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.
To mark the 50th Anniversary of the closure of NCB Alveley Colliery ( formerly Highley Mining Company Ltd ) in 1969 Alveley Mining Heritage Group members have designed and constructed a memorial sculpture featuring an original detaching hook. The memorial will be unveiled by Ron Whittle OBE on Sunday 6th October at 2:30pm at Severn Valley Country Park as part of their "Pit at the Park" day. Please join us.
As Alveley Mining Heritage Group move on to the final phase of our successful project to commemorate the closure of NCB Alvely Colliery (formerly Highley Mining Co. Ltd.) in 1969, you are cordially invited to continue your involvement in the capacity as visitor, supporter, adviser, participant or contributor at some, if not all, of the evolving programme of events:
AMH Collections Care/ Archive Cataloguing :
Friday14th June at 2:30 – 4:30 pm, Severn Centre, Bridgnorth Road , Highley, WV16 5JG. Free Event. All welcome.
Support sought please from members/non members. With your help AMH's small collection can be catalogued during this session under the leadership of Curator Lauren Stephenson from Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.
AMH Mining Display at Severn Centre Highley:
May-August during normal public opening times. Current displays include items from Highley, Alveley. Kinlet and Billingsley Collieries. The latest inclusion is a selection of Guardian Colliery Books dated between1938-62 on loan from Paul Ashmoore.
AMH Drop in Session:
Monday 8th July, 6:00 – 7:00 pm, Severn Centre, Highley. Invitation to bring along local Mining artefacts for loan display or items for inclusion in AMH anniversary publication.
AMH Open Meeting/AGM:
Wednesday 10th July, Severn Valley Country Park (new classroom) 3:00 – 4:30 pm*. The group will be planning events, in particular the Cage Detaching Hook Sculpture and Anniversary event at SVCP on 5th October. Tea/Coffee and biscuits available – ALL WELCOME.
AMH display at Bridgnorth History Day:
Saturday 14th September, 10:00 – 14:00, Hosted by Bridgnorth Library. Free Event. Contribution loans welcome and invitation to all to come along and talk to visitors, former workers and families.
50th Anniversary Commemorative Event: Hosted by Severn Valley Country Park.
Revised date: *****************Saturday 5th October 2019******************
This was extensively discussed at the last Open Meeting and with all that is proposed it promises to be another enjoyable day for all. Do come along to Open Meeting* on 10th July at SVCP and find out more, offer suggestions and play a part.
To mark the 50th Anniversary of the closure of
NCB Alveley Colliery
(formerly Highley Mining Company Ltd)
Invitation to display your Mining Heritage Items
in a proposed programme of temporary displays at
Severn Centre Highley between April – August 2019
Drop In Session
to show and discuss
Friday 5th April 2019
6:00 – 7:00 pm
Severn Centre , Bridgnorth Road, Highley, WV16 6JG
Also please get in touch if you have a hour or two to spare on occasions to help with displays
Contact Andrea on 01746 862064
Miners' Heritage Trail
October 2017:- We are in the process of devising a Heritage Trail around the Severn Valley Country Park and
welcome input from any former Alveley Colliery workers, their families or people with local
knowledge.