The National Coal Board, Owners of Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill Collieries 1956-1976

From the introduction: This book takes a look at the final years of the three collieries and their associated communities from the late 1950's through the 1960's and eventually to the death of a young boy who fell down the shaft of the closed Thomley pit in 1976.

The book reports on events from the communities which shows a good, strong commu­nity spirit with many organisations thriving. There is less emphasis on the mining industry in the newspapers and we can assume, that under National Coal Board ownership, that safety and conditions improved and thankfully, there were fewer fatalities to report.

The closure of Wheatley Hill pit in 1968 and then Thomley in 1972 were sad occasions for both villages with many men being transferred to other pits in the area. Some took the opportunity to leave the mining industry altogether and retrained in the many new industries that were springing up in the surrounding area. The pit closures may have been leen as a time for new opportunities by some but a time of great sadness and loss to others.

Alongside the closure of our major industries in Thomley and Wheatley Hill, came the inevitable decline of our Villages. No longer were there local opportunities for young men leaving school and this led to the slow demise of people leaving to relocate to more prosperous areas. There are articles in the newspapers at this time, of some families and their emigration plans.

We know from our involvement in local history and heritage that the days of the pits and their associated communities are still remembered with pride by the people of Thomley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill and this book will remind us all of what it was like living through those halcyon times....

The condition of the book is generally good. The covers have several minor scuffs and blemishes, and light creasing and wear along the edges and corners, but the spine is tight and intact, and all pages are intact, unblemished and tightly bound. Please note there is some blemishing to the outside page leaves.