Gedling Colliery, in the Nottinghamshire coalfield, closed thirty-years ago in early November 1991 due to deteriorating geological conditions in the Main Bright seam. Sunk by the Digby Colliery Company from 1899 to 1902, it later was known as ‘The Pit of Nations’ because of its diverse workforce in the 1950’s to 1980’s period.

Gedling is a village and former civil parish which gives its name to the larger Borough of Gedling in Nottinghamshire, England. It lies 4 miles (6.4 km) north-east of Nottingham city centre. The parish was abolished in 1935 and absorbed into the urban district of Carlton, which in turn was abolished in 1974 on the creation of borough of Gedling.

May 23, 2022 · Gedling Colliery closed thirty-years ago in early November 1991 due to deteriorating geological conditions in the Main Bright seam. Sunk by the Digby Colliery Company from 1899 to 1902, it later was known as ‘The Pit of Nations’ because of its diverse workforce in the 1950’s to 1980’s period.

The colliery became known as the United Nations Pit, with more than thirty-one different nationalities employed there. Gedling colliery produced more than 70,000,000 tons of saleable coal from four seams, at a cost of 128 miners’ lives.

At its peak after WW2, Gedling Colliery employed over 2,000 people and produced over a million tonnes of coal per year. It became known as the “Pit of Nations” because of the diversity of the miners, drawn from over 15 different countries.

This instalment in the occasional A Pit Is Reborn series looks at the ongoing modernisation of Gedling Colliery in Nottinghamshire, one of the deepest mines in the region.

- After World War II, there were men from over 20 different nations working at Gedling, earning it the names "UN pit" or "the pit of all nations". - 130 people lost their lives at the pit during the 93 years it was open .

Oct 4, 2011 · An old documentary made in 1948 about Gedling Colliery in Nottinghamshire, one of the deepest pits in the region. ...more.

In November 1991, The Gedling Pit workers did their last shift. 25 years later Gedling Borough Council and the Gedling Miners Welfare Trust organised a reunion. We were expecting 50, 250...

In 1947, the pit was nationalised and become part of the National Coal Board South Nottinghamshire Area from 1967. The main period of operation for Gedling Colliery was between 1902 and 1991. Of the coal produced, 20% was steam coal and 80% was household lump coal.