In May 1854, the Duke of Newcastle commenced sinking at Shireoaks two shafts, and on February 1st, 1859, at a depth of 510 yards, the "Top Hard Coal," three feet ten inches thick was arrived at.
The coal was found to be of very superior quality for steam purposes; a medal was awarded to the noble Duke at the Exhibition of 1862, for proving the existence of a large coal field under the Permian measures, and the coal was placed on the Royal Navy list.
After working the colliery successfully for five years, during which a model row of colliers’ houses were built, the undertaking was sold and leased to the Shireoaks Colliery Company, whose extensive works have quite altered the former quiet and peaceful features of the village, in place of which mining activity prevailed. Coal mining ceased and the pit was closed on 25 May 1991 and was capped in August 1992. The Pit site was cleared, the canal basin redeveloped as a residential marina and the pit tip reclaimed and planted as a Wildlife area. This area is now the ‘Woodlands and Coachwood Green’
The Friends of Woodlands and Coachwood Green are a group of volunteers, formed in November 2011, who support the management of the former Shireoaks Colliery site as a local informal green space by conserving and enhancing biodiversity, sharing the heritage and providing recreation activities for the benefit of the community.
The site is owned and managed by Nottinghamshire County Council, and we work in partnership with the Council.
Anyone is welcome to join the Friends group and there are a variety of ways in which you can get involved.
Many members of the Friends group often attend our regular workdays. If you’d like to get involved in helping, then we would love to hear from you – everyone is welcome. To find out more ways to help please contact us.
Local schools and businesses who have helped us with volunteering and sponsoring such as waste bins and the Trim Trail.
If you are a business or community group that would like to partner on events, activities, sponsorship then please do contact us.