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The Failed ColleriesThere were initial predictions of at least 20 pits in Kent but the claims for the Kent coalfield turned out to be over-ambitious and over-inflated. Four collieries were finally established but another five were attempted. Guilford CollieryAlso known as Waldershare Colliery, it was started by Arthur Burr’s Foncage Syndicate in 1906. Located in an isolated rural spot, all equipment and materials had to be hauled over farm fields or down muddy tracks, an impossibility in winter.
Three shafts were sunk but water was discovered at 1346ft and work stopped in 1910. It was sold together with Stonehall Colliery to a French company in 1919 who tried to use cementation to seal the shafts from water. It failed and the colliery was abandoned in 1921.
Woodnesborough CollieryAlso known as Hammill Colliery. Two shafts were commenced in 1910 by Burr's Goodnestone & Woodnesborough Colliery Ltd and an extensive range of surface buildings erected. It was mothballed in 1914 and, apart from the wooden headgear erected over one shaft, was still complete in 1923 when it was sold to Pearson & Dorman Long. They kept the mineral rights and sold the colliery to the Hammill Brick Co.
Maydensole CollieryThis was commenced near West Langdon by Burr’s Intermediate Equipments Ltd in 1910. Some surface buildings were erected and boreholes drilled but no shafts seem to have been started before it was abandoned. Wingham Colliery
Commenced in 1910 by a Burr's Wingham & Stour Valley Collieries Ltd. A wide range of surface buildings were erected and two shafts dug but when these hit water there were not enough resources to buy and install pumps. It was mothballed until being sold to a grain miller in 1924. Stonehall CollieryStarted in 1913 by two French brothers, a range of surface buildings had been erected by the time war broke out in 1914 and the owners returned to France.
Left derelict it was purchased by the French company that took over Guilford in 1919. It was abandoned again in 1921 and partly demolished.
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