Speedwell

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.
 

Director and Secretary A.S. Burnett, Director, R. Linday.  Registered office 87 Victoria St. Westminster.

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.