Apedale
or Minnie Pit rescue team about to descend,
Minnie Pit 1918. Despite our best efforts we
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Apedale
colliery was a drift mine operating between 1850
and November 1969. Prior to
nationalisation of the coal industry in 1947 it
was managed by the Shelton Iron, Steel and Coal
company which also controlled steel production
at Shelton Bar. Rail links connected the Apedale
mine to the Holditch and
Silverdale collieries
where coal from Apedale was washed.
Assessments
made in 1947 stated that the pit had enough
economic coal reserves to continue working for
50 years but it closed in 1969 with the loss of
around 200 jobs. It briefly reopened in 1971 as
a licensed mine under he control of Hampton Gold
Mining Areas Plc, but this venture was
eventually unsuccessful.
