A Past Remembered

After the coal industry was nationalised in 1947, production gradually declined. A number of the smaller coal pits closed whilst others merged. This resulted in many miners across the UK losing their jobs. The National Union of Mineworkers, a trade union, took action by leading the famous Miners’ Strike of 1984. At this time, the Union had around 170,000 members whereas it now has fewer than 100.

The striking miners were not successful and the strike ended in March 1985. The coal industry continued to decline and the final Staffordshire mine was closed in 1998.

Since the closure, a number of measures have been put in place to remember Staffordshire’s mining past. A site at Chell Heath, Stoke-on-Trent, is now a nature reserve which has been protected from unauthorised changes. In addition, a not-for-profit foundation known as the Phoenix Trust is actively campaigning to turn the North Staffordshire coalfield into a World Heritage site, due to its economic significance during the Industrial Revolution.

Many people still living in Stoke-on-Trent have clear memories of its time as a mining community, and by attending our Staffordshire course you can find out more about this important past.