Miners Welfare

Blidworth Miners’ Welfare was designed as a social hub for the colliery village. The aerial image above taken in the 1970s shows the extensive sports grounds which included a football pitch, cricket pitch, bowling green and tennis courts. The grounds were also used for the annual Miners’ Gala.

The Miners’ Welfare also hosted live music and variety acts at weekends and held special events like the childrens’ Boxing Day party, when miner’s children were entertained with magic acts and each child received a selection-box and a little pocket money.

After the closure of the colliery in 1989 the old Welfare building stood empty for some years and was finally demolished in 1996. A modern extension to the Welfare which was added in the 1970’s survived, and was converted for industrial use.

A smaller, modern building now fulfils the role of the original Miners’ Welfare, and uses the former tennis courts as a car park. The sports grounds are still in use today.

Annual Blidworth Miners’ Gala in the 1970s 

Blidworth Colliery Football Team in 1970.

The modern Blidworth Miners’ Welfare Social Centre.

To the left of the Welfare Ground is Burmah Road, which was once the site of the colliery workshops and surface buildings including the coal preparation plant and the railway.