1954-1987 National Coal Board
1987-1991 British Coal Corporation
Many pits were sunk in the Cannock Chase area but by the 1920s mining had been consolidated at Brick Kiln Colliery, later called Brereton Colliery. After 170 years of mining it was closed in 1960 and its miners were transferred to Lea Hall Colliery two miles away.
Lea Hall Colliery was a major coal mine in Staffordshire, the first colliery to be built after nationalisation to meet the ever-increasing demand for coal, and in particular Rugeley Power Station. (Approximately 80% of the output went direct by conveyor belt to the adjacent power station)
It was planned and sunk by the National Coal Board, with construction beginning in 1954 with a planned life of 100 years. The two shafts, were sunk to a depth of 396 meters, passing through 11 seams of Cannock Chase coal with a total thickness of 15.5 meters. There were 4 cages in Downcast Shaft and 3 cages in the Upcast Shaft. (In 1988 2 upcast cages were converted to skips) Source: Museum of Cannock Chase
At full production from 1960 the annual output exceeded 1 million tonnes of coal and was the first colliery in the country to reach 1.8 million tons. At one point it was described as being the highest producing single colliery in Western Europe.
At its peak, the colliery employed around 2,500 men, many of whom were bused in from all over the UK, including Scotland. This was due to the closure of their local collieries. The workforce faced challenging and hazardous conditions, working deep underground with the risks of gas and dust exposure. Accidents were frequent resulting in the need for a team of highly trained first aiders.
The local housing shortage due to the influx of mineworkers led to the construction of housing estates such as The Pear Tree and Springfield Estates.
In 1984-1985 the colliery was involved in the miners strike, reflecting its importance in the national coal industry and the local community. However, despite its success, the colliery faced economic pressures from government policies, alternative energy sources, and foreign competition leading to its eventual closure in 1990. Source Birminghamjournal.co.uk
The remaining mine workers walked out of Lea Hall Colliery for the last time on 25th January 1991. They proudly marched through Rugeley town centre and onwards to Lea Hall Miners Welfare Centre with brass bands playing and holding their banners high to show their solidarity. The Miners March On The Last Day At Lea Hall Colliery Rugeley
The closure of Lea Hall Colliery had a profound impact on the local economy, resulting in significant unemployment and social disruption. The site has since been redeveloped including the construction of Towers Business Park which houses commercial enterprises. Source Express & Star