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Kellingley: The Last Deep Coal Mine in England

Kellingley: The Last Deep Coal Mine in England

Sam Welburn

On the 26th November 2015, Sam Welburn photographed the last deep coal mine in England, Kellingley Colliery three weeks before production ceased and coal mining was due to be no more.

Kellingley Colliery or known locally as ‘Big K’ in North Yorkshire, was distinct for its two head shaft winding towers and opened its doors to workers in April 1965, and at a time at it’s height employed over 2000 workers.

At the time of its closure, there was only 451 workers remaining at Kellingley on the day of its closure on their final shift and the often remarked saying that coal mining is a ‘job for life’ proved inaccurate in this circumstance.

On the 18th December 2015, the last working deep coal mine closed its doors for a final time, marking an end to the site but the demise of the coal mining industry.

The images in this book focuses upon the quieter moments of life around the surface of the pit, three weeks before it closed its doors. The photographs present the physical remnants of the workspace of the rare breed of men who toiled in harsh circumstances of a once demanding and physical job. A sense of loss is echoed through the landscape of the 58 hectare site along with the reminders to the past and the bitterness to how the story of coal mining came to an end at the doors of Kellingley Colliery.

Signed by the artist

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Title

DETAILS: 1st Edition, 300 copies, Signed by the artist

Type: Paperback

Year: 2025

Pages: 90 pages

978-1-0369660-8-9

Publisher: Four Stone Press

Size: 210 x 297 mm (A4 Landscape)

Dr. Sam Welburn

Dr Sam Welburn is a photographer and lecturer from Featherstone, of whom documented Kellingley Colliery three weeks before the closure. The resulting images made up his final major project for the BA Hons Photography degree at the University of Huddersfield and marked a trajectory in his career as he would go on to do his Masters and then a PhD, followed on by becoming a lecturer in photography.
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