Kirkby Summit Colliery Remembered.

Subscribe to my you tube channel for 303+ more coal mine tributes and counting. Kirkby "Summit" Colliery in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, was a major coal mine sunk by the Butterley Company (1888-1890), known for its size, output (1.5 million tons/year), and controversial sad closure in 1968 , which halted plans for it to become a huge "Super Pit" supplying Trent Valley power stations, leaving a lasting legacy on the local community and landscape. Key Aspects: Name Origin: Locally called "Summit" because it sat at the highest point on the railway line between Pinxton and Mansfield. Development: Sunk by the Butterley Company between 1888 and 1890, with a third shaft added in 1912; merged with Low Moor Colliery in 1939. "Super Pit" Plans: Around 1960, it was slated for massive investment to become one of Europe's largest collieries, with connections to Langwith and Brookhill collieries, but this never fully happened. Closure (1968): Closed unexpectedly in July 1968, affecting thousands of local jobs and marking a significant crisis for the region's coal industry, despite recent £4 million investments. Output & Transport: Produced significant coal, transported via extensive railway sidings to nearby Trent Valley power stations. Legacy: The closure halted the "Super Pit" vision, but its spoil heaps remain visible, and the site's railway history is well-documented, with parts redeveloped into modern facilities like leisure centres. In essence: Kirkby Summit was a powerhouse colliery with grand future plans that met an abrupt end, symbolizing the shifts in the UK's coal industry during the late 1960s.