Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Betteshanger Colliery, Northbourne. The first shaft was sunk at Betteshanger by Pearson and Dorman Long in 1924 and the colliery operated until the 1980s when it became the last Kent pit to close. The buildings still standing represent the most complete remains of any Kent colliery, though winding gear, washery and several other buildings have been demolished. The extant buildings include the pit head baths which were built in 1934 and winding engine houses

Monument Types

• COLLIERY (Modern - 1924 AD to 1989 AD)
• PITHEAD BATHS (Modern - 1924 AD to 1989 AD)
• SPOIL HEAP (Modern - 1924 AD to 1989 AD)
• WINDER HOUSE (Modern - 1924 AD to 1989 AD)
• WORKERS VILLAGE (Modern - 1924 AD to 1989 AD)

Full description

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(TR 33800529) Betteshanger Colliery (NAT) (1) Betteshanger Colliery is one of only three collieries in Kent being worked by the National Coal Board. The other two are Tilmanstone (TR 25 SE 29) and Snowdown (TR 25 SW 31). (2) The first shaft was cut in May 1924 and the colliery remained open until August 1989 - the last colliery to close in Kent. (3)

Additional Reference (4 - 5)

An evaluation on the site in 2003 recorded the depths of made ground and dumping along with parts of the sinkers' huts which were briefly occupied during the initial work at the site before being buried beneath waste material. (6)

A survey was carried out by Oxford Archaeology in 2003 of surviving surface elements of the colliery. Almost all structures have been demolished since the colliery shut in 1989. Only the main office survives. (7)

<1> OS 1:10000 1981 (OS Card Reference). SKE48167.

<2> Ind Arch of SE Eng 1978 13 (A J Haselfoot) (OS Card Reference). SKE44215.

<3> Kent Underground Research Group, 1997, Kent Underground Research Group Newsletter no. 55 (Unpublished document). SKE25130.

<4> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, KURG Kent and E SUssex Underground 1991 (Meresborough) (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<5> Chris Blandford Associates, 2002, Betteshanger Colliery & Spoil Tip Environmental Impact Assessment: Volume 2 Environmental Statement (Unpublished document). SKE8361.

<6> Oxford Archaeology, 2003, Betteshanger Colliery, Deal, Kent: Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE16273.

<7> Oxford Archaeology, 2008, Archaeological Investigation and Surface Remains Survey at Betteshanger Colliery, Deal, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE18249.

Sources and further reading

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