Silverhill Tribute Sculpture

The Colliery at Silverhill, just 4 miles from Sutton in Ashfield, and within sight of Hardwick Hall, was sunk in 1875 by the Stanton iron and coal company.  About 130,000 gallons of water were pumped from the workings every week to keep the faces dry.  A similar amount of water was being fed into the mine to suppress the dust.

During one week in 1986 Silverhill achieved the European coal production record for thin seam mining.  Each man had produced over 59 tonnes, which is 5 times the National average.

The mine was closed in 1993.

In March 2005 a Tribute Sculpture to the Coal Miners of Nottinghamshire was unveiled, and the top of Silverhill spoil heap was chosen for the location, as it is now the highest point in the county.  The sculpture was created by Antony Dufort and is  3 metre high, including the stone base.

It is called 'Testing for Gas' and shows a miner squinting into his lamp to detect the presence of explosive methane gas by a change in the shape or colour of the flame.  All miners, even in 2005, carry flame-safety or 'Davey' lamps despite modern electronic methanometers on their belts.  So the lamps still have their use, as well as being of symbolic value.

The unveiling marked the end of a £13 million project to restore former coalfield sites into country parks open to the public.  The plaque lists all the principal coal mines working in the county between 1819 and 2005, with their respective dates.  Now only Harworth, Thoresby and Welbeck are still open.

From this point it is possible to see nearby Hardwick Hall, and further afield Bolsover Castle, Crich Monument, Clipstone Colliery headstock and the Trent Valley power stations.  On a good day it's possible to see Lincoln Cathedral

To enable everyone enjoy the sculpture a 700 m long disabled access rout has been created to the crest of the hill.

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