Staffordshire Film Archive – Free Film Show

The Price of Coal – January Pit Disasters in North Staffordshire Free Film show at Mitchell Arts Centre on Tuesday 9th January 2024 at 11.00 am

January has been the worst month for pit disasters in North Staffordshire – we see and hear about the disasters at SNEYD COLLIERY – 1st January 1942, MINNIE PIT COLLIERY, Halmer End – 12th January 1918 and DIGLAKE COLLIERY, Audley – 14th January 1895. Between these accounts we are given a guided tour around the CHATTERLEY WHITFIELD COLLIERY HERITAGE CENTRE by ex-miners – a first showing of this video by Ray Johnson. A tribute our mining communities in the North Staffordshire Coalfield.

Sneyd Pit Disaster – Sneyd

Dedicated to the memory of the 57 men and boys who lost their lives on January 1st 1942. The explosion at Sneyd is put into the context of wartime, explained by experts at the Apedale Heritage Centre and discussed by historians. There are interviews with family and friends of those lost and tributes to the rescue team. Film, photographs and memorabilia.

Minnie Pit Disaster – Halmer End

This was the worst mining disaster in North Staffordshire's history. 155 men and boys died in the explosion, and the death of the leader of the Rescue Team made the final total 156. Archive recordings of personal reminiscences of the explosion, photographs, newspaper reports and archive film combine with expert insight to tell the fateful story of this terrible event.

Diglake Disaster – Audley

The commemoration of the 125th Anniversary of this mining disaster in Audley and Bignall End in 2020 was a chance to remember the devastating loss of the 77 men and boys who were killed in the Diglake Colliery Disaster of 14th January 1895. This was not an explosion, but devastating flooding when water rushed in from old mine workings abandoned years before. In-depth explanation of how the disaster happened is from Apedale Heritage Centre experts.

Mitchell Arts Centre – Hanley

No need to book. Free Parking on Tesco Car Park: Clough St, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 4LS – Park, and exit car park to the left of main Tesco entrance. Walk up to Broad Street, arriving next to Mitchell Arts Centre. In the foyer, enter your car registration on the foyer screen – you have free parking for the duration of your visit