Chopwell Colliery

Research Notes

• National Coal Board — 3rd Deposit (Items under 30 years old not to be produced)
• Ref: NCB 3/19 — Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries - Output statements and wayleave and royalty accounts, 1894-1938
• Ref: NCB 3/20 — Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries - Fines book, 1912-1966
• Ref: NCB 3/21-22 — Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries - Agreements for workings, 1897-1964
• Ref: NCB 3/23-45 — Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries - Engagement books, 1905-1965, Incomplete
• Ref: NCB 3/46-52 — Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries - Record of persons employed underground, 1896-1904, 1911, 1918-1964
• Ref: NCB 3/53 — Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries - Hewers' agreements and arbitrations, 1897-1899
• Ref: NCB 3/54 — Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries - Pit Production Committee minutes, 1941-1947
• Ref: NCB 3/55 — Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries - Deputation meetings minutes, 1926-1953

• National Coal Board — 33rd Deposit
• Ref: NCB 33/Box 25/7 — Colliery specification, working and projection of results, Chopwell Colliery, 1947 - 1954

• Miscellaneous documents
• Ref: D/X 1005/2 — List of bargains from Chopwell No. 2 and Whittonstall pits, 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/4 — Bargain to let at Chopwell No. 2 pit, names of successful tender and list of workings, March 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/5 — Extract from minutes of a deputation concerning bargain prices at Chopwell No. 1 and No. 2 pits, Brockwell Seam, 13 June 1918
• Ref: D/X 1005/6 — Tenders for Chopwell No. 3 and Whittonstall stonedrifts, 28 March 1921
• Ref: D/X 1005/7 — Tenders received for bargain, three-quarter seam, west district, March 1922
• Ref: D/X 1005/8 — Notice of bargains to be let at Chopwell No. 2 and Whittonstall pits, June 1922
• Ref: D/X 1005/9 — Note of bargains to be let by tender at Chopwell, December 1922
• Ref: D/X 1005/11 — Notice from W.H. Stothard, manager of Chopwell Colliery, to the Hewers in the stone coal seam, No. 3, pit, to "marrow themselves into sets of 24 for the conveyors", 7 June 1923
• Ref: D/X 1005/12 — Bargains to let by tender to stonemen in Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pits, 16 June 1923
• Ref: D/X 1005/14 — Notice to tender for hewers and stonemen for the driving of a coal and stone bargain in Chopwell No. 3 pit, September 1923
• Ref: D/X 1005/15 — Tenders submitted from various parties to work the stone and coal bargain at Chopwell No. 3 pit, September 1923
• Ref: D/X 1005/16 — Bargains to let for Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pits, Milkwellburn and Brockwell seam, with a notice to hewers to marrow themselves into sets of 24 for the conveyor, 26 December 1923
• Ref: D/X 1005/18 — Comparison of the number of hands employed underground at Chopwell No. 2 and Whittonstall collieries, 22 June 1912 and 14 September 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/19 — List of aged and infirm workmen employed at Chopwell No. 2 pit and Whittonstall, 14 September 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/20 — Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries - List of names and ages of men who have received notice, with reasons for dismissal, 24 September 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/21 — Notice concerning the number of aged men employed, the termination of employment, and an agreement to restart eight men at Chopwell No. 1 and No. 2 pits, September - November 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/22 — Instructions concerning the employment of workers at Chopwell covering school leavers, men of military age, men from C.I.C. employment and men returning from His Majesty's Service, 1912-1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/23 — List of men in receipt of rent and coals at Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pits and at Whittonstall, 17 June 1912 - 8 April 1915
• Ref: D/X 1005/24 — Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries - Instructions concerning the employment of munitions workers, aliens and person of military age, March 1916 - February 1918
• Ref: D/X 1005/25 — Number of 'Helpers up' employed at Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pits, 20 September 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/26 — List of men in receipt of rent and coal at Chopwell and Whittonstall pits, November 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/27 — Comparison of number of men employed underground at Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3, Whittonstall Drift and Milkwellburn pits in July 1914 and in September 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/28 — Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries - Letter from H. M. Imrie to W. B. Wilson, junior, manager, concerning optical examinations for deputies, 10 September 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/29 — Memorandum of agreement between the owners of Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries, and the workmen, concerning the rules applying to putters and datal hands, 17 November 1921
• Ref: D/X 1005/31 — Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries - Agreement concerning houses, rent and free coal, 20 June 1920
• Ref: D/X 1005/32 — Conveyor men's hours at Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries, not dated
• Ref: D/X 1005/33 — Colliery owners' offer to workmen concerning overlap at Chopwell No. 1 and No. 2 pits and Whittonstall Drift, not dated
• Ref: D/X 1005/35 — General Regulations for hours of employment of winding enginemen at Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pits, February 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/36 — Time sheets of hours worked by conveyor pullers at Chopwell No. 2 pit, 2 May - 5 December 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/37 — Time sheets from Chopwell No. 2 pit sent to W. B. Wilson, colliery manager, showing time worked by conveyor pullers, 27 February - 4 September 1915
• Ref: D/X 1005/38 — Letter from F. O. Kirkup, Medomsley R.S.O., to H. M. Imrie, Chopwell, concerning instructions for timekeeping, 17 April 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/47 — Notice regarding holidays at Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pits, 1920
• Ref: D/X 1005/48 — Minimum pay agreement for Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pits, not dated
• Ref: D/X 1005/49 — Statement showing Longwall hewing prices in Chopwell Colliery three-quarter seam, 29 May 1905 - 10 July 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/56 — Deputation regarding the rates of pay of Charlton and partners, hewers at Chopwell No. 2 pit, 26 June 1913
• Ref: D/X 1005/57 — Deputation regarding the rates of pay of Goodwin and partners, hewers in Chopwell No. 2, 26 June 1913
• Ref: D/X 1005/59 — Note of a decision concerning shifters' wages at Chopwell colliery, January 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/60 — Case put by a deputation at Chopwell No. 2 pit over average payments to Broad, Foster and Redmond, working the three quarter cross cut Dilly, 2 July 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/61 — List of grievances by workmen to be put forward at a deputation at Chopwell, 8 July 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/62 — Notice of four cases to be discussed at a deputation meeting at Chopwell, 22 July 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/63 — Notice of cases to be discussed at a deputation meeting at Chopwell, August 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/64 — Note of earnings of Armstrong, Judge and Leaworthy 1913-1914, with reference to a dispute over inefficiency at Chopwell, 4 January 1915
• Ref: D/X 1005/65 — Description of dispute concerning payment for Coulthard, Harm and Walton at Chopwell, January 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/66 — Summary of hewers' averages at Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pits, 22 January-26 February 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/67 — Statement showing Chopwell pit hewers' nett averages previous to the revision of March 1915, compared with recent nett averages, March 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/68 — Hewers' averages at Chopwell No. 1 pit, March 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/69 — Coal hewers' averages at Chopwell No. 1 and No. 2 pits, 30 March 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/73 — Rates of pay for men working at Chopwell No. 2 pit, Victoria Buff district, 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/75 — Rates of pay for the Out Croft drift from West Flat to Ravenside Burn, Chopwell No. 3 pit, 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/77 — Wet pay agreements for deputies at Chopwell, 17 September 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/79 — Note of deputation concerning bargain prices at Chopwell No. 2 pit, West Dilly and Brockwell, 6 September 1918
• Ref: D/X 1005/84 — Notice of new prices for stonework in Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 and Whittonstall pits, 16 July 1919
• Ref: D/X 1005/87 — Minimum wage case concerning John Clennell at Chopwell Colliery, 10 December 1919
• Ref: D/X 1005/88 — Notice of putters' advances at Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pit, 24 December 1919
• Ref: D/X 1005/92 — Scale of boys' wages at Chopwell, 18 March 1921
• Ref: D/X 1005/95 — Prices for Tilly seams at Chopwell Colliery, not dated
• Ref: D/X 1005/96 — Award for fixing hewing tonnage prices in substitution for "score prices" at Chopwell No. 2 pit and Whittonstall drift, not dated
• Ref: D/X 1005/97 — History of longwall hewing prices in Chopwell No. 2 pit three-quarter seam, 29 May 1905 - 10 July 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/98 — Inch prices for canches at Chopwell Colliery, 18 September 1906
• Ref: D/X 1005/99 — Abstract from agreement fixing all prices for three-quarter seam at Chopwell Colliery, 8 June 1907
• Ref: D/X 1005/101 — Alterations to tonnage prices for hewing coal at Chopwell No. 2 pit, 13 July 1911
• Ref: D/X 1005/103 — Alteration to hewing prices at Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries, 2 November 1911
• Ref: D/X 1005/105 — Agreement between workers and owners of Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries concerning the revision of tonnage rates, 13 March 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/106 — Tonnage prices for seam-hewing and stonework at Chopwell No. 2 pit three-quarter seam, 20 January 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/107 — Agreement for temporary tonnage prices at Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries, 24 September 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/108 — Notice concerning the advance of hewing tonnage rates at Chopwell and Whittonstall collieries, 20 December 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/109 — Alterations in hewing prices at Chopwell No. 1 and No. 2 pits, 1 July 1918
• Ref: D/X 1005/110 — Temporary alterations to tonnage prices at Chopwell and Whittonstall collieries, 23 September 1918
• Ref: D/X 1005/111 — Agreement for alteration of tonnage prices when turning gateways away from leadings at Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries, 29 March 1919
• Ref: D/X 1005/112 — Notice concerning temporary advances on tonnage prices at Chopwell No. 2 pit, 16 June 1919
• Ref: D/X 1005/113 — Temporary advance on tonnage prices in Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pit and Whittonstall for the quarter commencing 29 December 1919
• Ref: D/X 1005/114 — Schedule of tonnage rates at Chopwell and Whittonstall pits, 22 March 1920
• Ref: D/X 1005/115 — Alteration to tonnage prices at Chopwell Collieries, 5 June 1922
• Ref: D/X 1005/119 — Plan of Chopwell No. 3 pit, not dated. No scale
• Ref: D/X 1005/121 — Description of Rappers signals sent from the onsetter the to banksman and winding engineman at Chopwell, not dated
• Ref: D/X 1005/123 — Letter from H. M. Imrie to W. B. Wilson, undermanager, Chopwell, concerning the new rule effective from 1 January 1913 concerning the width of flats and sidings, 19 June 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/125 — Letter from H. M. Imrie to W. B. Wilson, undermanager, Chopwell concerning the second inspection of hewers places during the shift, 3 September 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/126 — Dispute over notice given to W. S. Blackburn for misconduct at Chopwell No. 2 pit, September - October 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/127 — Dispute arising from the dismissal of Thomas Shield, 26 September 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/128 — Dispute concerning conduct of Edward Laws at Chopwell No. 2 pit, 27 September 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/129 — Notice concerning the conduct of Robert Milburn at Chopwell No. 2 pit, 30 September 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/131 — Restrictions in working space at Chopwell No. 2 and Whittonstall drift, 1 October 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/132 — Description of dispute over the hewers' refusing to work beyond one tub of coals per man at Chopwell, 4 October 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/133 — Letter from H. M. Imrie to W. B. Wilson, manager of Chopwell Colliery concerning the times of deputies' examinations, 28 October 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/134 — Count of coal tubs at Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries, 6 December 1912, June and September 1913 and January 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/135 — Letter from H. M. Imrie to the manager of Chopwell No. 2 pit and of Whittonstall concerning the ordering and price of pit props, 13 December 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/138 — Letter from H. M. Imrie to W. B. Wilson, Chopwell, concerning section 52, subsection 3 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911 which refers to instructions for deputies' inspections prior to timber drawing, 1 August 1913
• Ref: D/X 1005/139 — Note of progress on bottom caunches in the three-quarter seam, Chopwell, January 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/140 — Instructions concerning the division of ventilation in Chopwell and Whittonstall pits, 20 February 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/141 — Instructions to under-officials at Chopwell concerning ponies working in insufficient space, 29 February 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/142 — Instructions to underground officials and horsekeepers at Chopwell concerning ponies working overtime, 31 March 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/146 — Letter from H. M. Imrie to W. B. Wilson, Chopwell, concerning No. 2 and No. 3 pits' stables, horses and ponies, 6 July 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/147 — Contract for saddlery at Chopwell, 8 July 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/148 — Disputes with putters at Chopwell colliery No. 2 pit, 29 July 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/149 — Dispute concerning the delay in the night shift going down Chopwell No. 2, 25 September 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/150 — Chopwell No. 2 pit Victoria Drift refuge holes, 20 April 1915
• Ref: D/X 1005/151 — Letter from H. M. Imrie to W. B. Wilson, Chopwell, concerning the cost of leather for harnesses, 1 July 1915
• Ref: D/X 1005/152 — Main and tail rope haulage signals at Chopwell Colliery, 1 November 1915
• Ref: D/X 1005/153 — Names and addresses of officials at Chopwell No. 1 pit, 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/154 — Notes on water pumped at Chopwell No. 3 pit, 19 January - 7 October 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/155 — Instructions for the use of a new pump at Chopwell No. 3 pit, 21 January 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/156 — Notice concerning hewers being given two sets of tokens at Chopwell No. 2 pit, 14 February 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/157 — Instructions concerning the reporting of accidents to the Chopwell Colliery office, March 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/158 — Pumping arrangements at Chopwell No. 3 pit, 4 April 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/159 — Progress of wagon-way caunches at Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pits, April - December 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/160 — Inspection reports on Chopwell and Whittonstall Colliery magazines carried out by J. T. Ridley, 1 August - 27 December 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/163 — Report on wagon-way caunches at Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pits, and progress of rolley way caunches, January - March 1918
• Ref: D/X 1005/164 — Statement showing various flats averages in Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pits, 3 December 1918
• Ref: D/X 1005/165 — Report on underground roads suitable for conversion from pony driving to rope haulage in Chopwell No. 2 and No. 3 pits, March 1919
• Ref: D/X 1005/166 — Cavilling deputation from Chopwell No. 3 pit, 9 September 1919
• Ref: D/X 1005/167 — Notice warning workmen against "loosing" before scheduled time at Chopwell and Whittonstall Collieries, October 1919
• Ref: D/X 1005/168 — Tilly seam agreement at Chopwell Colliery, 1922
• Ref: D/X 1005/169 — Report on repairs to be carried out at Chopwell No. 2 pit, 3 December 1924
• Ref: D/X 1005/170 — Memorandum of agreement between owners of Chopwell Colliery and their workmen, that for Joint Committee purposes the workings in each seam at Chopwell No. 1 and No. 2 pits shall be divided into East and West districts, 29 May 1905
• Ref: D/X 1005/171 — Report of Joint Committee case concerning a dispute over payments to G. Cook and partners at Chopwell No. 2 pit and resulting award, 8 June 1907
• Ref: D/X 1005/173 — Report of Joint Committee case no. 10, concerning yard-work prices paid to stonemen at Chopwell No. 2 pit, 17 November 1913
• Ref: D/X 1005/174 — List of Joint Committee cases at Chopwell, 18 November 1913
• Ref: D/X 1005/175 — Joint Committee case, No. 4, showing recent earnings of Grierson, Grierson and Tate at Chopwell Colliery, 18 November 1913
• Ref: D/X 1005/177 — List of cases in dispute at Chopwell colliery discussed at a Joint Committee meeting, 13 January 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/178 — Note of a settlement of a dispute by Henry Ferens, solicitor, concerning price of coal per ton in Shaft Dilley, Chopwell No. 3 pit, 7 April 1914
• Ref: D/X 1005/183 — Joint Committee case, No.5: dispute over pay in the Seggar Dilly three quarter seam Chopwell No. 2 pit, 13 October 1915
• Ref: D/X 1005/186 — Arbitration decision by Newland and Newland, solicitors, for a Joint Committee case concerning a dispute over coal prices at Chopwell colliery, 21 August 1916
• Ref: D/X 1005/190 — Joint Committee case no. 29, concerning a dispute over rates of pay to J. Marsh and A. Smailes, Chopwell No. 3 pit, 13 August 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/191 — Joint Committee case no. 27, concerning a complaint by workmen at Chopwell No. 3 pit about the number of lost tubs due to defective tokening system, 13 August 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/192 — Letter from H. M. Imrie to T. A. Richardson, miners' secretary, Chopwell, No. 3 lodge concerning an objection to the advance of hewing prices due to bad timekeeping on the part of the hewers, 11 December 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/193 — Joint Committee case, No. 24, dispute over pay for driving coal at Chopwell No. 3 pit, 20 December 1917
• Ref: D/X 1005/196 — Arbitration agreement by John Turnbull, solicitors' concerning a Joint Committee case over fixed payments for conveyor putters in Chopwell No. 1 and No. 2 pits, 12 August 1919
• Ref: D/X 1005/199 — Instructions concerning health insurance for workers at Chopwell Colliery, June - October 1912
• Ref: D/X 1005/203 — "The Whittonstall Railway 1908-1966 with notes on the Garesfield Railway and Chopwell Colliery", by C. G. Down, a photocopy taken from Industrial Railway Record, 2, (33) 1970

• Durham Miner's Association — Archives
• Ref: NUMDA/3/2/15 — Chopwell lodge subscription register [1966-1972]
  The subscription registers record payments by members to national, district and local funds, with space to record exemptions from national and DMA political levy. Many registers list members alphabetically by surname with some indication of status (full member, half-member, widow etc), but this was not always possible because of changes in the workforce. Some registers include brief information on death, transfer, leaving mining.

• User Guide 19B — Collieries
• Ref: 3415/CK/11 — Memorandum, 1719
• Ref: 3015 — Viewers reports, 1870-1892
• Ref: G.URA/1/16 — Photographs, 1970-1973