Howden Colliery was Keighley's last working mine and one of Britain's smallest. Here we recall its short but fascinating existence.

Work to establish the viability of obtaining coal at Rivock, above Riddlesden, began in 1921.

The existence of coal in that region was already well known - many years earlier it had been extracted from local hillsides in paying quantities.

But except for a few loads gathered during the difficulties of coal strikes, little or none had been obtained from that area for over a quarter of a century. Even during the strikes only outcrops were worked, with people assuming the coal didn't exist in sufficient quantities underground to warrant the labour costs which would be incurred mining it.

Utley man Mr E. Pitt, one of those engaged in mining years earlier, believed otherwise and extensive exploratory operations began.

Work started within yards of the Silsden-Morton road, but few passers-by would be aware of the developing commercial venture. Growing mounds of mining refuse hid the entrance to the workings down which a tramway ran.

A report at that time described the horrendous conditions underground encountered by a party visiting the mine. "In single file we worked steadily down the tortuous way," it read. "In places the tunnel is not high enough to allow a man of average height to stand upright without striking his head against the lateral beams which hold up the roof. The journey was rendered more difficult by the thickness of clay, almost sufficient to pull-off one's boots.

"To raise one's head meant a bump against the pit props above, while an extra lurch found a pit prop projecting from the side. It was with no little relief that it was noticed the way became somewhat drier as it went down."

The tunnelling continued, with labourers following as much as possible the route of old workings, but roof collapses hampered their progress. A huge amount of digging, walling and propping had to be carried out. During the excavations many traces of previous mining activities - including pieces of pit timber - were found.

Mr Pitt was satisfied that the mine would be a viable operation, and - a year after the exploratory work had begun - Howden Colliery began to produce coal.

Further records of the colliery's progress are sketchy. It was certainly still operational in 1927, but it is believed its demise - perhaps due to exhausted supplies or simply the fact it was no longer viable - came about soon afterwards.

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