ANTHRACITE FIELD

Series

Series Name
Mining Review 7th Year

Issue

Issue No.
8
Date Released
Apr 1954
Stories in this Issue:
  1. 1ANTHRACITE FIELD
  2. 2TIME OUT
  3. 3BOWHILL ON TOP
  4. 4IDEAS MAN

Story

Story No. within this Issue
1 / 4
Summary
BFI synopsis: First Steps in creating a new colliery in South Wales. Anthracite mining at Cynheidre, South Wales. The initial sinking operations are undertaken by Germans who have had more experience of such mining.
NCB Commentary - Big developments are on the move in the South Wales anthracite field. Soon the old farmhouse at Cynheidre Fawr will be pulled down, but to-day it serves as offices for Site Engineer Lines and his planning team. They are aiming to get their hands on one hundred million tons of high grade anthracite, starting production in 1959.
Local Welsh workmen started on the site last August making foundations for the head stocks, laying railway sidings and fitting up accomodation for the German workmen who will be carrying out much of the sinking. Everything built at Cynheidre will find a place in the finished pit. Apart from living room there will be no temporary building.
Why bring in Germans? Because they have special experience in this kind of work and because British firms are fully occupied on the many other projects up and down the country. The Germans have arrived to find everything ready and waiting for them and much of the preparatory work already done. When they have done their part of the job, the temporary sinking shafts will be dismantled and their place taken by massive winding towerss. At No. 1 shaft there’ll be two winding engines instead of the usual one.
In 1959 a new landscape will reflect the future for Cynheidre.
Researcher Comments
According to bfi records, this story was filmed from the 9th to the 12th February 1953. The budget was £139 13s. Commentary recorded 8 March 1954.
Keywords
Buildings and structures; Mining
Locations
Wales
Written sources
British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.8 No.95 September 1954, p436.
The National Archives COAL 32   /3 Scripts for Mining Review, 1949-1956
Credits:
Production Co.
Documentary Technicians Alliance
Camera
Kenneth Reeves
Sponsor
National Coal Board
Director
Peter Pickering
Camera
Wolfgang Suschitzky

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