Holditch

On the 1st of January the Sentinel Set out the size of the coal industry. There would be some 150 mines (including small mines), plus brickworks, power stations, and water pumping stations, coke ovens, colliery villages, railway sidings, overhead ropeways etc. In the West Midlands that included North Staffordshire there were some 60,000 men employed. On a more personal note, Mr Walter Williams, who worked at Holditch at the time, said when he arrived at the pit on vesting day he was told there was to be a holiday. Mr Williams spent all of his working life in the mining industry and became the Area secretary of the N.A.C.O.D.S. Union During the early years of the newly nationalised industry the amount of coal being produced was vital to Britain's post war recovery. Hardly a day went by without some reference to it in the local press.

North Staffs Miners Federation (NSMF) minutes of 27TH March 1948 give the union membership from both deep and small mines to be as follows,

Colliery	Members	Colliery	Members	Colliery	Members
Whitfield	2452	Black Bull (Victoria)	101	Norton	1153
Sneyd	1127	Deep Pits	1022	Berryhill	928
Stafford	937	Holditch	1309	Talke	273
Madeley	540	Wolstanton	839	Minnie	124
Fenton	560	Parkhouse	602	Florence	1129
Foxfield	450	Glasshouse	133	Parkhall	616
Mossfield	899	Hem Heath	418	Silverdale	603

Sentinel April 1st 1948 City Final Page 1.
North Staffordshire Coalfields output was 129,545 tons, against 135,382 tons a year ago, an decrease of 5,837 tons. Easter break was the reason given for the decrease.

North Staffordshire Coalfields output was 139,429 tons, against 134,767 tons, a year ago, an increase of 4,662 tons. (3.46%) Three North Staffordshire collieries all attained their highest weekly output since 1.1.1947. Hanley Deep, 9,338 tons, Holditch, No 2, 1,638 tons, and Parkhouse 5,017 tons

Mr. Harry Rouse aged 48, of 120 Milehouse Lane, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, working at Holditch colliery, was admitted to the N.S.R.I. with injuries to his leg, he received at the pit face.

Sentinel October 27th 1948 Final Page 1.
North Staffordshire Coalfields weekly output was 137,683 tons, against 130,353 tons, a year ago, an increase of 7,330 tons or 5.62% Holditch colliery, was one of four pits in the division who produced its highest weekly output since Nationalisation

Sentinel December 21st 1948 City Final Page 1
In the finals of the North Staffordshire inter colliery ambulance competitions, held at Heron Cross School, Fenton, Victoria colliery won the Welfare Challenge Shield. Foxfield colliery won the Wynne Cup. Full details are on this page in this edition.

Evening Sentinel March 21st 1949 Page 1
While at work at Holditch colliery on Saturday 19th, Mr. J.A. Green age 32 received injuries to his back from which he died. Same page some 1,000 workers at Great Fenton colliery resumed work today after being idle through Friday and Saturday owing to a spontaneous heating, which developed in the Yard Seam which has now been sealed off.

Evening Sentinel April 1st 1949 Page 1 F
The inquest was adjourned to enable a Mines Inspector to attend, on Mr. J.A. Green age 32 who died following an accident at Holditch colliery.

Evening Sentinel April 5th 1949 Page 6
A verdict of accidental death was recorded on Mr. A.J. Green at a resumed inquest at Newcastle today. He had received fatal injuries at Holditch colliery on March 19th.

Evening Sentinel Nov 28th 1949 Page 5
Three miners at Holditch colliery, who have each worked 60 years underground, were presented with cheques diplomas on Saturday. They are, Dick Simms age 77 Henry Scragg age 74 and Tom Symms age 73. Dick Simms was at Holditch for 28 years, also at other collieries. While at Apedale he helped in rescue operations at the Minnie pit explosion in 1918. Henry Scragg started at Parkhouse when he was 14, employed at Holditch for 12 years, and in 1895 he was working at Diglake and was present when the pit flooded killing 77 men. On the day of the tragedy he did not go down the mine, and still does not know why he decided not to do so.

HOLDITCH PIT DISASTER FUND
Beneficiaries under Holditch Colliery Fund now number 12 widows and 9 children. They are to receive Christmas boxes and a 20% increase in their weekly allowances. The Christmas boxes are £10 for each widow and £5 per child. Weekly Allowances to be increased from 12s 6d a week to 15s for widows and 10s to 12s for first child, and 5s to 6s (30p) for other children.

Sentinel 19th May 1951
Photograph of Holditch Colliery F.C. winning the Newcastle League second division title.

Sentinel 7th June 1951page 5
The ex N.U.M. delegate from Holditch Colliery Mr A Johnson, was taken ill at work and later he sadly died. Mr Johnson who lived at 1 Derwent Place leaves a wife and daughter.

Sentinel 14th June Page 1 1951
John Henry Lee 35yrs of age was fined 5 pound with 5 pound 15 shillings costs for fighting underground with Overman Ezra Clarke hero of the Holditch disaster.

Sentinel 25th Aug 1951
Photo of 65 Holditch Veterans on a trip to Blackpool paid for by their workmates.

Evening Sentinel February 29th 1952 Final Page 8
At a Inquest held today in Newcastle, the Jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death, on Mr. Thomas Wainwright, aged 54, of 7, Viggers Place Knutton. Mr. Wainwright was killed in a roof fall at Holditch colliery Chesterton. Death was due to shock by fracturing the spine and crushed injuries to the chest.

An injury which he suffered while working underground at Holditch colliery had no connection with the death of Mr. Glyn Parry, aged 32, of 27, Bamber Place, Chesterton, it was stated at an inquest held in Hanley. Mrs. Parry said "he strained his stomach muscles while pulling out a chock, from over the waist, last April." He was admitted to Hospital in January and died last Saturday. The Coroner recorded a verdict in accordance with medical evidence of Dr. C. Giles, who said Mr. Parry died of Congestive Heart Failure due to Polyserositis caused by Rheumaticardtis.

Evening Sentinel July 14th 1952 City Final Page 5
Holditch colliery won the W Cumberbatch Challenge Cup for the fifth successive year. More on this can be seen on this page in the "Sentinel" plus photo's

Evening Sentinel October 29th 1952 Final Page 5
Work is to begin soon on improving Holditch colliery wharf. It is hoped to complete the job by next spring. More on this can be seen on this page in the Sentinel.

Evening Sentinel January 23rd 1953 Late Page 4
Almost a full page feature on Holditch colliery Chesterton, showing photographs of the pneumatic stowing system, which has been practiced for the past year. More on this article can be seen on this page. There's a better photo on page 4 in the Late Final Edition.

Evening Sentinel March 27th 1953 Late Page 1
Photograph of Mr. Roach, manager of Holditch colliery, who gave a conducted tour of the mine to the Mayor of Crewe, Mr. Frank Roberts together with other dignitaries during a civic visit.

Evening Sentinel December 31st 1953 Late Page 5
. Photograph of Mr. Roach, Manager of Holditch colliery presenting a cheque for £37 pounds and 10 shillings, raised by workers in the pit canteen for Christine Knapper.

Sentinel 8th February 1955 L p7
Mr L W Fletcher Mining engineer gave a talk at the North Staffs technical collage Stoke. The subject was the new “stowing” system on the Moss four feet coal face at Holditch Colliery.

Sentinel 21st March 1955 L p6
Day by day weekly edition. The mayor of Newcastle, Miss Ethel Shaw was to visit Holditch colliery to see miners at work. A photograph of this visit can be in the Sentinel on the 22nd of March, city final page 1

Sentinel 16th April 1955 L 5
William Brockley, age 56 of 44, High Street, Halmerend, was killed at Holditch Colliery on the 15th April, A ripper, he was struck by a rope. Inquest in the sentinel, 20th April, late edition, page 7.

Same edition Page 7.
Photograph of North Staffordshire 1956, Coal queen, Miss Yvonne Burgess, whose father works at Holditch colliery. After being chosen Miss Burgess sang for 100 or so guests. Later on in the evening there were presentations to 14 long serving miners, six of whom are still working, the six are Mr. William Smith, (61 years Service) Mr, Jack Warren (60) Mr. Arthur Shenton, (58) Mr. Joseph Bailey, (56) Mr. P. Clarke, (56) Mr. Steward Heath. (53) The retired miners are Mr. Frederick Pointon Clare, (56) Mr. Harold Corbishley, (54) Mr. Frederick Ball, (52) Mr. John Harry Cumberbatch, (52) Mr. George Alexander, (52) Mr. Thomas Gibbins (50) Mr. George Clewes, (50) and Mr. John Thomas Adams, (50) Guests included Mr. W.G. Cumberbatch, Area Manager, Mr. E. Mawdsley, colliery Manager, Mr. R. Barker, former colliery Manager.

Evening Sentinel May 12th 1956 Late Page 5
Photograph of Holditch miner's daughter, Miss Yvonne Burgess, who has become this year's, West midlands Coal Queen.

Evening Sentinel August 2nd 1956 City Final Page10
While working under a section of Holditch colliery, a roof which he had been told was “a bit tender” John William Trever, aged 51, a charge hand stower, of 40, Vessey Terrace, Newcastle, was buried by a large fall A witness told a Hanley inquest today. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Sentinel 4th September 1957 late p5
There is a great story of a lady called Mrs Elizabeth Esbley. This lady who was 78years old had just retired from Holditch. The daughter of a farmer she was born in Dilhorne. Although good in school she had to leave early and take over the milk round when her father died. When her mother died she became head of the house. Her first husband was killed in the 1914/18 war. She then became the cook to a family in High Lane, where she stayed for 27 years. Her second husband died on the day the 1939/45 war started. She applied for the job of cook at Holditch when she was 65 years old, known as "mother" she worked at the pit for further 13 years.

Sentinel 21st September 1957 late p5
After 100yrs of production Leycett closed today. The present manpower of 437 underground and 112 on the surface will eventually be transferred to other North Staffs pits i.e. Hem Heath, Wolstanton, Silverdale, and Holditch. 100 men will be kept back for salvage, which should take between 6 and 12 months. A further 5 men will produce sufficient coal to keep the boilers going.

Sentinel 1 Jan 1958
Mr. William Henry Colclough, has been awarded the B.E.M. in the New Years honours list, he has worked in the mining industry for 48 years. He is the underground charge mechanic at Holditch colliery. He also writes for the Evening Sentinel on mining topics under the heading W.H.C.

Evening Sentinel February 8th 1958 Late Page 1
There was a company of 110 folk at the Borough Arms Hotel, Newcastle, when officials of Holditch colliery, Chesterton, held their annual dinner, Mr. A. Walker, Presided.

Evening Sentinel February 20th 1958 Late Page 1
An unusually large emission of gas into the workings of Holditch colliery Chesterton, where between 1,300 and 1,400 men are employed has brought the pit to a standstill. The gassing began yesterday when a crack in the floor of the workings of the 5Foot seam, 750 Feet below the surface and about a mile and a half from the pit bottom, which resulted in all the men being idle.

Same date City Final Page 1
Photograph of the colliery deputies ready to go down the pit this afternoon to relieve their workmates, and to watch on the gas.

Evening Sentinel February 21st 1958 Late Page 7
Holditch colliery is still at a standstill following a very large gas seepage. Efforts are being made to find work in other collieries for the men.

Evening Sentinel February 22nd 1958 Late Page 1
Hopes are improving that Holditch colliery will soon be back to normal.

Evening Sentinel February 25th 1958 Late Page 5
There is still some gas which is holding up progress at Holditch colliery, only 75% of the total workforce, were able to return to work.

Same page. There is an advert on this page, for the Weekly Sentinel which contains mining photographs in this week's edition.

Evening Sentinel February 26th 1958 Late Page 5
Nearly back to full working at Holditch colliery when the 5 Ft. seam opened, Production on the Spendcroft and Moss seams began on Monday.

Evening Sentinel March 20th 1958 Late Page 5
While going on the night shift at Holditch colliery, a Wolstanton miner saw his son with another 15 year old boy near the pit. At work he heard that lockers had been broken into and money stolen. On returning home he questioned his son who admitted the offence. He took his son to Wolstanton police station where his son made a statement implicating the other boy.

Evening Sentinel October 22nd Late Page 1
Work as been suspended at Holditch colliery, Chesterton, that employs 1,300 men on a three shift system, following damaged caused today in a winding shaft. No one was involved or hurt in the incident. As a safety precaution the pit was evacuated.

Evening Sentinel October 2nd 1959 Final Page 1
Early today a 52, year old Irish packer, Mr. Daniel Kiley, of 30, High Street Knutton, was killed when he was crushed by a fall of roof at Holditch colliery, Chesterton.

Evening Sentinel September 6th 1960 Late Page 5
After observing the effects of introducing a Butterfly surge bunker at Holditch colliery in December 1959, it is intended to install at least one more at the colliery. More on this article is on this page in the Sentinel

Evening Sentinel January 19th 1961 Page 7
Reconstruction schemes being contemplated at Holditch and Stafford collieries, in addition to major projects at Florence, Hem Heath and Wolstanton now well advanced.

Evening Sentinel Dec 4th 1961 Page 4
Three new managers have been appointed in the area, Mr. R.F. Louth moved from Victoria to Foxfield. Mr. C. Hopcroft, acting manager at Foxfield, was appointed manager at Parkhall. Mr. G. Morris a former undermanager at Granville becomes manager at Holditch.

Evening Sentinel Feb 13th 1962 Page 12
Special article concerning the development of a type of underground bunker. The Bunker, which is capable of storing between 50 and 100 tons of coal to offset temporary breakdowns. One system is already in use at Holditch colliery and another about to be installed at Chatterley Whitfield.

Evening Sentinel March 5th 1962 Page 5
Mr. H.J. Widdowson, North Staffs area General Manager, presented prizes at the area rescue competition at Tunstall town hall. He said that thankfully during the past year none of the local colliery rescue teams had been called upon. Parkhouse won the trophy, Hem Heath were runners up, Wolstanton were 3rd and Holditch 4th.

Evening Sentinel March 4th 1963 Page 5
For the second time running Park Hall colliery rescue team received the area rescue trophy. Runners up were Hem Heath, Holditch came third. Long service medals and certificates were also presented.

Same edition Page 10 Five North Staffs nominees including Jack Lally will be among the names on the ballot papers for presidency of the Midlands area NUM.

Evening Sentinel Sep 6th 1963 Page 16
Safety masks, called self-rescuers, which can be put on in seconds to protect miners in case they encounter carbon monoxide, are on trial at 8 pits in Britain including Holditch colliery.

Evening Sentinel Nov 4th 1963 Page 5
Norton colliery will be the first pit in North staffs to try a new system Deployment Centre, to prevent pithead queues for job allocation. This could be a model for other pits. Page 10 Men at Holditch and Apedale produced 596 tons of coal in the voluntary Saturday shift.

Evening Sentinel Feb 24th 1964 Page 1 L.
Coalface workers at Holditch colliery, who went home on Friday because of a pay dispute, were back to work today. It involved 24 hand fillers, resulting in a loss of 300 tons of coal.

Evening Sentinel July 31st 1965 Page 3.
Holditch colliery achieved a productivity record in the week ending July 13th with 36.4 cwt a man-shift for all colliery employees.

Evening Sentinel Oct 1st 1965 Page 20.
Funeral of Freemason, Mr. A.R. Mason, who was mechanical engineer to Holditch, Apedale, Parkhouse and Silverdale group of collieries. A full list of mourners were given

Evening Sentinel Feb 3rd 1966 Page 7 F.
Two coal production records were broken at Holditch colliery in week ending Jan 22nd 1966. The previous face record of 141.74 cwt set last August was beaten with a figure of 145.59 cwt. For all employed the new record of 39.79 cwt was better by more than 2 cwt.

Evening Sentinel March 7th 1966 Page 10
Hem Heath colliery team won the NCB area rescue competition, Holditch were runners up, Victoria were third and Wolstanton fourth.

In the same edition there is Photograph of Holditch colliery football club at their annual dinner in the Borough Arms Hotel, Newcastle.

Evening Sentinel Nov.22nd 1966 Page 12 F
Awards for the best rescue teams won in a NCB competition held earlier this year were presented at Tunstall Town Hall on Saturday. Holditch colliery came first, Hem Heath second, Wolstanton third and Florence fourth.

Evening Sentinel Dec 3rd 1966 Page 1 L
One of four miners, all married, who were struck by an underground fall of roof at Holditch colliery, Chesterton, last night, is still in hospital today.

Evening Sentinel Sep 20th 1967 Page 16 F
Miners at Holditch colliery are responding magnificently to the recent call for improved attendances to minimise the risk of the pits closure on economic grounds.

Evening Sentinel Oct 30th 1967 Page 12 F
Winners of Holditch colliery's cricket knock out competition; the officials' eleven received the cup from colliery manager Mr. G. Morris. The annual presentation dance, was held at the George Hotel, Burslem, on Saturday. Mechanics dept were runners up. (Photo Page 12 C.F.)

Evening Sentinel Nov. 6th 1967 Page 5 F.
Long service awards for colliery rescue work and prizes won at the NCBs annual rescue competition finals last September, were presented on Saturday, by Mr. C. Bishop, district rescue station manager. The competition was won by Hem Heath, (Photo) followed by Holditch, Wolstanton and Florence.

Evening Sentinel Jan.22nd 1968 Page 10 L.F.
Photograph of Mr. J. Allington of Red St. receiving an NCB long service certificate in recognition of 51 years in the mining industry from Mr. G. Morris, a former manager at Holditch colliery. The presentation was made at the social evening at Holditch miners institute on Saturday.

Evening Sentinel Feb. 5th 1968 Page 4. F.
A number of new mining appointments have been announced by the NCB. Mr. D. Alexander formally manager of Parkhouse colliery has moved to Staffordshire House HQ. Mr. G. Morris former manager of Holditch has gone to Parkhouse. Mr D. Alcock has taken over at Holditch and his place as manager of Stafford is taken over by Mr. R. Louth. Mr. Ken Barber who was acting under manager's at Holditch becomes the under manager. Mr. P. Kane formally Holditch under manager is now under manager at Florence.

Evening Sentinel Feb 6th 1968 Page 12 F
More than 250 members and their wives from Holditch colliery saw presentations made to the former manager at the colliery social welfare club on Saturday. He was Mr. G. Morris manager for 6 years until he became manager of Parkhouse colliery in January.

Evening Sentinel March 15th 1968 Page 1 F
The North Staffordshire collieries, Apedale and Holditch are among three in the NCB Staffordshire area who have set up new productivity records. Apedale's output per man shift the coalface shows a dramatic 76 cwt. At Holditch A new record was established with an overall output per man shift of 46.2 cwt.

Evening Sentinel Jan 2nd 1969 Page 9 F
The funeral of Mr. James Spooner, a surface superintendent at Wolstanton colliery takes place at St. Andrews Church tomorrow. As well as working at Wolstanton Mr. Spooner worked at Holditch and Mossfield collieries.

Evening Sentinel Jan.20th 1969 Page 1 F
Photograph of Mr. T. Ackerley, with his long service certificate. He has served the mining industry for 52 years at Holditch colliery.

Evening Sentinel April 14th 1969 Page 7. F.
Photograph of Holditch colliery interdepartmental football competition. Colliery Manager Mr. D. Alcock is seen presenting the trophy to Mr. D. Ellis, captain of the mechanical dept.

Evening Sentinel Sep 5th 1969 Page 22 F.
Miners returning to Holditch colliery after the holidays next Monday will find that 18 cwt tubs have been replaced by two and a half ton mine cars for carrying coal up the shaft.

Evening Sentinel Nov 14th 1969 Page 14. L.F.
Photograph and full write up of the new extension to the Holditch colliery sports club, which are to be opened tomorrow.

Evening Sentinel Feb 19th 1970 Page 9. F.
Men at Holditch set up a new production record last week. The week's output of 10,008 tons was 394 tons higher than the previous best figure reached in January. Coalface workers produced 274.9 cwt an improvement of 10 cwt on the previous record. Total labour force was also a record of 66.4 cwt. Coal face workers at Hem Heath also achieved a new record of 271.1 cwt.

Evening Sentinel Aug 22nd 1970 Page 8
Photograph, Silverdale sports committee held their sports dance at the Park Site club, Silverdale. Stars of the night were The Holditch colliery tug-of-war team, winners of the Midlands area competition.

Evening Sentinel March 4th 1971 Page 5 F
Four hundred pit men will be making their way to the Highland suite, Trentham on March 18th for the area finals of the NCB senior safety quiz competition. Victoria and Holditch collieries will be taking part.

Evening Sentinel April 29th 1971 Page 18 F
Photograph, a party and presentation of long service certificates were given to retired Holditch colliery workers at the mining club last night. Mr. Joe Minshall is seen with his certificate for 52 years service.

Evening Sentinel Oct 29th 1971 Page 24 F
During the week ending October 23 October the 608 miners at Holditch colliery, Chesterton, mined 9.908 tons of coal, a new record output per man shift of 73.2 cwt.

Evening Sentinel August 17th 1972 Final Page 14
Ten Foot 2 coal face workers became the latest team to win the Holditch colliery interdepartmental knock out cricket competition, when they beat the fitting shop by 163 runs to 39 at Bignall End cricket club last night.

Evening Sentinel September 13th 1972 Page 11
The Mayor and Mayoress of Newcastle-under- Lyme was conducted on a tour down the pit at Holditch colliery, the Mayor Mr. Charles Mitchell who was a former miner at Holditch colliery. The Mayor had spent 11.5 years, 8 of them on the coalface at the colliery. There's a Photograph of them on page 1 of the City Final edition.

Evening Sentinel September 14th 1972 Final Page 5
There is a full page feature on the visit of the, Mayor and Mayoress, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, to Holditch colliery, plus Photographs.

Evening Sentinel October 4th 1972 Page 16
There is to be a recruiting drive by the N.C.B. for 200 men to be employed by five collieries in North Staffordshire, the collieries are Hem Heath, Silverdale, Holditch, Victoria and Florence.

Evening Sentinel Jan 19th 1973 Page 1 F
Photo, safety officer, Jim Mills, displays a safety lamp to electrical engineering students on their visit to Holditch colliery.

Evening Sentinel Dec. 21st 1973 Page 7 L
More than 200 miners and colliery officials attended a dinner at the Grand Hotel, Hanley last night. The function was for miners from four North Staffs pits, Silverdale, Norton, Holditch and Chatterley Whitfield. Each of these pits has gained honours in the NCB safety campaigns and competitions.

Evening Sentinel Feb. 20th 1975 Page 24 C.F.
The rescue hero of the 1937 Holditch colliery disaster has died at the age of 83. Mr. Ezra Clarke captained a rescue team of five, which went to the scene of an explosion, where two of the men were killed. For about 24 hours Mr. Clarke and his team worked consistently and were responsible for recovering a lot of men, both living and dead.

Evening Sentinel June 20th 1975 Page 24 Crewe
Production records have been smashed by two North staffs pits. Miners at the 1.600 men Florence colliery, Longton, have created a new overall face production record of 319.8 cwt per man shift, the best since 1971. For the third successive week miners at Holditch colliery have smashed their overall face record with a weekly average of 543.7 cwt.

Evening Sentinel Aug 7th 1975 Page 1 F
Holditch colliery miners turn actors for their presentation “Safety Sense” A sketch, which they presented last night. They are entering the sketch for the national mining safety campaign.

Evening Sentinel Aug 14th 1975 Page 18 F
Photograph of the new Holditch colliery Coal Queen, Mrs June Jackson of Audley being crowned with a miner's helmet by the retiring Queen Mrs Susan Fagan.

Evening Sentinel Aug 20th 1975 Page 11 F
Holditch and Silverdale collieries have both finished in the top ten of the coal board's national league in medium size pits with Norton taken 6th place.

Evening Sentinel Sep. 29th 1975 Page 7 F
Holditch colliery swept the board in the Western Area fire fighting competition. They won the underground trophy, surface trophy and the overall trophy for the most points.

Evening Sentinel Dec. 20th 1975 Page 10 L
Miners at North Staffs champion colliery were yesterday treated to free Christmas drinks by the coal board. About 30 miners of a 600 workforce at Holditch colliery were given bottles of beer. They had done well in production, fire fighting and safety.

Evening Sentinel Feb. 6th 1976 Page 13 F
Miners at Holditch colliery have won a national prize for their efforts in improving safety at the pit. In a competition between 80 collieries throughout the country they were judged to have the most improved record of safety.

Evening Sentinel April 7th 1976 Page 20 F
Three North Staffs pits have set new productivity records. Silverdale produced 680.686 tons in the financial year, 9.000 above the previous year. Florence set a new overall record of 54.3 cwt compared with 52.9 cwt in 1970/71. Holditch output was 401.000 tons, the best since 1950.

Evening Sentinel July 21st 1976 Page 6 Crewe
Natural gas from the underground workings of Holditch colliery is being piped through a one-mile pipeline to D.H. Downing, brick and tile manufacturer at Chesterton. (Full story)

Evening Sentinel July 22nd 1976 Page 1 CF
Crowned with a miners' helmet, by last year's Queen the 17-year old C. Hambleton was chosen as the Holditch Queen. She will now go forward to the Staffordshire Coal Queen final.

Evening Sentinel May 27th 1977 Final Page 13
Miners at Holditch colliery have smashed their own coal production record. The overall face output per mans shift at the 650 man colliery has been boosted to 730 cwt. over 5 cwt. more than their previous record of last June. Output during the record week was 10,122 tons.

Evening Sentinel September 21st 1977 Crewe Edition Page 11
Miners at Holditch colliery have chalked up another award to keep them on top of the safety league, the pits reputation for being safe and tidy as been boosted by part-time rescue team who won the rescue competition in Lancashire.

Evening Sentinel November 10th 1977 Late Crewe Final Page 13
Miners at Holditch colliery have set up a new European record for underground tunnelling. The men at the 65 year old colliery archived the record after driving a seven feet high “face line” tunnel 237 yards in one week, which is 2 feet longer than the previous record.

Evening Sentinel November 11th 1977 Late Crewe Final Page 1
Photograph of miners at Holditch colliery, who are the European tunnelling champions.

Evening Sentinel Jan 17th 1978 Page 5 Crewe
The 65 year old Holditch colliery, Chesterton, has won a major commendation in the business and industry awards for the environment in 1977, for its surface improvement scheme.

Evening Sentinel June 5th 1978 Page 16 F
A strike by 500 miners at Holditch colliery brought the pit to a standstill today. The strike is centred on the controversial incentive scheme.

Evening Sentinel June 6th 1978 Page 1 CF
Striking miners at Holditch colliery were holding a mass meeting this afternoon whether or not to end the two day stoppage.

Evening Sentinel Aug 17th 1978 Page 1 Crewe
Photograph of Holditch colliery Coal Queen, mother of three, June Jackson of Boon St Audley, with the pit helmet crown. Also a photo of Australian mining official Mr. Jack Woods on a visit to the North staffs coal field.

Evening Sentinel June 8th 1979 Page 11 Crewe
Mr. D. Hodgkinson has been appointed National chairman of the junior section of the Institute of Engineers. He has worked at Silverdale, Holditch, Florence and Hem Heath.

Evening Sentinel Aug 2nd 1979 Page 1 Crewe
There was deficit in the Western area of 24.8 million pounds. It was brought about by bad weather and a winter rail and road strike. There have been major geological problems in several pits including Holditch, Wolstanton and Hem heath.

Evening Sentinel March 18th 1980 Page 14 Crewe
An industrial review on the coal industry includes an investment of £20m for boosting production on the Trentham project. This project involves the linking of Hem Heath and Florence collieries and building a new coal preparation plant. 20 million pounds is for what is virtually a new mine at Silverdale and 5 million to boost production at Holditch colliery.

Evening Sentinel March 25th 1980 Page 1 Crewe
Michelin tyre works today piped in waste pit gas to drive their production machines. Five collieries contributed to this. They are Florence, Hem Heath, Holditch, Silverdale and Wolstanton.

Evening Sentinel Dec. 27th 1980 Page 5 L.
P. Smallman, mining engineer, has left the coal board for a new career selling mining expertise abroad. He was manager at Holditch for three years and from 1957 to 1973 was manager at Chatterley Whitfield colliery.

Evening Sentinel Dec 21st 1981 Page 5. Crewe
The NCB have submitted planning application to the Newcastle Borough Council for a new methane booster plant at Holditch colliery and a new haulage house at No.3 drift Silverdale colliery.

Evening Sentinel Jan 12th 1982 Page 7 F
Mr. J. Trolley, mechanisation engineer, has retired after 41 years service in the mining industry. He was responsible for the introduction of heavy duty equipment at Holditch, Hem Heath and Florence.

Evening Sentinel Aug 23rd 1982 Page 1 Crewe
Coal board officials rejected claims that Florence and Holditch collieries were included in a list of 46 in jeopardy.

Evening Sentinel Sep 17th 1982 Page 17 Crewe
Four North Staffs collieries, Hem Heath, Florence, Holditch and Wolstanton each have new under-managers.

Evening Sentinel March 2nd 1983 Page 1 Crewe
Welsh miners seek North Staffs support. A special meeting of the NUM National Executive has been called. Mr. A. Scargill said, “This is a fight for the survival of the mining industry.

Evening Sentinel March 2nd 1983 Page 1 CF
Ten of the Board's 17 collieries in the area had overall productivity records in excess of 3 tonnes per man-shift last week. They included Hem Heath, Florence, Silverdale and Holditch.

Evening Sentinel March 19th 1983 Page 19 L
Miners at Holditch colliery are flying the flag of success after winning a coal board competition for surface safety standards. One in six accidents occurred on the surface.

Evening Sentinel March 31st 1983 Page 1 Crewe
Coal production was at a standstill today at Holditch colliery. The walkout happened after pitmen stretchered a colleague out three miles. The management ordered them back underground or they would forfeit payment. It was normal practice they finish their shift on the surface.

Evening Sentinel Nov. 7th 1983 Page 1 C.F.
Miners who worked around the clock to save their pit from potential disaster won a pat on the back today. Action of the men at Holditch colliery had averted the threat of a major blaze underground.

Evening Sentinel June 10th 1986 Page 1 C.F.
Miners at Holditch colliery have hit a high note by smashing two, ten year-old records within a week. They achieved the best output and productivity figures in the 70 year history of the mine.

Evening Sentinel June 18th 1986 Page 16 Ex
Miners at Holditch colliery have broken the pit's production record for the second successive week. The new weekly output record now stands at 19.626 tonnes.

Evening Sentinel July 10th 1986 Page 11 Extra
Four women from Hem Heath and Holditch collieries attended a tribunal at Chelsea on their battle for equal pay. They were; Mrs Marion Thomas, Hem Heath, Mrs. P. Wilkie, Hem Heath Mrs. Doreen Podmore, Holditch and Mrs. Vera Tagg Holditch.

Evening Sentinel Sep 9th 1986 Page 14 C.F.
Trixie Jones visited Holditch colliery as a VIP guest. Her father helped to sink the 70-year-old shaft and her brother was killed in an explosion 50 years ago.

Evening Sentinel Sep 8th 1987 Page 7 Extra.
Coal chiefs are planning to use an open cast site into which they intend tip Holditch colliery's waste.

Evening Sentinel Feb. 20th 1988 Page 1 Co.
North Staffs deputies were split over their overtime ban. Florence and Holditch collieries supported the ban. Hem Heath and Silverdale did not. The dispute began 4 weeks ago with a weekend overtime ban; British Coal reacted by imposing continental duty rosters, at many pits. NACODS hit back with banning overtime at weekends.

Evening Sentinel April 2nd 1988 Page 9 C f.
For two successive years Holditch men have mined half a million tonnes of coal, which is a record. Now they are aiming to achieve the same record in 1988-89.

Evening Sentinel April 19th 1988 Page 30 Special
Industrial review. British Coal sinks 50 million pounds into pits, including Hem Heath, Silverdale, Holditch and Florence.

Evening Sentinel May 26th 1988 Page 3. Co.
From January 1st the area's 4 collieries Hem Heath, Silverdale, Florence and Holditch will become part of the new group, which will include pits in Lancashire and North Wales. Mr. Middleton age 54, the current boss of the Kent coalfield will become group manager for the newly created area.

Evening Sentinel Jan 18th 1989 Page 1 Newcastle
Jim Colgan, North Staff's union secretary predicted that a recent call for redundancies at Holditch will lead to the colliery's closure by August. He said moral was very low.

Evening Sentinel Jan 19th 1989 Page 1 Co.
A coal chief revealed today that hundreds of miners at Holditch were interested in golden handshakes to leave the colliery.

Evening Sentinel Jan 24th 1989 Page 1 Co.
British Coal's decision to axe more than 600 jobs in North Staffs has heightened fears for the future of Holditch colliery. NUM agent Joe Wills claimed the bulk of redundancies could take place at Holditch.

Evening Sentinel Feb. 2nd 1989 Page 8 Co.
Management and unions are due to take part in a meeting next week over the future of loss making Holditch colliery.

Evening Sentinel March 29th 1989 Page 23 Co
Following the recent announcement to close the pit Councillor Bill Hughes has called upon British Coal to remove a huge spoil mound created by waste from Holditch colliery.

Evening Sentinel April 10th 1989 Page 16 Moorlands
Miners at Holditch colliery want to erect a memorial to the pitmen who died in an underground disaster 50 years ago. Holditch colliery is due to close at the end of this year.

Evening Sentinel May 11th 1989 Page 4. Newcastle.
Lynn Golding MP has accused the government of launching a deliberate policy to close collieries after the unsuccessful fight to save Holditch colliery earlier this year.

Evening Sentinel July 7th 1989 Page 1 C
Holditch mine, due to be shut at the end of this year is being investigated as a site for industrial, retail, recreational or housing use.

Evening Sentinel July 18th 1989 Page 14 C
Coal production at Holditch colliery is to finish at the end of this month. Around 400 of the 600 employees have opted for voluntary redundancy. The remaining men have been found jobs at the 3 remaining pits in the area.

Evening Sentinel Aug. 2nd 1989 Page 3 C
Miners were today drawing the last of the coal from loss making Holditch colliery, which is to close later this year after 70 years of production.

Evening Sentinel Aug 3rd 1989 Page 26 Co
Full page spread with pictures, as miners from the doomed Holditch colliery prepare for life on the surface.

Evening Sentinel Jan 26th 1990 Cheshire Page 7
British pits are on the back of boom, said Sir Robert Haslam, but this has angered North Staffs miners leader Joe Wills, who claimed the boom would come about because the loss of 140,000 mining jobs, like Holditch colliery which as closed down.

Evening sentinel Jul 11th 1990 Cheshire Page 8
Part of the former Holditch colliery site could be one of the first pieces in a jigsaw which helped pieced together North Staffs Roman past.

Evening Sentinel Jan. 12th 1991 Page 9 Cheshire
A job boosting business plan for former Holditch colliery site looks set to get the go-ahead Staffordshire County Council officers revealed today.

Evening Sentinel Jan. 20th 1992 Page 23 Co
A special day for Benjamin Cooper aged 84 and his wife Grace aged 85 who are celebrating their diamond wedding. Benjamin was a miner at Holditch colliery for 47 years. Another couple Bill and Gladys Dooley were celebrating their golden wedding. Bill worked in the coal industry for 46 years. Another golden wedding, Ernest and May Rhodes, Ernest worked at Holditch for 39 years.

Evening Sentinel June 25th 1992 Page 12 Cheshire
George and Dorothy Hughes are celebrating 50 years of marriage. George worked at Holditch colliery.

Evening Sentinel Sep 17th 1992 Page 4 Cheshire
British Coal is pressing ahead with plans to turn derelict land at Holditch colliery into a jog boosting industrial park. The Holditch site has stood dormant since the pit closed in 1989.

Sentinel Feb 10th 1993 Page 41 Cheshire
Mr Jim Twigg and his wife Mary celebrate 56 years of marriage. They have 11 children, 23-grandchilren and 1 great granddaughter. Mr Twigg worked as a miner at several collieries in the area.

Sentinel July 16th 1993 Page14 Cheshire
A leading councillor rapped British Coal concerning the re-development of the former Holditch colliery site which shut down in 1989.

Sentinel Nov 10th Page 11 Cheshire
Staffordshire County Council plans to buy 50 acres of land at the former Holditch colliery site.