Invention

1841 John Hale and Richard Cooper (Free Miners) did after 9 April 1832 make applications for the gales of coal now forming Invention Colliery.  Application not granted but work commenced by Thomas Bennett
Coal in Churchway High Delf
Surrendered.

23 April 1869  Re-galed to George Matthews of Drybrook

F3 163
8 February 1869  Mr. Ephraim Brain, Drybrook Villa, applying on behalf of George Matthews - had applied on 19 February 1857.
To get coal from Churchway High Delf and Rockey veins at a spot near Cinderford Woodside
Contention that a Thomas Hawkins of Lane End and a Richard Harrison of Ruardean had previously applied.  Mr. Langham contended that Harrison lost his claim because of the joint application and the death of Hawkins.  Hawkins and Harrison had applied 26 August 1856.  Gale situate near to Upper Bilson.
Case law qouted was the conflicting claim of Mrs. Cowmeadow and her son, John Davies and John Baldwin to a gale of iron work at Deans Meend.  By the death of an applicant where in joint names then it becomes null and void.

9 June 1876  George Matthews - I have been working the colliery for 12 months of which I am the registered owner by the aid of shafts.  One is in a garden which belongs to Joshua Matthews - air shaft.  George Matthews not in a position to buy property and so Joshua Matthews stopped pit.
Property in the possession of Charles Goode [Goold?] and another
Pit about 60 of 70 years old.  At time of sinking it was supposed that their was no garden.  This was encroached subsequently as far back as 1834

11 July 1876  Colliery stopped, had tried to convey air by trunks but failed.  Pit worked by Messrs. G. Matthews and Morse.
Encroachment No. 199 in Littledean Walk

22 August 1876  Summons of Joshua Matthews and his man Timothy Trigg. ëEnvention and Uperbelson Coaleryí ëhair shaftí ëway may hopen the shaftí.

28 November 1876  Joshua Matthews before purchasing property ascertained that the shaft could not be used withiut the consent of the owner of the property and then he entered into a contract (under which my client claims to be entitled to a moiety of the gale) for working the gale and to enable Joshua to do so more convieniently, he with the cognizance of Mr. George Matthews purchased the premises including the garden and they opened up and used the shaft but which did not, and does not, belong to Invention Gale nor is it within the boundary of that gale...
The garden is also claimed by my client to be his freehold.
George Matthews appears to be trying to get sole rights.  Joshua had expended about £150 excluding premises.  Case had gone to Gloucestershire Assize for felony in stopping up shaft where Mr. Justice Brett acquited.
Pit was used about 70 years ago for Upper Bilson.

2 September 1878  Had recommenced colliery 1 July by means of air trunks at considerable expense and now we have drove for two months into the Paragon workings from which we get air to supply the said colliery by paying the owners of Paragon the sum of 1d. per ton for all coal we take out and we think it very hard to pay for air after we have spent about £950.
Out opponents are wealthy or we should long ago have had our rights.  The Messrs. Brain, colliery owners are interested in Joshua Matthewís property and are mortgagees for the cottages and garden.
Joshua Matthews commenced to fill up the air shaft in the garden on 18 June 1879 and filled in about 72 cubic yards of earth etc.
Joshua Matthews entered into an agreement as partner with George on 18 february 1873 but in consequence of Joshua failing to fulfil his part of the agreement it was cancelled by the late Mr. Tom Goold after the work had been stopped one year and seven months.
George Matthews and Stephen Morse

It appears that Joshua did a large amount of work in re-opening and repairing the pit for which George never repaid him and there are questions of partnership accounts mixed up with this claim by Matthews and Morse to the pit.
Matthews and Morse should pay £220 to Joshua for his cottage and garden.

31 December 1885  Not worked for five years, threat of surrender

22 October 1898 ëRegulator Collieryí I give six months notice to surrender Invention Colliery Gale as I know of no coal.  Robert Simpson

1 November 1898  Gale stands in record books in name of R. Simpson

24 April 1899  Surrendered