This section looks at the development history of the colliery during the years 1870 to 1879 including the sinking, the arrival of the Midland Railway and the results of the incorporation of the Stanton Ironworks company.

1870:

• The decision to sink other collieries in addition to Teversal will probably have been taken and site identification and preliminary negotiations would have commenced.

1871:

• Actual site work could not begin at the colliery until the lease agreement had been signed, but there would be considerable preparatory work,  however.

1872:

• Once the lease agreement had been signed the access and preliminary ground works could be started. When these had been completed, the foundations for the engine houses, boilers and chimneys could be excavated, the pit banks constructed and the sinking could commence at the main shafts and at the fan drift.

1873:

• By 1873 construction work was well under way. The main engine-house construction was completed and the date stones were inserted. The engine-house would then be prepared for the installation of the winders.

1874:

• Main winding engines built by the Worsley Mesnes Iron Company.
• Complaint  received by the Duke of Portlands estate office that the colliery was affecting water levels at Langwith Mill

1875:

• The 1875 Ordnance Survey 1 : 2500 map shows the colliery under development. Although the map was published in 1875, the survey would have been conducted earlier. This map contains a lot of interesting detail about the initial surface structure at this time. 
• 2nd Oct: Two sinkers killed in a shaft accident.

1876:

• No information

1877:

• 16th February:   Top Hard seam reached in North pit
• Sinking operations resumed in the South pit.
• 2nd April:   The Midland Railway’s line to the colliery opened for mineral traffic.
• Nov, Dec:  2 non-fatal accidents reported

1878:

• Sinking operations continue in the South pit.
• Stanton Iron Company incorporated as the Stanton Ironworks Company Ltd.
• 10 monthly transfers of £4,000 from capital account to Teversal account for expenditure at Pleasley and Silverhill
• Permenant wooden headstocks erected.
• Oct: 1 non-fatal accident reported

1879

• 12th February:   Top Hard seam reached in South pit
• 25th March: The first annual report by the directors of the Stanton Ironworks Company Ltd stated that the sinking had been completed and efforts were to be concentrated on the profitable development of No 1 shaft (North) which was already fitted up for working that portion of the colliery.
• Sept: £27,000 transferred from capital account to Teversal account for expenditure at Pleasley and Silverhill in last 9 months
• July, Oct, Dec:  3 non-fatal accidents reported

Sources

• Mansfield and North Notts. Advertiser, 1875, 1877, 1879
• Nottingham University: Portland Estate papers
• Stanton Ironworks Co. Minutes, Derbyshire County Records Office
• G. A. Longden, Trans. Fed. Inst. Min. Eng. 1906
• Mines Inspectors’ Reports 1870 - 1879
• Colliery Guardian 1892

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12 Jan, 2012