Finding coal mining archives
Historical sources relating to the coal mining industry in Britain are held by many different organisations across the country. This guide includes information about the location of some of the main national and regional collections, including archives of mining trade unions and coal owners.
Trade union archives
Miners' Federation of Great Britain
The Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB) was formed in 1880 as a federation of a number of local miners' associations. It was renamed the Mineworkers' Federation of Great Britain in 1933. In January 1945 it reorganised as a unified trade union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), with each former constituent association becoming a district of the new union.
Most of the centrally held records of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain were destroyed in the summer of 1944, when the union's London headquarters received a direct hit from a 'flying bomb'.
Archive locations
The Modern Records Centre holds a series of annual reports, proceedings and accounts of the , 1894-1944, with other material relating to conciliation proceedings, negotiations, safety and welfare, and other aspects of the mining industry. Most of the material in this collection is published rather than manuscript.
Other organisations also hold copies of the MFGB published annual reports and proceedings, including .
National Union of Mineworkers
The National Union of Mineworkers was formed in 1945, replacing the looser federation of regional mining unions represented by the Miners鈥� Federation of Great Britain.
Archive locations
The Modern Records Centre holds more than relating to the NUM鈥檚 administration and campaigns since 1945. The archives of the national union do not include membership records.
National Association of Colliery, Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers (NACODS)
Archive locations
British Association of Colliery Management
The British Association of Colliery Management (BACM) represented managerial and supervisory staff in the coal industry. The Association has its origins in the Yorkshire Association of Colliery Officials and Staff, formed in the early 1940s. It later became the British Association of Colliery Officials and Staff and in 1947, following the nationalisation of the coal industry, it was renamed the British Association of Colliery Management. BACM merged with Prospect in 2014.
Archive locations
Employers' Records
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board (NCB) was a public corporation created under the 1946 Coal Industry Nationalisation Act to run the British coal mining industry. The industry was formally taken into public ownership on 1 January 1947. The NCB was renamed the British Coal Corporation in 1987. After privatisation of the coal industry in 1994, the administrative functions of BCC were transferred to the newly created Coal Authority (now known as the Mining Remediation Authority).
Archive locations
The National Archives holds the central records of the National Coal Board (NCB), including archives of pre-nationalisation companies inherited by the NCB. Information about their holdings is included in a .
The archive maintained by the Mining Remediation Authority at the includes large collections of 鈥榓bandoned mine鈥� plans and National Coal Board / British Coal photographs. Thousands of historic coal mining plans are available through a developed jointly by the MRA and the British Geological Survey.
Editions of Coal, the magazine of the National Coal Board, have been digitised from 1947-1960 by the National Coal Mining Museum and are .
Other mining industry archives
Miners鈥� Welfare Commission
The Miners鈥� Welfare Fund was established under the 1920 Mining Industry Act. The Miners鈥� Welfare Commission was appointed in 1921 to administer the fund and include representatives of unions, employers and the government. The Commission was abolished in 1952 and its functions were taken over by the National Coal Board and Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation. The hold minutes, annual reports and circulars relating to the .
North East Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers
The extensive library on mining engineering and the coal industry is held at the . Highlights from the Institute's collections have been , including transactions of the Institute and early editions of The Colliery Guardian.
Imperial War Museum
The Imperial War Museum (IWM) holds an extensive collection of material relating to the . This includes copies of letters written by ex-Bevin Boys, copies of ballotee records for the Midlands region, photographs, and other photocopied and original documents relating to the scheme.
Working Class Movement Library
in Salford include archives on mining and miners鈥� strikes, including sources relating to the General Strike, the 1984/5 miners鈥� strike and the campaign against pit closures in the early 1990s.
Other resources
Organisations
National museums:
England, Scotland and Wales each have their own national mining museum:
National Coal Mining Museum
The in England is on the site of Caphouse Colliery, West Yorkshire. As well as the extensive museum collections, the NCMM also includes on the history of coal mining in England.
National Mining Museum
The in Scotland is on the site of the former Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange. The site hosts archive and library collections, as well as a large museum collection on the history of coal mining in Scotland.
Big Pit National Coal Museum
, part of Amgueddfa Cymru / Museum Wales, is on the Big Pit site, Blaenavon.
Northern Mine Research Society
The maintains a , which includes the .
National Association of Mining History Organisations
Formed in 1979, the National Association of Mining History Organisations (NAMHO) is a national body which aims to promote education and research in mining history. includes a list of local and regional members.
Black Miners Museum
The is a Nottingham-based heritage organisation collecting and sharing oral histories, narratives, memories and creative representations of former coal miners of Black / African-Caribbean heritage and other diverse groups within UK mining history.
Digitised resources
British Newspaper Archive
A subscription is required to access most of the content, but you may be able to get free access to the resource through your local library or archive.
Most of the British Newspaper Archive鈥檚 collection consists of local newspapers, which can given details of mining disasters, industrial disputes, social events, trade union meetings and other subjects connected to the coal industry and the administration of individual collieries. The BNA also provides access to some specialist or trade newspapers, including , 1845-1894; , 1862-1867; , 1874-1878 (published in Stoke on Trent); , 1875-1886 (published in Barnsley); , 1873-1876; and the , 1889-1944.
Art UK
provides free online access to images of art in public collections.
The digitised collections include artworks relating to the coal industry, including items from the collections of the National Coal Mining Museum for England, National Mining Museum Scotland, Common Room (North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers), Beamish, Dean Heritage Centre and Museum of Cannock Chase.
Haithi Trust
The includes digitised publications mostly from academic libraries in North America. Although most of the contents are North American in focus, the collection does include published reports, books, pamphlets and journals from the 19th and early 20th century relating to the British coal industry. Examples of some of the available publications can be seen through .
Oral history projects
Cambridge and the Miners鈥� Strike, 1984-1985
Background information and online resources relating to , including interviews with the families of striking miners and their supporters.
鈥楥oal miners and dust-related disease鈥� oral history project
Trade union archives
Cumberland Miners' Association
The West Cumberland Miners' Association (WCMA) was founded in 1872, and renamed the Cumberland Miners' Association (CMA) in 1906.
The CMA was a member of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB). When the MFGB was replaced by the more centralised National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in 1945, the Cumberland Miners' Association became the Cumberland Area of the NUM.
Archive locations
The main surviving records of the CMA are held at the . These include Area minutes, 1887-1985; financial records, 1906-1926; records relating to arbitration, wages and working conditions, 1892-1953; branch or lodge records for Allerdale, Moresby, Siddick and Whitehaven.
Additional archives relating to the WCMA, the CMA and the mining industry in Cumberland are held at .
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
hold records relating to the National Coal Board Cumberland Division and some pre-nationalisation colliery companies.
Sources relating to the NCB Cumberland Division are also held at the National Archives, including .
Other resources
Cumbria Industrial History Society
The website, produced by the Cumbria Industrial History Society, includes an online guide to coal mining in Cumbria.
Northern Mine Research Society
, including a list of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Trade union archives
Derbyshire Miners' Association
Before 1880 the South Yorkshire Miners' Association (SYMA) included branches in the north east of Derbyshire. In 1880 the Derbyshire Miners' Association (DMA) was formed and the Derbyshire branches broke away from the SYMA to join the newer local union.
The DMA joined the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB) in 1890. When the MFGB was replaced by the more centralised National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in 1945, the Derbyshire Miners' Association became the Derbyshire Area of the NUM.
The DMA / NUM Derbyshire Area represented mineworkers in the north east of the county. A separate organisation covered the coalfield in the south of the county.
Archive locations
The main are held at . These include minutes, financial records, and documents relating to arbitration, pay, working conditions, welfare and compensation. Derbyshire Record Office have an in their archives.
The Modern Records Centre holds a small amount of material relating to the Derbyshire coalfield. This includes files in the main National Union of Mineworkers archive relating to the , and an .
South Derbyshire Miners' Association
The South Derbyshire Miners' Association was formed in 1888 and joined the Miners' Federation of Great Britain in 1889. In 1945, when the MFGB was replaced by the more centralised National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the South Derbyshire Miners' Association became the South Derbyshire Area of the NUM.
Archive locations
The Modern Records Centre holds for 1948-1960 and 1978-1984.
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
hold records relating to the operations of the in Derbyshire and some .
Other resources
Midland Colliery Owners' Mutual Indemnity Company compensation registers
of 71,206 compensation payment records relating to mining accidents across the Midlands. Results are anonymised and information about individuals is not given.
Pleasley Pit Coal Mining Heritage Site
, country park and nature reserve on the site of Pleasley Pit, Derbyshire.
South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group
The includes information about South Derbyshire's mining heritage.
Mining Heritage: Coal mining culture in the East Midlands
Interactive map, articles and other relating to the East Midlands coalfields.
Northern Mine Research Society
, including a list of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Trade union archives
Durham Miners' Association
Durham Miners' Association (DMA) was founded in 1869 and became the Durham Area of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in 1945.
Archive locations
The main surviving records of the DMA are held at . These include minutes, financial records, and documents relating to arbitration, pay, working conditions and compensation. DRO have an on coal mining and Durham collieries.
Additional records relating to the Durham coalfield, DMA and NUM Durham Area are held at the University of Sunderland Library, as part of the , and at (TWA). Guides to TWA's collections on the coal industry and trade unions, employers' and professional organisations are available through the and information about the DMA / NUM Durham Area archives at University of Sunderland Library is available through their .
The Modern Records Centre holds a small amount of material relating to the County Durham coalfield, including files in the main National Union of Mineworkers archive which relate to the .
Durham County Colliery Enginemen's Association
Durham County Colliery Enginemen's Association was founded in 1871. It became part of Group No.1 of the National Union of Mineworkers.
Archive locations
The main surviving records of the DCCEA are held at .
Durham Colliery Mechanics' Association
Durham Colliery Mechanics' Association was formed in 1879 but had its origins in the earlier and short-lived National Amalgamated Society of Colliery Mechanics. The DCMA became part of Group No.1 of the National Union of Mineworkers.
Archive locations
Lodge accounts for Durham Colliery Mechanics Association are held at .
Durham Cokemen's Association
The union was founded in 1874 and registered under the Trade Union Acts in 1875. It was known by various names: the Durham Coke Drawers' and Labourers' Association, the Durham Cokemen's and Labourers' Association, the Durham Cokemen's Association, and finally the Durham Cokemen's and Bye-Product Workers' Association. The Durham Cokemen's and Bye-Product Workers' Association merged with the Lancashire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire Cokemen's Association in 1915 / 1916 to form the National Union of Cokemen and By-product Workers.
Archive locations
The Modern Records Centre holds a , including branch records for Marley Hill lodge, and records relating to arbitration, finance and administration.
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
hold records relating to the operations of the National Coal Board in County Durham, the Durham Coal Owners' Association, the Durham Coal Owners' Mutual Protection Association and some pre-nationalisation colliery companies. Additional material relating to local coal owners is held at .
Other resources
Mining Durham's Hidden Depths
to Durham Miners' Association records held at the Durham Record Office, including over 229,000 personal name entries.
Durham Mining Museum
relating to the coalfields of County Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland.
Redhills
Information about the history, preservation and current use of , the headquarters of the Durham Miners' Association.
North East Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers
The extensive library on mining engineering and the coal industry is held at the . Highlights from the have been digitised and are available online, including transactions of the Institute and early editions of The Colliery Guardian.
Beamish Museum
, including recreation of 1900s colliery (Mahogany Drift Mine) and pit village.
Horden Colliery Heritage Centre
relating to Horden Colliery and information about the local heritage centre.
Northern Mine Research Society
Information about the , including a list of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
hold several collections relating to coal owners in the Forest of Dean. These include a small and business records of the .
Other resources
South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group
Voluntary organisation which researches the history of mining in the local area. The maintains a which includes information on accidents and inquests.
Forest of Dean Local History Society
The website includes resources relating to the mining industry. The Society鈥檚 includes lists of registered Free Miners and Free Quarrymen between 1838-1959 and information about nearly 600 fatalities in local mines and quarries.
Trade union archives
National Union of Mineworkers Kent Area
Durham Miners' Association (DMA) was founded in 1869 and became the Durham Area of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in 1945.
Archive locations
are held at .
The hold the archives of Richard Richardson, a former miner at Snowden Colliery. An exhibition on mining in Kent, including items from Richardson鈥檚 collection, is .
The Modern Records Centre holds a small amount of material relating to the Kent coalfield. This includes files in the main National Union of Mineworkers archive relating to the and an .
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
are held by . Kent History and Library Centre also hold some additional records relating to pre-nationalisation coal owners in the local area.
Other resources
Kent Mining Museum
was established to record, preserve and share the history of the Kent coalfield. The museum is on the site of the former Betteshanger Colliery.
Dover Museum
Resources produced as part of the Coalfields Heritage Initiative Kent (CHIK) project are available through . These include a history of the Kent coalfields, extracts from oral history interviews and an education pack.
Elvington and Eythorne Heritage Centre
The was set up to promote and prolong the community heritage of Eythorne and Elvington, Waldershare and Tilmanstone Colliery. The website includes articles and photographs relating to Tilmanstone and the wider Kent coalfield.
Northern Mine Research Society
Information about the , including a list of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Trade union archives
Lancashire and Cheshire Miners Federation
Archive locations
The Modern Records Centre holds a relating to the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners Federation (LCMF), including an incomplete series of minutes, reports and accounts from 1897-1936.
An incomplete set of minutes and reports, 1897-1978, is also held at the , Salford.
for Farnworth, Kearsley and Little Hulton lodge are held by Bolton History Centre.
Lancashire and Cheshire Colliery Tradesman and Kindred Workers
Archive locations
Bolton History Centre hold a relating to the Lancashire and Cheshire Colliery Tradesman and Kindred Workers, 1920-1977.
National Union of Mineworkers Lancashire Area / North West Area
Archive locations
The Modern Records Centre holds some , including minutes from 1976-1992, financial records, conciliation board proceedings, and some surviving branch records. The main National Union of Mineworkers archive also includes files relating to the .
A small number of NUM branch records are held by , including items relating to Cliviger and Rossendale.
Records of the are held by Bolton History Centre, including material from before 1945.
Rossendale Miners Association
Archive locations
hold for Rossendale Miners Association, 1929-1969.
Lancashire, Cheshire, and North Wales Colliery Deputies' and Shot-firers' Association
Archive locations
hold records relating to the , including north west branch minutes, correspondence and accounts.
Employers' records
South-West Lancashire Coal Owners Association Ltd.
Archive locations
Archives of the are held at including minute books, accounts, compensation records and correspondence files.
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
hold records relating to the operations of the in the county, together with archives relating to some pre-nationalisation companies.
Welfare organisations and support groups
Lancashire and Cheshire Miners Permanent Relief Society
Archive locations
Archives of the are held at Wigan Archives. Information about financial relief paid to individual miners is available in .
Lancashire Women Against Pit Closures
Archives relating to Lancashire Women Against Pit Closures, 1992-1993, are held at the , Salford.
Other resources
Lancashire Mining Museum
is on the site of Astley Green Colliery.
Northern Mine Research Society
Information about the , including a list of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Trade union archives
Coalville and District Miners鈥� Association / Leicestershire Miners鈥� Association
The Coalville and District Miners鈥� Association (CDMA) was founded in 1887 and renamed the Leicestershire Miners鈥� Association (LMA) in c.1908.Archive locations
The main archives of the CDMA / LMA are held by the , including minutes, 1899-1946, and , Secretary of the union in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
National Union of Mineworkers Leicester Area
Archive locations
The Modern Records Centre holds the , including minutes, financial records, records relating to wages, working conditions, safety and health, and branch records. The main National Union of Mineworkers archive also includes files relating to the .
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
The hold records relating to the operations of the National Coal Board in the county, together with archives relating to some pre-nationalisation companies.
Other resources
Snibston Colliery Park
Former colliery site now in use as a . Tours of the site are run by Snibston Heritage Trust.
Leicester County Council Museum Collections
Information about objects in the which reflect the work of the Leicestershire miners.
Mining Heritage: Coal mining culture in the East Midlands
Interactive map, articles and other relating to the East Midlands coalfields.
Northern Mine Research Society
Information about the , including a list of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Trade union archives
National Union of Mineworkers North Wales Area and predecessor unions
Archive locations
The holds an relating to the NUM North Wales Area and predecessor unions the Denbighshire and Flintshire Miners鈥� Federation, the North Wales Miners鈥� Association, and the North Wales and Border Counties Mineworkers鈥� Association, dating from the 1890s 鈥� 1980s.
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
The holds records relating to the operations of the National Coal Board in the county, together with archives relating to some pre-nationalisation companies.
Other resources
North Wales Miners Association Trust Ltd.
aims to preserve the remaining physical evidence of North Wales鈥� mining heritage and to educate future generations about the industry.
Wrexham Miners Project
on the site of a former Miners Rescue Station in Wrexham, including a Miners鈥� Museum. The Project website includes an on the 1934 Gresford Mining Disaster.
Northern Mine Research Society
Information about the coalfields in and , including lists of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Trade union archives
Northumberland Miners Mutual Confident Association / Northumberland Miners鈥� Association
The Northumberland Miners' Mutual Confident Association was formed in 1864 and was later renamed the Northumberland Miners' Association (NMA).
The NMA affiliated to the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB) in 1907. When the MFGB was replaced by the more centralised National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in 1945, the Northumberland Miners' Association became the Northumberland Area of the NUM.
Archive locations
The main records of the Association, including central administrative records and branch records, are held at .
The Modern Records Centre also has a relating to the union, including an incomplete series of minutes, circulars and balance sheets, 1894-1936.
National Union of Mineworkers Northumberland Area
Archive locations
hold the main archives of the NUM Northumberland Area.
Northumberland Colliery Mechanics Association
Archive locations
Records of the Northumberland Colliery Mechanics Association are held at and .
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
hold records relating to the operations of the National Coal Board in the area, together with archives relating to some pre-nationalisation companies.
Other resources
Woodhorn Museum
on the site of Woodhorn Colliery, Ashington. The museum includes collections relating to the Ashington Group (Pitmen Painters) and the Coal Town Collection by social documentary photographer Mik Critchlow.
Northern Mine Research Society
Information about the , including a list of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Trade union archives
Nottingham and District Miners鈥� Federated Union / National Union of Mineworkers Nottingham Area
Archive locations
The hold minutes of the NUM Nottingham Area and its predecessor the Nottingham and District Miners鈥� Federated Union for 1939-1984.
Union of Democratic Mineworkers
Archive locations
Archives of the Union of Democratic Mineworkers (UDM) are held by the , including Nottingham Section minutes, 1985-1994, and editions of The Nottinghamshire Miner, 1985-1990.
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
As well as mining union archives, the also hold records relating to some pre-nationalisation coal owners. A guide to the mining collections held at the University of Nottingham is available through .
National Coal Board and some pre-nationalisation company records are also held by . A summary of some of the main collections is available through the .
Other resources
Mining Heritage: Coal mining culture in the East Midlands
Interactive map, articles and other relating to the East Midlands coalfields.
Northern Mine Research Society
Links to information about the , including lists of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Trade union archives
National Union of Mineworkers, Scotland Area
Archive locations
The holds archives relating to the NUM Scotland Area, and local records for the NUM and pre-1945 mining unions in Ayrshire, Fife, Lanarkshire and the Lothians.
Scottish Colliery Engineermen, Boilermen and Tradesmen鈥檚 Association
The United Engine Keeper鈥檚 Mutual Protective Association of Scotland was founded in c.1873. In 1912 it changed its name to the Scottish Colliery Engineermen and Boilermen鈥檚 Association.
Archive locations
The holds minutes, 1878-1955, account books and branch records.
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
National Coal Board and some pre-nationalisation company records are held by National Records of Scotland, who have an to their coal mining collections.
Other resources
National Mining Museum
on the site of the former Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange. The site hosts archive and library collections, as well as a large museum collection on the history of coal mining in Scotland.
Eco-Museum of Scottish Mining Landscapes
which examines the landscape legacies of coal mining across the Scottish midland coalfield.
Scottish Mining Website
The includes information about mining communities and accident indexes (including names of individuals). It was last updated in 2018.
Northern Mine Research Society
Information about the , and , including lists of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Trade union archives
Somerset Miners' Association
The Somerset Miners' Association (SMA) was founded in 1872.
In 1956 the Area was incorporated into the South Wales Area of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
Archive locations
The main surviving records of the SMA are held at the . These include minutes, financial records, records relating to conciliation, welfare and wages, and some branch records.
Bristol Miners' Association
Archive locations
Quarterly balance sheets for Bristol Miners' Association, 1889-1894, are held by .
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
hold National Coal Board records for the local area.
Other resources
Somerset Coalfield Life at Radstock Museum
Information about the exhibitions, displays and collections relating to the Somerset coalfield. The museum holds relating to the local mining industry.
Trade union archives
South Wales Miners鈥� Federation / National Union of Mineworkers South Wales Area
Archive locations
The main archives of the SWMF / NUM South Wales Area are included in the at the , University of Swansea.
Branch records are also held in local authority archives, including and .
Relevant archives and publications are also held at the , Aberystwyth.
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
National Coal Board (NCB) and some pre-nationalisation company records are held by local authority archives in South Wales.
Glamorgan Archives provide detailed information about their collections in the online research guide .
Gwent Archives have links to catalogues of NCB and other mining collections available through their .
Other resources
Big Pit National Coal Museum
at the Big Pit site, Blaenavon.
Rhondda Heritage Park Museum
on the site of the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery.
South Wales Miners鈥� Museum
on the site of a former colliery in the Afan Valley.
Glamorgan鈥檚 Blood: Dark Arteries, Old Veins
developed from the collections at Glamorgan Archives.
Aberfan Disaster 1966
from collections held by the National Library of Wales and Glamorgan Archives.
Northern Mine Research Society
Information about the , including a list of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Trade union archives
North Staffordshire Miners Federation / National Union of Mineworkers Staffordshire Area
Archive locations
Records relating to the North Staffordshire Miners鈥� Federation and the NUM Staffordshire Area are included in the collections at .
Pelsall and Cannock Chase Miners鈥� Federation
Archive locations
hold some 19th and 20th century records relating to this organisation.
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
and some pre-nationalisation company records are held by .
Other resources
Staffordshire University Library Special Collections
The Mining Archive at University of Staffordshire University Library Special Collections includes material relating to the industry in North Staffordshire. Sources in the Mining Archive have been used to put together an to mark the centenary of the opening of Hem Heath Colliery in 2024.
Keele University Special Collections and Archives
Keele University hold several archive collections relating to the Staffordshire coalfield. These include archives of the , formed during the 1984/5 Miners' Strike, and the , which includes Chatterley Whitfield Colliery minute books, 1874-1926, and photograph albums relating to local industrial history.Black Country History
The site includes searchable catalogues and some digitised material from museum and archive services in the region.
Chatterley Whitfield Colliery
One of the most complete former colliery sites in Europe and a scheduled ancient monument. Although a museum is no longer open at Stoke on Trent鈥檚 , the Friends group run a Heritage Centre and site tours on set days.
Apedale Heritage Centre
Volunteer-run Heritage Centre on the site of , Newcastle under Lyme.
Black Country Living Museum
, including underground mine tour.
Northern Mine Research Society
Information about the , including a list of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Trade union archives
Warwickshire Miners' Association / National Union of Mineworkers (Warwickshire District) Midlands Area
The first Warwickshire Miners' Association (WMA) was founded in 1872 and lasted until 1880. The WMA was revived in 1885 and after the creation of the National Union of Mineworkers in 1945 became known as the National Union of Mineworkers (Warwickshire District) Midlands Area.
Archive locations
The are held at . These include minutes, financial records, and documents relating to arbitration, pay, working conditions and compensation.
also hold sources relating to the local coal industry, including records of the , 1981-1989.
The Modern Records Centre holds a small amount of material relating to the Warwickshire coalfield. This includes files in the main National Union of Mineworkers archive which relate to the , photocopies of , and an .
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
hold records relating to the operations of the .
also hold records of pre-nationalisation companies in the city, including archives of Binley Colliery Co. Ltd. and Wyken Colliery.
Other resources
Midland Colliery Owners' Mutual Indemnity Company compensation registers
of 71,206 compensation payment records relating to mining accidents across the Midlands. Results are anonymised and information about individuals is not given.
Our Warwickshire
Histories of the Warwickshire Miners' Association, information about individual collieries, and articles about different aspects of working life in the Warwickshire coalfield are included in Heritage and Culture Warwickshire's website, under the themes of and .
Northern Mine Research Society
, including a list of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Trade union archives
South Yorkshire Miners' Association
The South Yorkshire Miners' Association (SYMA) was founded in Barnsley in 1858 and represented coal miners in what is now South Yorkshire (previously part of the West Riding) and northern Derbyshire. Derbyshire lodges split from the SYMA in 1880 to form a separate Derbyshire Miners' Association. In 1881 the South Yorkshire Miners' Association and West Yorkshire Miners' Association merged to form the Yorkshire Miners' Association (YWA).
Archive locations
The Modern Records Centre holds some surviving records of the , including financial records and branch membership registers.
Some additional records relating to the South Yorkshire Miners' Association are held by the , , and .
West Yorkshire Miners' Association
The West Yorkshire Miners' Association (WYMA) was formed in 1858 and represented coal miners in the West Riding of Yorkshire, particularly in the districts around Wakefield and Leeds. In 1881 the WYMA merged with the South Yorkshire Miners' Association to form the Yorkshire Miners' Association.
Archive locations
The Modern Records Centre holds some surviving records of the , including minutes, accounts, business records, and a membership register for Mirfield Lodge.
Some additional records relating to the West Yorkshire Miners' Association are held by the .
Yorkshire Miners' Association / National Union of Mineworkers Yorkshire Area
The Yorkshire Miners' Association was formed in 1881 by the merger of the South Yorkshire Miners' Association and the West Yorkshire Miners' Association. It formally changed its name from the Yorkshire Miners' Association to the Yorkshire Mine Workers' Association in 1923. The YMA was a founding member of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB) in 1889. When the MFGB was replaced by the more centralised National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in 1945, the Yorkshire Mine Workers' Association became the Yorkshire Area of the NUM.
Archive locations
The Modern Records Centre holds the main archives of the , including committee papers, financial records, subject files and some branch records.
Additional records relating to the Yorkshire Miners' Association / NUM Yorkshire Area are held by , , and .
YMA branch records for , 1881-1930, are held by the Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham.
Employers' records
Pre-nationalisation companies and National Coal Board
Archive locations
Records relating to the National Coal Board and pre-nationalisation companies in Yorkshire are held by local archive services including the and . West Yorkshire Archive Service have an to records relating to the National Coal Board and predecessor bodies.
Archives relating to the are held at the Brotherton Library, University of Leeds.
Other resources
National Coal Mining Museum
The is on the site of Caphouse Colliery, West Yorkshire. As well as the extensive museum collections, the NCMM also includes on the history of coal mining in England.
Wakefield Museums
includes highlights from their collections on coal mining in the local area.
Elsecar Heritage Centre
, managed by Barnsley Museums, includes the New Yard workshops, built for the Wentworth Woodhouse estate and later owned by the National Coal Board. A visitor centre includes information about the history of the site.Northern Mine Research Society
, including links to lists of collieries after nationalisation in 1947.
Oaks Colliery Disaster, 1866
relating to England's worst pit disaster (by lives lost).