Mining Regions in England
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Granville colliery, Shropshire
© National Coal Mining Museum for England (Photo: Mr. Albert Walker)
© National Coal Mining Museum for England (Photo: Mr. Albert Walker)
The Shropshire coalfield developed an early river trade, shipping coal down the river Severn. The last colliery to remain open was Granville which closed in 1979. The coalfield is made up of five smaller coalfields, the Coalbrookdale, Forest of Wyre, Clee Hills, Shrewsbury and Oswestry and is characterised by small mines, with the largest only employing just over 1,300 men.
The Shropshire area is also known as the place where longwall mining was developed in the seventeenth century. This method spread to other regions of England in the nineteenth century and by the twentieth century the majority of coal in the United Kingdom was mined in this way.
The Shropshire area is also known as the place where longwall mining was developed in the seventeenth century. This method spread to other regions of England in the nineteenth century and by the twentieth century the majority of coal in the United Kingdom was mined in this way.