People are being asked to complete a short online survey on the future of the former headstocks at Clipstone Colliery and its powerhouse.

The Clipstone Colliery Regeneration Group (CCRG) has put forward the survey as it continues to try to find a best way forward for the restoration and re-use of the Grade II-listed headstocks and adjoining buildings.

The survey has been delivered to every household in Clipstone, and is also available online at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/clipstonecommunityconsultation until 5th December.

Clipstone residents completing the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win £50 worth of shopping vouchers in the run up to Christmas.

In the last 12 months, and with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic England, CCRG has worked with a professional team and volunteers to explore options for repurposing the site for regenerative benefits to the community.

The result of this work has provided CCRG with four options that could provide a sustainable solution for the retention of an important piece of unique industrial heritage.

The redevelopment of the site aims to attract investment, jobs and opportunities for local people, in particular Clipstone’s younger residents. The wider site is large and a spokesman said there was ample space to deliver a variety of developments, including housing and employment uses.

“The site presents an opportunity to preserve and celebrate Clipstone’s history whilst benefiting local residents through a variety of mixed-use offers,” they said.

“The project intends to create a more vibrant, positive economy for Clipstone with job opportunities for residents in an exciting world class visitor attraction. The headstocks are Grade II-listed due to their national importance – they are believed to be the tallest remaining headstocks in Europe and the last of their type in Britain.”

Local residents have also been encouraged to share their views on the proposed future of the site at one of CCRG’s Community Drop-in Consultation Events at Clipstone Village Hall on 1st December (10am-2pm). CCRG will also be selling Christmas gifts at the events.

Notes:

The Clipstone Colliery Regeneration Group (CCRG) formed to save the impressive Grade II-listed Headstocks and Powerhouse from demolition. CCRG’s aim is to use the iconic structure to bring tourism and regeneration to the deprived area of Clipstone. They aim to encourage the area’s younger people to explore careers in engineering, science and technology and new entrepreneurs to set new businesses creating employment opportunities for local people. CCRG were awarded funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic England to investigate the future use of the former Clipstone Colliery.

Clipstone Colliery stands as the iconic remnants of a twentieth-century mining village east of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The pair of Grade II-listed headstocks, associated structures and powerhouse date from are all that remains above ground of the historic coal mine that was once the most productive pit in the UK, and one of the most productive in the world at that time. The colliery was operational from 1922 and was supplemented by the addition of a pair of ‘Koepe’ winding engines, particularly well-suited for use in deep mines. The Koepe system of winding was an important technological advance not widely represented in English collieries until the post-War period and retains the winding engines and headstock sheaves which characterise this type of winding technology.

The headstocks remain the most visible surviving evidence of the post-war and post-nationalisation pit modernisation programme, representing the start-of-the-art technology at the forefront of the coal industry in the 1950s.

About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about – from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #HLFsupported.
About Historic England
Historic England are the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment. https://historicengland.org.uk/