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HEMSWORTH COLLIERY, Fitzwilliam. Was open at 1876, owned by a R. G. Fosdick and was known as Fitzwilliam Hemsworth Collieries Ltd. Up to 1904 it also had the names of Hemsworth Colliery Co. and New Hemsworth Colliery Co. The Owner of South Kirkby Colliery and Featherstone Main a Major J. R. Shaw who lived at Purston Hall took over the Colliery in 1906.

1952 -The colliery was situated at Fitzwilliam, which was in the Hemsworth Urban District,and at that time employed about 1,250 men, and produced 400,000 tons of coal each year. Four Fifths of this was hand-got. The Manager at that time was Mr. H. Towler.

Seams worked were -

Barnsley Bed at a depth of 606yds with a seam thickness of 4ft 6ins Haigh Moor at a depth of 678yds with a seam thickness of 4ft 3ins and Lower Haigh Moor at a depth of 688yds with a seam thickness of 2ft 9ins.


October, 1905 - Kinsley Evictions (J.Hardy_	August, 1905 - Kinsley Evictions(J.Hardy)

THE BRICK WORKS

1952 - The kiln was first fired in 1903 by Mr Samuel Oakland. It consisted of 14 chambers each holding 23,000 bricks and output was 84,000 bricks per week of which 25,000 were 'Rustic Faced'. After stacking in the kilns bricks were left for to dry for 20 to 30 hours, then fired for 30hrs to a temperature of 800 to 900 degrees fahrenheit. Cooling took two days during which the time the heat was transferred to another kiln to avoid wastage. Clay(Shale) was obtained from the adjacent quarry. The Brickworks was run by two Oakland Brothers


Oakland Brothers (for Lynda in BC)	Mr.J. Smith explains the Layout of the Kiln to Alan Parr and ?	Loading 'Green' Bricks	Exterior showing the Chimney

BLAKEYS BOOT PROTECTORS LIMITED

1952 - The company had three small factories in the Hemsworth district. One in Grove Lane which employed 100 people, one on Kirkby Road which employed 17 people, and one in the nearby village of Fitzwilliam which employed 40 people. The chief works of the company which was founded in1902, were at Armley, where a model factory had been built. The founder of the firm Mr. John Blakey, a boot factor, made the first boot protectors about 1890, and the idea was such a success that the company was formed to produce them.

Photo - Mr Wylde explaining the work of a carding maching, which in 1952 was in the experimental stage (Maureen Oxley, ?Wilson, ?, Alan Parr, Elsie Tibble, Mr. Wylde, Doreen Cartwright.)

Raw materials at Hemsworth were Haematite Pig Iron from the West Coast, steel scrap, and iron ore from the Midlands. Red and Brown sea sand was also used, the latter making cores for casting. Packing materials included strawboard from Holland, and chipboard produced from salvage. The Hessian for which the sacks and bags were made came from India.

The main processes carried out here were, sorting, carding, packing, and inspecting (Wing nuts were also manufactured). A 44 hr week was worked and most of the Girls were on piece work. Wages ranged from £2 to £6 per week. The products were sold all over the world, over 30% being exported to USA., Canada, South America, India, Egypt, and most European countries.

HEMSWORTH TEXTILES LIMITED

The Factory which was opened on 20th March, 1947 was a subsidiary of Albion Mills, in Bradford. The Parent firm was founded in 1850 and shortage of workers in Bradford was the reason for opening the Hemsworth factory, which had been expanded. The company said the reason for the expansion was entirely due to the success of the initial venture, and the adaptability of the girls to learn the trade. The premises in Grove Lane were modernised to provide ideal working conditions for this type of work.

Cloth was brought from Bradford for 'burling and mending' and after inspection it was returned by road to Bradford. The company had a good export trade - the USA and Canada being the chief overseas customers. A good quality cloth was produced for home use, chiefly in the 'Utility' trade.

Girls at Hemsworth worked a 45hr week, with 1 weeks holiday with pay each year, and the wages ranged from £2. 9s 9d (£2.50p) at 15 years of age to £3. 13s 4d (£3. 67p) at 18yrs and over. The Manageress at that time was Miss. Dawson


The Workroom	The Canteen

THE OLD SMITHY.

The village Blacksmiths was situated at the Smithy, on the south side of Barnsley Road, opposite Pear Tree Lane, and was closed when Mr. W. Heron retired in 1949, and went to live in Hunstanton, Norfolk. The smithy was dismantled and the equipment was purchased by the Bankfield Museum, Halifax, to be placed in the Folk Museum which was being developed there. The blacksmiths was at one time a public house under the name of 'Farriers Arms' Mr Heron though that it was built about 1728. Blacksmiths of Hemsworth who had used the smithy were- Mr. Smithson, Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Lister (3 1/2 years), Mr Carr (1year) and Mr Heron from 18th April, 1922 - 1949 Mr. Heron in cap