Fig 1: Crowds gather at Creswell pit head following the mining disaster on 26th September 1950.
Remembering Creswell
Commemorating the 1950 Creswell Colliery disaster on its 75th anniversary.
About the event: Presentations include the origins of the Creswell model pit village, a brief history of Creswell Colliery and the 1950 mining disaster, a video about the Creswell mining disaster and a screening of John Berger’s 1972 documentary filmed on location at the coalmining community of Creswell. The event will commemorate the 1950 Creswell Colliery mining disaster on its 75th anniversary. Eighty miners were tragically killed by the effects of an underground fire.
Venue: Pleasley Pit Visitors Centre, Pit Lane, Pleasley, Mansfield. NG19 7PH.
Date /Time: Saturday, 20th September 2025 (11am – 2.30pm)
Free event, all welcome
Timetable
11am: Welcome and introduction of event.
11.10am – 12.30pm: Presentations
Fig 2: Creswell Colliery mining disaster memorial.
11.10am – 11.40am: The origins of Creswell Model Pit Village and its founders – Mike Pollard.
Fig 3: Pit houses at Creswell model pit village in 2020. Photo by David Amos.
11.40am – 12.10pm: A brief history of Creswell Colliery and the 1950 mining disaster – David Amos
12.10pm – 12.40pm: Creswell mining disaster video – Bob Glassey
Fig 4: Café at Pleasley Pit Visitors Centre. Photo by David Amos.
12.45pm – 1.45pm: Snap Time! Food and drinks can be purchased in the café.
Fig 5: Coalmining heritage screening as part of the BBC documentary, The Art of Mining, in 2018.
1.45pm – 2.30pm: Film screening
Tom Overton presents a screening of John Berger’s 1972 documentary filmed on location at Creswell pit village and colliery in which he makes comparisons with Emile Zola’s 1880’s coalmining novel, Germinal.
An event question and answer session will follow the film.
2.30pm: End of event
Fig 6: The preserved headstocks and winding engine house at Pleasley Pit.
Public Transport & Parking: Stagecoach Pronto buses between Mansfield and Chesterfield and vice versa call at Pleasley village. Timetable at https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/east-midlands/pronto
Free car parking is available on site at Pleasley Pit near to the Visitors Centre.
Further Details: Contact Pleasley Pit Visitors Centre at 01623 818928 or Mine2Minds Education at 07914 373745
Fig 7: Pleasley Pit Visitors Centre, venue for the Remembering Creswell event
