silverwood

Jon is at present a local school teacher with an interest in movie making, something that he involves his pupils with, for which they are very appreciative.

Jon's great grandfather worked at Silverwood – John James Sewell (grandmother’s father) was born in 1897, died in 1966, and he had been in the army. His Grandfather also worked at Silverwood who was Ronald Rosling and he worked at the colliery from the late 1940s until 1986. He was originally from Wexford in Ireland and only came over to work around then. He lived in Maltby on Morrell Street for a number of years – in fact, he and my gran married at the Catholic Church on Morrell Street in Maltby. I don’t know how they came to live in Thrybergh, except that my grandma who’s maiden name was Wooton, was born and raised in Sunnyside. Jack Wooton is my grandma’s brother.

Jons mum’s family are the O’Briens of Thrybergh and Jons maternal grandfather was Bill O’Brien and his wife was Violet. Their sons David. William (Willy to everyone) and Shaun both worked at the pit, Willy up to it’s closure and Shaun until about 1987. Understandably Jon takes quite an interest in things involving the mine . Thankfully for this site Jon's interest's also include photography and he has kindly sent along the photo's below.

Jon writes:

"Attached are two graphics, they are landscape photos that I’ve put together using the Landscape Composite facility in Photoshop CS3. The first is of the Silverwood colliery site as it is now, the second is of the newly landscape slurry lake at the other side of the coal tip. I never thought that would ever be a place of such beauty and calm abiding. I took these pictures last week and am happy for you to use them.

THE FINAL CURTAIN

After it's closure Silverwood's 126 hectare tip was purchased by A. Ogden & Sons who undertook to reclaim the site and salvage any usable spoil on the tip.

Then a restoration of the area was undertaken which has taken five years to accomplish, as you can see by the end result in Jon's photos above, the restoration has been a complete success. There has been a large input by local community groups, local councils, etc who have all helped to ensure that success, and with a £239,000 grant from the Forestry Resource, tree's have been planted on the site, creating along with the wetlands, a future woodland. The finishing touch which I'm sure every member of the local communities will agree is a wonderful tribute to the miners who once worked at Silverwood. The tribute was thanks to a local garage proprietor, who rescued one of the pit head wheels at the time of demolition, and has donated it to the project. The lads will have a very fitting monument and it makes an happy ending to the story of the mine once known as "The Merry Widows Pit".

The parkland is already successful in attracting wildlife, and many species of birds, and butterflies have already been sighted, so the property of Woodlaithes once frequented by many a noble lord through the centuries, is now restored as a place to enjoy nature with splendid views.

2007 John Doxey

Many thanks to Jon for sending the above photos

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