Thousands of miners and their families hold a sentimental solidarity march in North Yorkshire to
mark the closure of
Kellingley Colliery, Britain's last operating deep coal mine. The crowds and a
marching band fill the streets, December
19, in Knottingley, 290 km north of London, one day after
the final shift. (Photographer: Jayda Locksmith)
Friday, December 18 was the final day of
work for 450 mines at the Kellingley
Colliery in North Yorkshire, also known as
the Big K, as the mine will be permanently
idled—bringing to an end a two-yearlong
closure plan for British deep mines.
Kellingley, the largest deep pit in
Europe and the last deep mine in Britain,
had employed about 1,600 in recent years,
and at one time had a payroll exceeding
2,000. It first came online in 1965 and
produced 900 metric tons (mt) per hour at
prime levels.
As featured in Womp 2016 Vol 01 - www.womp-int.com