End of an era: Britain’s last deep coal mine closes

Britain’s last deep coal mine has closed, ending the country’s association with an industry that predates the Romans, fuelled the industrial revolution and once employed over a million people.

Kellingley colliery, North Yorkshire. Image by Chris Sampson / CC BY 2.0

There are still substantial coal seams beneath Kellingley colliery in North Yorkshire, but the pit has lost its final supply contract, with global prices at their lowest level since 2008. While a small number of surface mines remain open, the vast majority of Britain’s coal is now imported from other countries including Russia and Poland. Coal mining was once the dominant industry in many parts of the country, fuelling Victorian steam engines, and was nationalized after WWII. Read more: theguardian.com