Reunion marks end of coal mine history

Former miners will mark the passing of an era with a reunion service to commemorate the closure of Shropshire's last working colliery.

Granville Pit closed in 1979, bringing to an end more than 700 years of coal mining in the area which became Telford New Town in the 1960s.

The occasion will be marked with a special service on July 5 at the Fletcher Methodist Church, Court Street, Madeley, at 2.30pm.

Shelagh Lewis, of Madeley Living History Project, said: "When the Madeley Pit closed in 1967 more than 350 of its miners were transferred to Granville and the Granville Pit's employment figure rose to about 900 men.

"Twelve years later on May 21, 1979, Granville too closed and the miners lost their jobs there.

"The last Shropshire pit had closed and more than 700 years of coal mining had come to an end.

"On June 29, 1979, the last of the miners, retained on salvage work, walked behind the Shropshire Miners' Union banner from Madeley Court School through Madeley to the Blists Hill Site of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum."

Mrs Lewis said the banner had been since "laid up" at the museum, although it would be out again on July 5.

"The service will be led by the Reverend Colin Richards, a former Madeley miner, and other former mine workers will take part.

"All Shropshire miners from the Telford area, Highley and Ifton, their families and friends will be welcome.

"There will be an exhibition and time for a chat in the schoolroom behind the church afterwards.

"It is hoped to remember too the hundreds of miners who lost their lives or their health in Shropshire over the years and particularly the seven men who died in the Madeley pit disaster in 1910.

"A winding rope broke at Kemberton Pit and five men and two 14-year-old boys were killed."

Other activities include a talk at Coalbrookdale Museum at 7.30pm on June 26 by Dr Ivor Brown on The Last of the Shropshire Miners.

For details, call Mrs Lewis on (01952) 567288.

By Peter Johnson