In 1870 the land was leased to the Hardwick Colliery from the 9th
Duke of Devonshire
The first shaft was sunk in 1870 to a depth of 450 yards to reach
the Blackshale coal.In 1989 it was decided to sink a seconed shaft
to raise the coal from Tupton
The Silkstone and Blackshale produced was of a high standerd
house coal and was taken to London by the Great Central Railway.
A third shaft soon followed and the production reached
3,500 tonnes daily from the three shafts by 1905
The pit closed in 1968
The coke ovens were built adjacent to the mine in 1910 and
were in use till 1962 when they closed
click on photo to enlarge
Holmewood Woodlands
Holmewood Woodlands has been created upon the old site of the
original "Holme Wood" from where the village gets its name from
It was desroyed by the development of the Holmewood colliery
Today Holmewood Woodlands provides opportunities to wander
through woodland and grassland.Footpaths continue across a farmed
landscape into historic countryside around Stainsby village Stainsby
Mill and Hardwick Hall
The wood lands provide habitat for a variety of wildlife including
Kestrals, Longtailed Tits and Greenfinch .
Butterflies such as Red Admiral,Small Tortoiseshelland the
Common Blue,Also the Astwith Circular Walk a route of 5.5
milescan be started from the Holmewood Woodlands
Heath Station
A Cowslip and a Spotted Orchid wich can be seen along the Woodlands paths
Hardwick Hall can be seen in the distance from the edge of the Woodlands
