MelissaED1 0 Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 Hi, I have recently started researching my family tree for the Dennis family, who moved to Radford in around 1891. My great granddad George Dennis worked as a miner, I am assuming at Radford Colliery and I would be grateful for any information about this pit and what life was like for mining families living in this area. Any information at all would be great, so i can try and build a picture of his life. Best wishes, Melissa Dennis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 I've not been able to find a great deal out about Radford Colliery either, ironic I worked with ex Radford and Wollaton lads at Clifton and never asked much. Sadly most who worked at Radford will be gone now. There is a book called "Radford, the Bread and Herring Pit" it used to be on sale at the Councils bookshop, it has just about everything I know about Radford in it. There is a little information on my Coal, Colliery and Mining site at http://coalmine.prob...play&thread=484 That will take you to the Wollaton and Radford Collieries section. We had a Colin Dennis at Clifton, had an accident underground and lost a lower portion of a leg and went on to work in the training branch at area HQ after Clifton closed, I wonder if you are some relation to him?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 There are a couple of pages about Radford Colliery in this book, giving some background information And here's a couple of photos of the place Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,535 Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Now then John, I can remember a Colin Dennis, worked at Clifton and lived on Gardendale avenue, I believe he grew up in the Highbury vale area and quite possibly started work at Radford. I did have a copy of the "Bread and Herring pit" writen by someone who spent his entire working life down that pit, I think in the last sentence of the book he said the best thing about the pit was when they capped it over, I think it was a very damp working environment hence the bread and herring reference Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 My grandfather(Walter Clifton) born Radford Woodhouse in 1887 spent his entire working life at Radford colliery. After he married my grandmother(Elizabeth Radford born 1887 Radford Woodhouse) lived in Guthrie Stree & Middleton Street. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Now then John, I can remember a Colin Dennis, worked at Clifton and lived on Gardendale avenue, I believe he grew up in the Highbury vale area and quite possibly started work at Radford. I did have a copy of the "Bread and Herring pit" writen by someone who spent his entire working life down that pit, I think in the last sentence of the book he said the best thing about the pit was when they capped it over, I think it was a very damp working environment hence the bread and herring reference Rog I believe it was you who sent me a scanned copy Rog. No the bread and herring part came from being too poor for decent snap, bread and herrings were pretty cheap snap for a working man. I found reference to bread and herring pit referring to other pits around the country too. Is Col still around Rog???? Nice feller, I worked on one of the faces he worked on right up until his accident. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 I recall Tommy Shaw when he went up to the hospital for a check up prior to having a hernia operated on, Col hadn't been in hospital more than a week, so Tom decided to go up and see him to see how he was feeling. Tom related to us all, Col was chasing a nurse down the corridor in his wheelchair!!! He never let anything get him down!! He was back at work after six weeks, albiet doing an office job, never to go underground again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
susyshoes 69 Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 I know Les Dennis (not that one) his dad Alec (only passed away yesterday) was in his late 80s. All from Hucknall. Les worked down t'pit but i think it was Hucknall or Linby Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bugsy Royd 6 Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 Hi my grandad worked down wollaton pit and radford pit .. His father worked down Clifton pit and radford pit . His father was killed down Clifton pit in 1863 evening post carries a full post Mortem report . Only found this out when I visited the Wakefield library with all the volumes of pit accidents in Great Britain in the last 150 years . My ancestors have worked down pits from trowell , wollaton bilbo rough radford since 1750,s . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 There's a list of Nottingham/Derbyshire colliery accidents on the Healey Mines Rescue site. I worked as an apprentice at Clifton and worked under a couple of ex Radford/Wollaton electricians after Wollaton closed.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hark at it! 0 Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 I think I posted this somewhere else on the forum, but can't remember where (born 1960..."gerrinonabit"). Has anyone got a map of the Radford pit workings superimposed on a map of the area? I've seen them for Wollaton and Clifton pits. I recall subsidence being felt at our house on Ainsley Estate. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 I posted an answer to your post yesterday here.....http://nottstalgia.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1482&page=4 And your a young bloke at side of me....LOL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hark at it! 0 Posted December 20, 2014 Report Share Posted December 20, 2014 I posted an answer to your post yesterday here.....http://nottstalgia.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1482&page=4 And your a young bloke at side of me....LOL Just found it and replied, thanks. Hah! I'm still the little kid of 4 sneaking out of his council house and going to watch steam trains at new bridge. However, I appear to be 54. r Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted December 20, 2014 Report Share Posted December 20, 2014 Pleases don't use the Quote feature when you are replying to the immediately preceding post. It's only intended for when you reply to something which is further back in the thread. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.