At No3 sons repeated exhortation, spent a weekend camping in Nottinghamshire this September. Took the opportunity to have a look at the (now disused) Clipstone colliery....
The Clipstone Colliery, , produced coal from 1927 until 1993, and then again from 1994 to 2003. The imposing headstocks were amongst the tallest in Europe when built during upgrades in the 1950s and were given Grade II listed status by English Heritage in 2000 as being ‘special architectural or historic interest’.
The site is currently owned by Welbeck Estate, who would like to demolish the headstocks - although others are campaigning for the site to become an adventure park including a mile long zip line! (see also www.clipstoneheadstocks.co.uk)
There is an e-petition to save the headstocks. BFTF has signed it, and hopes you will too.
A history of Clipstone colliery here and some images of the colliery here and here.
Meanwhile, next to the campsite was a farm - and BFTF was fascinated to see how quickly the farmer, armed with a tractor and a Lemken Solitaire 9 seed drill, was able to plant an entire field with seeds.
It left BFTF wondering if there was any information quantifying the impact of mechanisation on farming productivity
The best thing about camping, it seems, is cooking on a gas stove !
The Clipstone Colliery, , produced coal from 1927 until 1993, and then again from 1994 to 2003. The imposing headstocks were amongst the tallest in Europe when built during upgrades in the 1950s and were given Grade II listed status by English Heritage in 2000 as being ‘special architectural or historic interest’.
The site is currently owned by Welbeck Estate, who would like to demolish the headstocks - although others are campaigning for the site to become an adventure park including a mile long zip line! (see also www.clipstoneheadstocks.co.uk)
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| Clipstone Colliery |
There is an e-petition to save the headstocks. BFTF has signed it, and hopes you will too.
A history of Clipstone colliery here and some images of the colliery here and here.
 |
| Headstocks look like some kind of alien engineering has been placed in the middle of the village |
Meanwhile, next to the campsite was a farm - and BFTF was fascinated to see how quickly the farmer, armed with a tractor and a Lemken Solitaire 9 seed drill, was able to plant an entire field with seeds.
It left BFTF wondering if there was any information quantifying the impact of mechanisation on farming productivity
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| Mechanisation of seed planting |
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| Amazing how quickly the whole field was planted |
The best thing about camping, it seems, is cooking on a gas stove !
 |
| No3 Son made the dinner, bless him! |