Restoration of much-loved Brinsley Headstocks begins

Work will prepare the foundations for the replacement structure, marking a key milestone in restoring a significant monument to local mining heritage.

The new Headstocks will reuse the original two winding wheels, while using replacement timbers to ensure the structure can stand for generations to come. Some of the original timbers were repurposed and became a memorial bench dedicated to the 33 miners that lost their lives at Brinsley Colliery.

Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, Councillor Helen Skinner, said, “Brinsley Headstocks holds both local and national cultural significance, and I’m so pleased to see work begin to reinstate them once again.

“The site is treasured within the local community and serves as a  reminder to many of family members and friends who worked the pits.”

Ken Hamilton, Chairman of Friends of Brinsley Headstocks, said, “The Friends of Brinsley Headstock are very happy that work on the Headstocks has started. We hope that this good news will stop the wrongful gossip that is ripe that the Headstocks will never be rebuilt.”

Brinsley Headstocks were dismantled in December 2023 due to safety concerns with the rotting timbers.

The reconstruction of the timber frame is currently in the procurement stage, with works estimated for completion by the end of 2026.

Brinsley Colliery was worked by many in the local area, from 1872 to 1934, including D.H. Lawrence’s father. Their reinstatement highlights their importance to national mining heritage.