History
Newspaper Extract
Fence Colliery For Sale
26th October 1968Messrs. W.H. and J.A. Eadon have received instructions from the assignees of the Estate of Messrs. Thomas and William Jonathan Beet, Bankrupts, to sell by Auction, at the Mart, in St. James Street, Sheffield, in the County of York, on Wednesday, the 10th day of November next at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, subject to conditions and sale.
The valuable Coal and Ironstone Mines, so well and extensively known by the name of the Fence Colliery, situate in the Parish of Aston, in the County of York, adjacent to the Woodhouse Mill Station of the Midland Railway, and near the turnpike road leading from Sheffield to Worksop, under the lands of William Lennard. Esq., M.D., the surface admensurement whereof is about 120 acres, and held by lease for the term of 31 years from the 1st day of January 1852, with power of renewal by the leasee for a further term not exceeding 21 years, at a minimum rent of £300 per annum.
The Colliery contains beds of coal and ironstone, known by the several names of the Fox Eyre Bed, the Yard Coal Bed, the Furnace Bed, the High Hazel Bed, the Darnall or Barnsley Bed, and the Swallow Bed.
The fixed Plant and Machinery comprise a 25 horse power high pressure horizontal pumping engine, with engine house, and two boilers, pumping gear, capstan, and shear legs, one lift of 12 inch pumps - 40 yards in length, another lift of 11 inch - 35 yards long, and another of 8 inch - 35 yards long, winding engine - with two boilers and fittings, engine house, winding gear, and round wire ropes. Also an engine shaft, 70 yards deep, and three coal shafts of the respective depths of 70 yards, 60 yards, and 36 yards, with three air shafts. Also three sets of pit head gear, with pullies and conducting rods, the whole being complete and in good working order.
In addition to the above are 15 Cottages for workmen, let at rents amounting to upwards of £100 per annum, Smiths and Joiners shops, Storeroom, and other Offices, all conveniently arranged, and in complete order.
Also, a siding on the Midland Railway, with Tipler Screens, Weighing Machine and Weigh House, and the Tram Rails now in use (both on the surface and underground), Plates, Turn-table, and other Requisition for a Colliery of this magnitude.
The Colliery is close upon the Midland Railway, to which it has easy access being about 9 miles distant from the populous and manufacturing town of Sheffield, and about 41/2 miles from the manufacturing town of Rotherham, and in a district where the consumption of coal for domestic and business purposes is very large, and the Leasee having confined his workings to the High Hazel Bed, has left the famous Barnsley Bed, so much in demand at Sheffield for converting purposes, the Furnace Bed, and the other seams of coal, as well as the ironstone, untouched, thus offering to the capitalist not only a safe investment for his money in return for his outlay.
It remains to be noticed that a short time ago, the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway Company purchased a piece of land (part of the Fence Farm), for making a railway to communicate with their railway and the Midland Railway, and entered into an agreement with the Leasee of the Fence Colliery that he should use such communicating railway for the purpose of his coal and minerals carried to and upon the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway, and by means thereof to all parts traversed by or connected with that line of railway.
This small branch railway, when completed, will greatly enhance the value of the Fence Colliery, as it will then be in a position to export the hard coal at Grimsby, and to command all the best markets for the sale of coal.
May be viewed, and particulars had, when ready, on the premises, and on application to the auctioneers; of Mr. John Brown, mining engineer, Barnsley; or at the offices, in Sheffield, of: Messrs. Branson & Son, or Smith & Burdekin - Joint Solicitors to the Assignees.