work it for about a year afterwards.
The colliery was served by a branch off the Hull and Barnsley and Great Central Joint Railway
Hull and Barnsley and Great Central Joint Railway
The Hull and Barnsley and Great Central Joint Railway was a joint line which ran from Aire Junction, on the main line of the Hull and Barnsley Railway, near Gowdall and an end on junction with the Great Central and Midland Joint Railway at Braithwell Junction.-Description:The railway consisted of...
and a connection to the West Riding and Grimsby Railway
West Riding and Grimsby Railway
The West Riding and Grimsby Railway was a joint railway whose main line linked Wakefield with Doncaster, whilst a branch line ran between Adwick and Stainforth...
.