1841 Sarah Whithouse, widow (as claiming through or under Free
Miners) to Deep Speedwell (under a lease for 1,000 years from 27 April
1826 granted by George Stephens, a Free Miner;) to Speedwell New (under
a lease for a term of 500 years from 17 February 1825 granted by William
Williams, a Free Miner, and others;) to Old Speedwell (under a lease for
a term of 1,000 years from 27 August 1830 granted by Stephen Jones and
James Jones, Free Miners.)
Speedwell Colliery, including Deep Speedwell, Speedwell New, Old Speedwell,
Nine Wells Level, and Nine Wells Land Level gales.
Coal in Coleford High Delf.
1 March 1841 Speedwell Pit. Messrs. Whitehouse.
High Delph.
Raised by: One horse whim.
Depth of pit: 30 yards.
How disposed of: Redbrook Works no tram road.
Daily quantity raised: 16 tons, quarter being small coal.
At 300 days annually: 4,800 tons.
Amount per ton including royalty: 9d.
Amount annually: £180 0s. 0d.
Buildings: A lodge.
Observations: Messrs. Whitehouse, Engine Pit, standing still
as worked out.
19 January 1878 Gloucester Journal Sale of colliery plant at Speedwell Colliery including double portable steam engine 18 H.P. by Foster & Co. (1874). [?]
F3 135
12 May 1859 Henry Anderton Nourse applying for three pieces of land
on which to erect a weighing machine, one or two cottages, a cabin, a carpenters
and smiths shop and an office. He is lessee. Also an engine.
Registered owner Ellen Whitehouse of Coleford.
8 January 1883 George Russell, Lydbrook, late registered owner. Revd. George Russell Chell and James John Grenfell Borlase executors. Indenture of a lease of land for 31 years from 24 june 1880, possibly for cottage.
F3 562
6 August 1885 Deed of transfer of gale to Goodrich Langham from
Rev. G.B. Okell & others.
7 October 1885 Messrs. Edward, William, Shadrach and Albert Hughes purchased a part from Goodrich Langham, conveyance registered 19 October 1885. The land, cottage, garden and Smiths' shop included.
1895 Edward Hughes sold his share in half this gale to his brothers William & Thomas.
19 April 1899 Dead rent due from:- Mrs. Langham, Coleford; Mr. Ed. hughes, Beeches Farm, Coleford; Mr. Shadrach Hughes, Mile End; Mr. Albert Hughes, Five Acres; Mr. Thos. Hughes, Joyford; reps. of late Mr. Hughes, Berry Hill.
4 May 1899 Albert Hughes, Speedwell Colliery.
30 March 1906 Application received for gale to be granted.
Old Speedwell Level - pit - Rockey and Starkey - intended to be granted
23 April 1906.
26 May 1899 Ed. Hughes transferred his interests to brother, Thomas Hughes.
13 June 1899 Speedwell left to Lucy & Diana Langham, rent due, belongs to Messrs. Hughes who bought that portion.
14 June 1899 Present occupier of cottage, William Scrivens.
Goodrich Langham left all his mineral interests to his daughters, Diana
and Lucy - none to his wife but she is subletting some properties.
Gales affected by Langham's will; Speedwell near Coleford, part of,
and Oak Pit Iron Mine.
Mrs. Langham owns independently of the will, Speedwell Newbridge -
east wing of, and half of Prosper on Harrow Hill.
The Misses Diana and Lucy Langham own independently of will half of
both Darkhill and Shutcastle.
According to the rental book owners are:-
Speedwell Newbridge Goodrich and Mrs. Langham.
Prosper Goodrich and Mrs. Langham and P.S. Macdougall.
Darkhill and Shutcastle Mrs. Langham, the Misses Todhunter and
daniel Jennings.
Understood that at the time of his death he was not interested in Speedwell
Newbridge or Prosper.
2 March 1900Dean Forest Guardian FOR SALE Three fourth parts or shares in Speedwell. Apply R.H. Fryer, Solicitor, Coleford.
22 January 1901 Hughes still in occupation of the smith's shop and engine house. Engine in house but colliery not worked for about six months. Lease of land forfeited on 23 October 1899.
25 April 1901 Crown moved in and seized goods - grindstone & frame, old iron, anvil, old bellows. Hughes paid up!
1 July 1903 Portion of gale conveyed to Albert Hughes.
21 November 1903 Buildings had been removed by Crown.
1 November 1907 Dean Forest Guardian TO LET 'OLD SPEEDWELL COLLIERY' Langham, High Nash House, Coleford.
2 March 1909 Diana & Lucy Langham to convey their portion
to Edward Hughes, English Bicknor - Hughes wishes to surrender whole of
gale then have it re-granted in two parts as with Speedwell Newbridge.
Gale almost exhausted and of little value.
5 March 1909 Dean Forest Guardian Property sale at the Angel, Coleford.
A portion of Speedwell Colliery gale to Edward Hughes at a maiden bid of
£5.
Oak Pit iron mine withdrawn - no bid.
In 1895 Edward Hughes sold his share in half this gale to his brothers
William & Thomas since when another brother Albert became sole owner,
difficulty in getting rent from him.
Edward Hughes interested in Thatch with his brothers and has always
been the one to find the rent.
20 August 1909 Albert Hughes, Speedwell - coal seam had failed some months since - had to sink another opening - coal now being obtained.
30 March 1910 Conveyance Hughes to Amos William Brown that portion of Speedwell known as New Speedwell.
28 February 1911 Conveyance of portion Diana & Lucy Langham to Benjamin Martin Brown and George Henry Jones.
14 September 1912 Conveyance of portion Brown & Jones to Shadrach Hughes.
4 May 1917 Conveyance Amos Brown to Frank Baynham and Henry Sydney Brown.
28 September 1918 Conveyance S. Hughes to Frank Jefferies - portions of Speedwell and Cross Knave. Cross Knave stands in the name of Alfred J. Smith Ltd. and Shadrach Hughes. Speedwell in Frank Baynham & Henry Brown, Benj. Brown, George Jones and Shadrach Hughes.
19 February 1919 Conveyance Frank Jefferies to the Woodgate Colliery Co. Ltd. a portion of Speedwell and Cross Knave.
F3 563
6 November 1923 Conveyance Brown & Jones to Sydney Taylor.
1 January 1924 Conveyance Taylor to the Nine Wells Colliery Co. Ltd.
20 August 1924 Conveyance Baynham & Brown to Robert Linday.
26 February 1924 Conveyance Linday to G. Anstie Smith, part.
24 February 1925 New Speedwell, vendors Linday & Anstie Smith
31 March 1925 Conveyance G. Anstie Smith to A.S. Burnett.
Brown & Baynham to Linday for use of tramway. Long tramway
for the use of Ninewells Colliery Co. Ltd. 1925.
7 May 1925 Conveyance Linday and another to the New Speedwell Colliery Co. Ltd.
21 April 1926 Colliery being carried on by debenture holders Mr. Chapman being receiver.
17 May 1926 Crown distrained for rents. Ninewells Colliery Co.?
15 September 1927 Application New Speedwell Colliery Co. to erect
an office close to present Haulage engine house about 6' from edge of road
between Five Acres and Edge End.
Corrugated iron building 15' x 9'.
On 28 June 1944 the gale was re-granted as Speculation No.2 to an E.
Baldwin.
12 December 1927 Ever since Company started in April 1925 our balance sheet has shown a heavy loss - last years Miners strike ate up our capital.
16 January 1928 Tramway we propose, partly on bank elevated to maybe 20 feet to use underground spoil. Engine for winding at pit will be steam with necessary boiler. [This situated on opposite side of road, see map above]
26 November 1928 Company hold colliery on three leases:-
1,000 years from 27 April 1826
500 years from 17 February 1825
1000 years from 27 August 1833
Company about to go into voluntary liquidation.
11 July 1929 No workable coal left, plant to be sold. Colliery
not worked from October 1928.
Mr. F.J. Warwick appointed liquidator - plant would not cover rent
now due to Crown.
5 May 1932 plant to T.S. Thomas £15. Five very dangerous pits - fencing and filling by A.R. Cooke £8.
3 June 1932 Portion vested in New Speedwell Colliery Co. Ltd.
surrendered and could be re-granted.
To be called The Speedwell No.2 Colliery gale.
20 June 1932 Surrendered.
13 May 1939 Meeting at Speech House for re-grant. Thos. Jones, James Fox, George Lewis, all of Broadwell and Frederick Bowkett, Cinderford, on behalf of Free Miners.
25 July 1939 Conveyance to Adams & Miles.
20 January 1944 H. Adams, S. Adams, T. Adams jnr. and William
Miles to Stanley Adams and Thomas Adams Jnr.
Gale divided thus:
To south of THE HORSE William Miles
To the west of THE LEAP Ed. Hughes
To the east of THE LEAP Speedwell Colliery Co.
BT31 29009/205102 THE NEW SPEEDWELL COLLIERY COMPANY LIMITED.
Capital £6,000 in 6,000 £1 shares.
To enter into an agreement between Robert Linday, Arthur Sydney Burnett
and the Company.
A private company. Directors:- Burnett, Kensington and Linday,
Forest Gate.
Incorporated 6 April 1925
7 April 1925 Debentures £750. Vendors to get 5,998 fully paid up shares. Had bought the other two!
18 June 1928 Debentures £150.
24 November 1928 Warwick appointed receiver.
November 1928 - May 1929 Fred Watkins buying coal £18 12s. 6d.
3 December 1930 Meeting for winding up.
F3 563 Portion held by Ninewells Colliery Co.
7 April 1923 Application Brown & Baynham to make long tramway.
31 March 1925 Brown & Baynham to Linday for use of long tramway.
Long tramway for use of Ninewells Colliery Co. Ltd. 1925.
21 April 1926 Colliery being carried on by Debenture holders. Mr. Chapman being receiver.
17 May 1926 Crown to distrain for rents.
9 December 1929 Portion held by Ninewells Colliery Co. now in hands of Edward Hughes.
16 May 1931 Edward Hughes deceased - committted suicide on 8th.
3 August 1932 Auction at Angel Hotel, no bids for Hillersland,
Nine Wells, Society No.3, New Found Out and Thatch. A motor tip lorry
and shed at one colliery put up but withdrawn - only £5 bid.
Distraint for Hughes rent. Proposed sale 2 November 1932 at Speedwell
12.00 and at Hillersland 2.30.
Sale took place at Speedwell but not Hillersland. £103
realised plus job lot of tubs etc. £16 10s. 0d.
9 October 1933 Speedwell, New Found Out and Society No.3 forfeited.