Arley Colliery After Nationalisation

In 1947 The Arley Colliery Company Ltd. became part of the National Coal Board.

Production At Arley Colliery

Mining methods at Arley Colliery altered after Nationalisation, in an effort to increase productivity the NCB introduced mechanised mining to replace the old hand methods. The mechanised methods were found to be impractical, though, as Arley offered very poor mining conditions, being disturbed by faulting and washouts (areas where the coal disappears).

Saleable output decreased drastically after 1957, due to the progressive changes in mining methods, while the increase in the use of machinery caused a corresponding reduction in manpower.

While the development of the Bench seam, in 1966/67, caused a sudden increase in output per manshift, this seam was not worked at Arley before 1966 and was developed in an attempt to make the colliery viable in its last few years, saleable output did not increase because of the reduced need for house coal -- of good quality -- in the sixties. Instead, furnace coal -- for industrial use -- was in greater demand, unfortunately Arley coal is mainly of house coal quality and, therefore, could not be sold in sufficient quantities.

GRAPH : Saleable Output 1947--1968.

GRAPH : Comparing Manpower with Output per Manshift 1947--1968.

GRAPH : Comparing Saleable Output with Output per Manshift 1947--1968.

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