Grange Colliery

Location	Kimberworth, Rotherham, South Yorkshire — 53.4370, -1.3950 (approximate, low confidence)
Commodity	Coal
Type	Coal
Worked	1855–July 1962
Maximum depth	Unknown.
Operators	Newton, Chambers and Co. Ltd (?–1947), National Coal Board (1947–1962)

Overview

A Newton, Chambers and Co. colliery at Kimberworth, Rotherham, opened in 1855 and working the Silkstone, Thorncliffe Thin and Parkgate seams. It employed over 700 under the National Coal Board before closing in July 1962.

History

Grange Colliery at Kimberworth, on the north-west side of Rotherham, opened in 1855. It was one of the Newton, Chambers and Company collieries, later held by N. C. Thorncliffe Collieries Ltd. In the 1890s it employed about 200 on coking, gas and household coal. By 1905 it worked the Silkstone (Top) seam, joined by the Thorncliffe Thin by 1915. Employment rose steadily: 341 in 1915, 383 in 1923 and 450 in 1933, these two figures including the Bradgate drift. It reached 630 in 1940.

Under the National Coal Board from 1947 it raised 189,000 tons that year with 635 men. In 1954 it employed 722 on the Parkgate, Silkstone and Thorncliffe Thin. Grange was marked for closure, and from 1961 many of its men were transferred to other collieries, especially Barley Hall at Thorpe Hesley. It closed in July 1962.

Geology

Yorkshire Coal Measures: the Silkstone (Top), Thorncliffe Thin and Parkgate seams.

Workings

Returned with the Bradgate drift in 1923 and 1933.

Closure

Marked for closure, with men transferred from 1961, chiefly to Barley Hall; closed in July 1962. The reason is unknown.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

Barley Hall Colliery — Newton Chambers neighbour that took many of Grange's men from 1961.

Nearby mines

Tinsley Park Colliery — 1.8 miles (2.8 km) S
New Stubbin Colliery — 2.4 miles (3.9 km) NE
Aldwarke Main Colliery — 2.7 miles (4.4 km) E
Smithy Wood Colliery — 2.7 miles (4.4 km) NW
Roundwood Colliery — 3.2 miles (5.1 km) NE

Straight-line distance, within 9 miles (15 km). Show on the map.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

Opened at Kimberworth in 1855 and closed in July 1962. ¹
Employed 635 and raised 189,000 tons in 1947, and 722 in 1954. ²
From 1961 many of its men were transferred to other collieries, particularly Barley Hall. ³
Worked the Parkgate, Silkstone and Thorncliffe Thin in 1954. ²

Photographs & further reading

Grange Colliery (Durham Mining Museum) (reference)

Owners, seams, employment and output, 1894-1954.

View source

Sources

(secondary) Sheffield Coalfield — Northern Mine Research Society
(primary) Grange Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
(secondary) Barley Hall Colliery - Northern Mine Research Society — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 2 October 2026 · Last researched: 2 October 2026