BESTWOOD IRON WORKS
Following on from the successful sinking and opening of the coal mine at Bestwood the company decided to build an ironworks at the side of the colliery railway branch line, on land between the colliery and Moor Road. The ironworks opened in 1881 with two furnaces and the Bestwood Colliery Company became the Bestwood Coal and Iron Company. The ironworks was a success and was extended in 1890 with the addition of two more furnaces.
The village lads utilised the ironworks as it was next to the football pitch and they could play football in the evenings by the light of the furnaces. Village children also made use of the warmed water of the adjacent reservoir as a semi-heated swimming pool.
During World War I German Zeppelins would use such installations as navigational markers on their bombing raids. In the event of a raid the Manager would be given a telephone warning of the approaching Zeppelins to enable him to douse the furnaces.
The ironworks sadly closed in 1928 and apart from acting as the coal delivery lorry garage / depot and “Landsale” for Bestwood colliery coal, the land was unused until the nationalisation of the coal industry.
The National Coal Board, who then ran the mining industry, decided that because of its size and centralised location, the site would make an ideal location for the “Area Central Workshop” for the repair of the increasing numbers of mining machines. This project was completed in the late 1950s, and fulfilled the workshop role until the demise of coal industry in the area.
The area was sold off and developed with the housing development and industrial units which we know today along High Main Drive.
The village lads utilised the ironworks as it was next to the football pitch and they could play football in the evenings by the light of the furnaces. Village children also made use of the warmed water of the adjacent reservoir as a semi-heated swimming pool.
During World War I German Zeppelins would use such installations as navigational markers on their bombing raids. In the event of a raid the Manager would be given a telephone warning of the approaching Zeppelins to enable him to douse the furnaces.
The ironworks sadly closed in 1928 and apart from acting as the coal delivery lorry garage / depot and “Landsale” for Bestwood colliery coal, the land was unused until the nationalisation of the coal industry.
The National Coal Board, who then ran the mining industry, decided that because of its size and centralised location, the site would make an ideal location for the “Area Central Workshop” for the repair of the increasing numbers of mining machines. This project was completed in the late 1950s, and fulfilled the workshop role until the demise of coal industry in the area.
The area was sold off and developed with the housing development and industrial units which we know today along High Main Drive.
Bestwood Ironworks Cica 1933 with the colliery in the background
The Colliery starts about 2/3rds back in the photo with the row of colliery workshops and the deco-style pit head baths to the left.
Note the football pitch to the bottom left of the photo.
The Colliery starts about 2/3rds back in the photo with the row of colliery workshops and the deco-style pit head baths to the left.
Note the football pitch to the bottom left of the photo.
This was not the first recorded working of iron at Bestwood. The Friars of Newstead Abbey developed a water-powered ironworks at “Forge Mill” near Bestwood in the 16thCentury. It was recorded as using water powered “Tilt” hammers to shape the iron. The works closed in 1780 and was later converted to a cotton mill by the Robinson family, who were well known hosiery mill owners around Bulwell. This area is also now given over to domestic dwellings.
