Although Park Hill was first galed as an iron mine in driving through to the iron several seams of coal were crossed. In June 1842 the Coleford High Delf seam, and all workable seams above it, were galed to William Morgan of Dark Hill and in February 1845 the Trenchard coal was added to the gale.
1846 MJ p 277, Park Hill Mines, Dean Forest - consists of an extensive tract of Iron ore, in conjunction with one of coal - conveniently situated for the supply of Blast- Furnaces, which may be erected adjacent. The iron mine includes two veins of ore containing 40% iron. The coal field includes four veins of excellent coal. The whole can be drained by a level. It is desired to form a joint stock company to open the mine and erect furnaces; or a partnership will be entered into, or a lease granted. The return on investment will exceed 20 per cent. For particulars apply (if by letter, post-paid) to Henry H Fryer, solicitor, Coleford, Gloucestershire. p 294 3" puff.
1846 MJ p 465 To be let, the Park-Hill Mines, Dean Forest, Gloucestershire, containing one million tons of coal, and one million tons of rich iron ore, which being calcareous, smelts with argillaceous ironstone, and may be delivered in large quantities to the Staffordshire, Shropshire and Welsh iron works. The mines are available by level, and can be opened at a trifling expense; and were [sic] blast furnaces erected, there produce might be smelted on the spot into excellent iron. Apply (post paid) to Henry H Fryer Esq. solicitor Coleford, Gloucestershire.
1847 MJ p 109 Adverts To be let Park-Hill Mines, coal and iron.
In 1858 it was reported that the Park Hill Mining Company Dean Forest
Ltd. were the owners of two gales - Park Hill Colliery and Park Hill Iron
Mine. The company had been incorporated in September 1857 to open
and work the two above mentioned gales plus the Dark Hole Level gale.
The nominal capital of the company was £6,800 in 68 £100 shares
whilst the registered office was the house of James Bremner in Coleford.
The secretary to the company was W. H. Fryer and the subscribers included
a Charles Greenham, listed as an ironmaster of Lydney and Henry H. Fryer
a Coleford solicitor.
In January 1860 the registered office was moved to 3 Cookson Terrace,
Lydney and in May an additional £500 of capital was authorised.
In January the following year another £3,000 was authorised followed
by further sums of £5,400 in July 1861 and £2,600 in January
1862. This suggests that a large amount of development work was being
done at the colliery but it probably was to little avail as the company
was wound up in May 1872. Subsequently the whole property passed
to the Dean Forest Iron Company which was owned by the Crawshay family.
In 1874 the Oakwood branch of the Severn & Wye was extended from Tufts
Junction as far as Park Hill and sidings were laid in. Three parallel
sidings ran into a loading wharf on which a tramway from the level terminated.
By 1889 the gale was being worked for coal by Richard Watkins of Bream
on lease from the Crawshay's. The gale was being worked in conjunction
with the Little Brockhollands gale, also held by Watkins probably on lease,
and in January 1889 he applied to the Crown for permission to drive a cart
road through the barrier with the Prince of Wales gale. Watkins also
held Prince of Wales, Princess Royal and Flour Mill gales and was about
to start developing them into the Princess Royal Colliery.
When Watkins relinquished his lease is not known. Work was certainly
still being done on the gale in 1894 when the output was given as 3,387
tons. The coal gale was relinquished by Henry Crawshay & Sons
in 1896 although the iron mine was still worked through the adjoining China
Engine iron gale until that too was given up in July 1922.
Park Hill coal gale was re-granted in April 1916 as Park Hill No. 2
and in December 1921 a mortgage was taken out on the property by E. J.
& T. W. Thomas from C. A. Morgan. In November 1926 the Thomas's
conveyed the gale to the Wilda Collieries Ltd., of Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
who then mortgaged it to the Thomas's. Wilda appear to have had other
interests in the area as a 'Wilda Level, Woodside, above Darkhole' was
mentioned in 1920.
In May 1930 it was stated that the Park Hill No. 2 gale had been closed
for some two years and that the whole of the property owned by the Wilda
Collieries had ceased working 'some months ago'. In the year ended
1929 1,169 tons had been produced under the management of Mr. Waddell.
The colliery was forfeited back to the Crown in August 1932 for the
non-payment of the dead rent.
Trotter: Another free drainage level. Details of Parkhill Pit
appear in Hoskold (1892 p. 173) and appear to refer to a shaft section.
Details here amended to section of level.
Mouth of Level 122 ft. above O.D.
Strata 23 0
YORKLEY SEAM 2 10
Strata 169 2
WHITTINGTON SEAM 2 9
Strata 155 3
COLEFORD HIGH DELF SEAM 4 6
Strata 135 0
TRENCHARD SEAM 3 11