A great video, my Grandad worked at this pit towards the end of his career and my Uncle did for a time also. It’s really interesting to see what it was like back then. Thanks for uploading and thanks to John Dodd for recording.
Absolutely top drawer by a top bloke.Brings back some great memories.. Nice to see old faces.Brilliant video John.And great to see Bruce Rowley's face again.(RIP) Nostalgia !!
My Dad worked down Littleton for about 35 years, Chris Clews. He's got his brick in Hednesford, an the stubborn own bugga is still alive n kickin at 84 year owd! Respect to all the men who grafted in the pit, working hard to provide for their families so we didn't have to go down there. In my dads wise words. .'yow wonna werk ard at skool so ya doe end up down eya'
All gone. One of those charger racks ended up at Apedale Mining Museum near Stoke. Me & a couple of mates collected it from one of the headers called Mick Slade. He had it at home & kept his & his mates lamps charged on it, for as long as he could after the pit shut. I've still got one of the deputies sticks that he used to make & use it for walks often.
My dad Chris Powell (RIP) is on this video at 26 minutes and 49 seconds just for a few seconds in view when John Dodd speaks to him on his way to see Bruce Rowley in the training office.
Worked for British Coal until 1990 then went contracting in the industry. Roof bolting and drilling holes was our specialty. I must have worked in at least 30 different mines from Daw Mill and Coventry to Castlebridge and Point of Ary to Rutherford Asfordby and Parkside, covering most areas and workforce’s. Littleton and Lee Hall being in the Cannock area. Littleton was my favourite, their was something about the crack, and the Cannock accent that gave these workers a brilliant demeanour, and it was fun to be there. A fair few of our workforce originally worked at Lee Hall the pit next door as it were, They originated from Rugley the other side of Cannock chase, they too, generally had a good laugh and got on with the job, great blokes to work with.
Great video, I've always wondered what the inside of the colliery looks like. I'm a local and looking to document more about the mine, and I was wondering if anybody had any home video of the tours they used to give, either in the mine itself or of the area at the time the mine was operating. If anyone does please feel free to message me or respond to this comment. Many thanks
i worked on the demolition of littleton i can remember shaking those conveyor belts down and the tunnel under the road that up by the clocking on machine the bloke in charge of the pit wanted us to clock on and off site every morning and night so i knocked the building down when he wasnt looking that cured him
This is a fantastic video. I am Irish and from 1993 to 1996 I worked for (...ahem...) a competing energy supplier in Cannock. In January, 1994, I moved to Hednesford just after the colliery closed and I remember taking my long winter night walks from Belt Road down Limepit Lane as the complex came in to view, turning left onto the Stafford Road (no roundabout then). I used to walk right past the colliery across the road as I continued on my loop. At the time, it was all in-situ, the lights were on, the black and yellow sign was there and there was plenty of noise from generators and extractor fans within. But hundreds of workers had been made redundant for Christmas so it was such a ghostly and perhaps, ghastly, scene. It's quite obvious from the video as well, that even making allowances for the coal-grime, the buildings, signage, grounds and infrastructure could have done with some investment. 21st-century environmental considerations would probably have seen off the pit in any event but perhaps the rundown of the industry at the time could have been handled better. I noted also on Google Street View that the Huntington WMC appears to be a Co-Op shop now. Thanks for sharing the video. It was great to hear those accents again and I'd like to think that it worked out well (psychologically, financially and medically) for all of you after you were let go, though I know it didn't..... Paul
Waterproofing and keeping your boots supple. With a combination of water underground, dust and the stuff they put down to suppress the dust ( kako flakes ?) the boots turned into something like cardboard after a couple of weeks ....
A great video, my Grandad worked at this pit towards the end of his career and my Uncle did for a time also. It’s really interesting to see what it was like back then. Thanks for uploading and thanks to John Dodd for recording.
great to see this...just turned 60 knew the place well... Eddie on the gate.
Brought back a lot of memories.Thanks
Absolutely top drawer by a top bloke.Brings back some great memories.. Nice to see old faces.Brilliant video John.And great to see Bruce Rowley's face again.(RIP) Nostalgia !!
i spent..the best years if my life working at littleton..and this has brought it all back to me..thanks for the video..it rally was a super pit
My Dad worked down Littleton for about 35 years, Chris Clews. He's got his brick in Hednesford, an the stubborn own bugga is still alive n kickin at 84 year owd! Respect to all the men who grafted in the pit, working hard to provide for their families so we didn't have to go down there. In my dads wise words. .'yow wonna werk ard at skool so ya doe end up down eya'
Marvellous john. Living history.
I’m Ken lowe and I worked at that pit From 1979 til 1991 and I loved the Danger and excitement of the mine
My grandad lived in Huntington and worked at the put before and during the war
I lived opposite the pit. The memories. I used to climb up the old mound with my mate. Kept being told to get off it lol
All gone.
One of those charger racks ended up at Apedale Mining Museum near Stoke. Me & a couple of mates collected it from one of the headers called Mick Slade. He had it at home & kept his & his mates lamps charged on it, for as long as he could after the pit shut. I've still got one of the deputies sticks that he used to make & use it for walks often.
My dad Chris Powell (RIP) is on this video at 26 minutes and 49 seconds just for a few seconds in view when John Dodd speaks to him on his way to see Bruce Rowley in the training office.
24:19- Kev (shem) Shemwell. I used to live next door to Shem, good bloke.
Oh my god...........got changed in those locker rooms a few times and did the walk under the road. Bruce........Happy days
Worked for British Coal until 1990 then went contracting in the industry. Roof bolting and drilling holes was our specialty. I must have worked in at least 30 different mines from Daw Mill and Coventry to Castlebridge and Point of Ary to Rutherford Asfordby and Parkside, covering most areas and workforce’s. Littleton and Lee Hall being in the Cannock area. Littleton was my favourite, their was something about the crack, and the Cannock accent that gave these workers a brilliant demeanour, and it was fun to be there. A fair few of our workforce originally worked at Lee Hall the pit next door as it were, They originated from Rugley the other side of Cannock chase, they too, generally had a good laugh and got on with the job, great blokes to work with.
Great video, I've always wondered what the inside of the colliery looks like.
I'm a local and looking to document more about the mine, and I was wondering if anybody had any home video of the tours they used to give, either in the mine itself or of the area at the time the mine was operating. If anyone does please feel free to message me or respond to this comment.
Many thanks
Great video, have you any footage on the pit bottom? Thanks
i worked on the demolition of littleton i can remember shaking those conveyor belts down and the tunnel under the road that up by the clocking on machine the bloke in charge of the pit wanted us to clock on and off site every morning and night so i knocked the building down when he wasnt looking that cured him
This is a fantastic video. I am Irish and from 1993 to 1996 I worked for (...ahem...) a competing energy supplier in Cannock.
In January, 1994, I moved to Hednesford just after the colliery closed and I remember taking my long winter night walks from Belt Road down Limepit Lane as the complex came in to view, turning left onto the Stafford Road (no roundabout then).
I used to walk right past the colliery across the road as I continued on my loop. At the time, it was all in-situ, the lights were on, the black and yellow sign was there and there was plenty of noise from generators and extractor fans within.
But hundreds of workers had been made redundant for Christmas so it was such a ghostly and perhaps, ghastly, scene.
It's quite obvious from the video as well, that even making allowances for the coal-grime, the buildings, signage, grounds and infrastructure could have done with some investment.
21st-century environmental considerations would probably have seen off the pit in any event but perhaps the rundown of the industry at the time could have been handled better.
I noted also on Google Street View that the Huntington WMC appears to be a Co-Op shop now.
Thanks for sharing the video. It was great to hear those accents again and I'd like to think that it worked out well (psychologically, financially and medically) for all of you after you were let go, though I know it didn't.....
Paul
What's the grease for ?
Waterproofing and keeping your boots supple. With a combination of water underground, dust and the stuff they put down to suppress the dust ( kako flakes ?) the boots turned into something like cardboard after a couple of weeks ....
I knew Johnny Dodds when he had nothing.
:)