Alveley Mining Heritage
Final 50th anniversary tribute event
Report on the final tribute event to mark fifty years since the closure of NCB Alveley Colliery, formerly The Highley Mining Co. Ltd, closed 31st January 1969
This final event was generously supported by Halo Leisure, contributors, and so many visitors from near and far on Sunday 1st December. Thanks to all the staff at Severn Centre and to Mark and Kath who opened up Minor's Cafe especially for this occasion and Reverend Mike Harris who made time again to attend, despite his busy schedule, and take photographs and record events on the day.
Alveley Mining Heritage Group displayed all photographs, artefacts and memorabilia loaned or donated to the group over the last four years of this project. Ray Matthews was at hand to talk to visitors about the Cage Detaching Hook (CDH) Sculpture he made and conceived by members of the group, now situated at Severn Valley Country Park.
Visitors admired George Poyner's working model of an incline plane and The Granville Miners set up a display of their proposed memorial which they hope will be in place in Telford Town Park in 2020. Granville Colliery at Doddington was the last deep mine to close in Shropshire and many mine workers moved to Granville after the closure of Alveley. Granville eventually closed ten years later in 1979.
Memorial to local miners
On October 6th 2019 Alveley Mining Heritage Group were proud to unveil our memorial sculpture dedicated to the men, women and boys who worked at Alveley and Highley collieries. The sculpture, based around an original cage detaching hook of the type used at the site, was conceived by group members and brilliantly constructed by Ray Matthews who worked at the colliery as a mechanical engineer.
The memorial sculpture is located at the Severn Valley Country Park, the site of NCB Alveley Colliery, formerly Highley Mining Company. Our thanks to everyone who helped with the event and siteing the memorial.
We are especially grateful to the Mayor of Bridgnorth Ron Whittle OBE and Mayoress Carol Whittle for performing the ceremonial duties.