Britannia

30 August 1842  Granted to William Court of Coleford, for a pit at Brierley, about 130 yards northward from Mason’s Garden and between Ruardean Hill and Aston Bridge Inclosures and about 600 yards from the turnpike road to get coal from the Coleford High Delf and all veins above it.

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18 October 1838  Indenture between William Knight the elder of Ruardean Woodside and John Ponsford Osborne, a merchant of Colchester.  Agreement between Knight and William Court to go share and share alike in several gales.

4 January 1840  Agreement between James Cowmeadow the elder and Philip Robinson of Hill House near Little Dean; and William Court and William Knight.  It would appear that Cowmeadow and Robinson were entitled to various gales including Britannia and Favourite, also Arthur & Edward; to become equal partners.

1843  The property of William Court mortgaged with Messrs. Bailey & Co., bankers of Monmouth.  Britannia, Favourite and a moiety of New Road Level mortgaged for £500.

13 March 1843  Agreement Knight and Osborne.  For the sum of £100 Knight conveyed one moiety of Favourite and Britannia.  As full title could not be proved the purchase sum was reduced to £30.

4 March 1848  To be sold by auction by Mr. William Graham at the Bell Inn, Gloucester.

10 March 1849  Auction Bell Hotel, Gloucester The Favourite and The Britannia.  600 acres, could yield 200 to 300 tons per day or £10,000 per year.

29 October 1849  Re ‘Courts Colliery’  J. Jones Esq. inquiring to buy New Road Level and Britannia and Favourite.  Thomas Greatrex of Monmouth valued New Road Level at £700 and Britannia and Favourite at £1,500.  Jones offered £500 for New Road Level

1852  Court defaulted.  Messrs. Bailey & Co. to sell the mortgage to Mr. Algernon Horatio Swift for £1,050 but Swift unable to pay the whole so Roger Bevan of Monmouth advanced £1,000. Swift an Iron Merchant of Old Broad St., London.

29 July 1852  A. H. Swift, Roger Bevan lease to William Sadler.  £500 to Bevan.

26 February 1853  Bevan transferred the mortgage to William Charles King, Bracknell.

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1864  W.P. Price, Tibberton Court, registered owner of Britannia and Favourite Gales.

In 1873 Messrs. Holden & Illingworth acquired Britannia from William Price together with Favourite.

7 November 1884  Property of the New Bowson Coal Co.  Messrs Illingworth and Holden.
Bought ‘some years ago’ with Favourite for the sum of £7,000 as the East Slad Gale was becoming exhausted.  It was hoped to work the two gales through East Slad Pit.

1885  Outputs: to June 30 16,159 tons; to December 31 15,877: Total 32,036

25 October 1886  Dispute with Mr. Osman Barrett over boundaries.

7 March 1888  Negotiations for sale.

7 February 1889  To be forfeited.  Not done.

1873-90  Between these dates Britannia Colliery raised 547,952 tons.

February 1892  Intended to surrender Britannia on 30 August.

22 March 1892  Alfred C. Bright ‘as the owner of Hawkwell Colliery comprising Small Profit and New Bridge Engine Gales I have lately been affected by water from Britannia’.

26 January 1900  Richard Thomas applying to work the barrier between Pluds and Britannia - not granted.

17 October 1893  Application by Thomas Morgan for the regrant of Britannia.
Thomas Morgan of Broadwell Lane End.

15 June 1896  Notice to surrender.  Two unfenced pits.

18 May 1920  Thomas Morgan, Coalway Lane End and Joseph Morgan of Bream, applying for a re-grant.

11 August 1920  Deed of conveyance to the Premier Briquette Co. Ltd.

11 August 1922  Surrender of gale.