'From Pit to Park': Sutton Colliery to Brierley Country Park

the way to make money in victorian england was to open a pit, so that's what squire robert marsh eckersley wilkinson dodsley did in 1873. despite sinking considerable sums of money into the project, sutton in ashfield, some 20 miles north of nottingham, and on the edge of the derbyshire peak district, was not the ideal location. there was considerable unrest amongst the miners as their anyway poor wages were cut in an effort to make a profit. Eventually the pit did produce a considerable amount of coal, but it had an interesting, and chequered history. the pit finally closed in August 1989.
after much speculation about what would happen to site in september 1993 ashfield district council purchased the area and began the conversion of the 125 hectare (80 acre) land into brierley forest park. the very popular park now has a visitor centre, which sells hot and cold snacks, a fishing lake, a purpose-built mountain bike trail, bird feeding stations and a net work of paths suitable for walkers and horse riders.