Hargreaves Land proudly supports new miners’ memorial in Stainforth

This Sunday will mark the official unveiling of a new Miners’ Memorial at Stainforth in Doncaster, honouring the miners who worked the coal seams at the adjacent Hatfield Colliery for nearly 100 years.

Local artist Mike Johnson was commissioned to create the Stainforth Memorial, which depicts the shape of a miner inside a miners lamp and incorporates one of the original Hatfield Colliery winding wheels.

After the mine closed in 2015, Hargreaves Land removed the winding wheels from the site and transported them to safe storage at its North East Headquarters in Durham. The company was delighted to be able to donate one of the winding wheels so it could become an integral part of the Memorial.

Andy Johnson, head of asset management at Hargreaves Land, said: “Thanks to the foresight of our chief executive, Gordon Banham, the winding wheel at Hatfield was safely removed and stored at our plc headquarters in Durham in anticipation that it could be required for a special purpose at a later date. We were absolutely delighted to be able to help the Hatfield Colliery Heritage Association Trust by donating this winding wheel to the Memorial. We have a long history of involvement with the local area which continues with the Unity project where we are making excellent progress which will usher in a new phase of growth, but it is important to remember the area’s mining heritage.”

Mick Lanaghan, a former miner at the colliery, said: “We are thrilled with the Memorial and very grateful to Hargreaves Land for donating the winding wheel. It creates a striking centrepiece for those who visit the site and, most importantly, commemorates the miners, which means so much to the people of Stainforth and all the mining communities of Hatfield Main.”

Stainforth Councillor, Phil Bedford added “Stainforth Town Council is proud to have partnered with Hatfield Main Heritage Trust and Hargreaves Land to facilitate the creation of the new Miners’ Memorial Garden in Stainforth. To see such an icon of our civic pride as the old pit wheel back where it belongs is fantastic. We would like to thank Mr Banham and Hargreaves, first for saving the original wheel and second for donating it to the community that holds it so dear.”