Pride of place for Maltby's former pithead wheel

The pit wheel from the Tickhill Road site has been restored and installed as part of the tribute opposite the Don John pub.

It was salvaged from the colliery, stored at nearby village Stainton and lowered into place with two coal tubs.

Maltby Miners Memorial Community Group thanked builder Carl Walker, iron worker Tony Reeve, wheel and tub restorer Phil Watkins plus firms like Beedons, Marshalls, Tarmac, Lawrence Bros, Taylor Tuxford Associates, Walkers Solicitors and Tesco.

Group chairman Bill Spilsbury added: “There is still a fair amount of work to complete before the project is finished but putting the wheel and tubs in place is something of a landmark.

“We’ve had hundreds of cash donations received from people too numerous to list.

“It’s been everything from companies donating thousands of pounds down to kids putting their chocolate money into the buckets.

“The benches made by Geoff Allen are something else and brought a tear to this old man’s eye and Mick Hughes has given an endless supply of equipment and services.”

Fundraising has also been backed by charity shop New 2 You, tearoom 4 TEAS, and Maltby Catholic Club. 

The pit employed 2,500 miners at its peak and closed in 2013.