Public Appeal Launched After Miner’s Tag Discovery at Brinsley Headstocks

An appeal has been issued to the public to help ascertain the background of a miner’s tag found during the ongoing restoration of the Brinsley Headstocks site, located in Nottinghamshire. James Rogers discovered the tag in the soil on October 3, during a dog walk, amidst improvement efforts at the former coal mine, which has since been designated a heritage site. The identity of the tag’s original owner remains largely unknown, prompting the chair of the Friends of Brinsley Headstocks group to seek assistance from the public. Mr. Rogers stated that his attempts to locate the tag’s initial owner through records at Brinsley Colliery had been unsuccessful. Mr. Rogers recounted, “I noticed they were doing work on the nature reserves, I saw the old footings and I kicked around [and] I came across this thing.” He added, “I just saw this hole in the top of it, I gave it a clean and there it was.” Alan, Mr. Rogers’ father, along with his grandfather and great-grandfather, were all employed in the mines. He mentioned, “I rang my dad, and he was saying he has his old tags, he had his grandad’s old tags, too – so it was nice.” He further speculated, “It looks like it’s been struck or [it could have been] reissued to give to another miner – maybe no-one had that tag.” According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, tags served the purpose of monitoring individuals within the mine shaft, particularly in case of an incident. Ken Hamilton, who chairs the Friends of Brinsley Headstocks group, indicated his willingness to undertake additional inquiries and encouraged anyone with relevant information to step forward. The site is presently undergoing renovation, encompassing the complete replacement of the headstocks with a new wooden structure, an endeavor estimated to cost up to £220,000. This decision followed inspections that determined the original wooden structure, dating from the 1800s, to be unsafe. Plans also include the creation of a wildflower meadow and a memorial orchard, intended to commemorate the 27 miners who perished at the colliery. For further updates, BBC Nottingham can be followed on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or by WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.