13-11-2016 - Pithead and winding wheels of derelict Clipstone Colliery, Nottinghamshire, now a Grade two listed building © John Harris

13-11-2016 - Pithead and winding wheels of derelict Clipstone Colliery, Nottinghamshire, now a Grade two listed building © John Harris

13-11-2016 - Pithead and winding wheels of derelict Clipstone Colliery, Nottinghamshire, now a Grade two listed building © John Harris

19-09-2016 - Leadville, Colorado, USA The Leadville Mining District. Mining for gold, silver, lead, zinc, and copper began here in 1860. The Robert Emmet Mine was the site of a major battle between striking member... © Jim West

19-09-2016 - Leadville, Colorado, USA The Leadville Mining District. Mining for gold, silver, lead, zinc, and copper began here in 1860. The Robert Emmet Mine was the site of a major battle between striking member... © Jim West

03-12-2015 - The last deep coal mine in the UK at Kellingley Colliery near Knottingley, Yorkshire which is scheduled to be closed in December 2015 bringing the deep coal mining industry to an end in the UK. © Mark Pinder

03-12-2015 - The last deep coal mine in the UK at Kellingley Colliery near Knottingley, Yorkshire which is scheduled to be closed in December 2015 bringing the deep coal mining industry to an end in the UK. © Mark Pinder

03-12-2015 - The last deep coal mine in the UK at Kellingley Colliery near Knottingley, Yorkshire which is scheduled to be closed in December 2015 bringing the deep coal mining industry to an end in the UK. © Mark Pinder

15-08-2013 - The National Mining Museum Scotland, on the site of Lady Victoria Colliery in Newtongrange, Midlothian. The pit ceased production in 1981. © Philip Wolmuth

07-08-2013 - The National Coal Mining Museum for England, formerly Caphouse Colliery, in Overton, West Yorkshire. The pit, just outside Wakefield, closed in 1985. © Philip Wolmuth

24-09-2012 - Lewis Merthyr Colliery pithead, Rhondda Heritage Park, South Wales © John Harris

20-06-2012 - Miners locker room with pin-ups, images of women. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cu... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Miners drying room. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Miners drying room. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Miners drying room. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Families supporting the miners at the pithead. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Striking miners take provisions to the occupying miners. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government annou... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Miners head lamps charging up in the pithead lamproom. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announc... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Miners drying room. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Miners drying room. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Blanca Fernandez in the pithead lamproom, speaks with her husband on the telephone where he has been occupying Santa Cruz de Sil mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government a... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Miners drying room. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Families supporting the miners at the pithead. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Miners locker room with pin-ups, images of women. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cu... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Blanca Fernandez in the pithead lamproom, speaks with her husband on the telephone where he has been occupying Santa Cruz de Sil mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government a... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Miners drying room. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to... © Jess Hurd

20-06-2012 - Miners head lamps charging up in the pithead lamproom. Santa Cruz de Sil where miners have been occupying 3kms down in the mine for a month. The miners have been on strike since the government announc... © Jess Hurd

16-06-2012 - Miners march to Pozo Candin where miners have been occupying the pit. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to austerity cuts which will mean an en... © Jess Hurd

16-06-2012 - Miners march to Pozo Candin where miners have been occupying the pit. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to austerity cuts which will mean an en... © Jess Hurd

16-06-2012 - Pozo de Soton coal mine. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to austerity which will mean an end to mining. Asturias. Northern Spain. © Jess Hurd

16-06-2012 - John Cunningham ex Yorkshire NUM miner speaking at a rally at Pozo Candin where miners have been occupying the pit. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidi... © Jess Hurd

16-06-2012 - Miners march to Pozo Candin where miners have been occupying the pit. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to austerity cuts which will mean an en... © Jess Hurd

16-06-2012 - Miners march to Pozo Candin where miners have been occupying the pit. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to austerity cuts which will mean an en... © Jess Hurd

16-06-2012 - Miners march to Pozo Candin where miners have been occupying the pit. The miners have been on strike since the government announced cuts to mining subsidies due to austerity cuts which will mean an en... © Jess Hurd

08-11-2011 - Hatfield Main colliery, Stainforth, is one of two remaining pits in South Yorkshire, with 400 employees. In May 2011 it was sold to Entero BV, a Dutch holding company. © Philip Wolmuth

08-11-2011 - The pithead and winding gear, Hatfield Main colliery, Stainforth, is one of two remaining pits in South Yorkshire. © Philip Wolmuth

25-12-2010 - Zeche Zollverein, Winding tower of shaft 12, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Essen, Germany. © Timm Sonnenschein

25-12-2010 - Zeche Zollverein, Winding tower of shaft 12, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Essen, Germany. © Timm Sonnenschein

26-03-2009 - Footbridge after coal mine winding wheel and gear reminiscent of the industrial past. New Tredegar, South Wales. © John Harris

26-03-2009 - Footbridge after coal mine winding wheel and gear reminiscent of the industrial past. New Tredegar, South Wales. © John Harris

05-12-2008 - Miner leaving at the end of his shift, Daw Mill Colliery, Warwickshire. © Christopher Thomond

05-12-2008 - Miner leaving at the end of his shift, Daw Mill Colliery, Warwickshire. © Christopher Thomond

05-12-2008 - Miner leaving at the end of his shift, Daw Mill Colliery, Warwickshire. © Christopher Thomond

05-12-2008 - Miner leaving at the end of his shift, Daw Mill Colliery, Warwickshire. © Christopher Thomond

05-12-2008 - Miner leaving at the end of his shift, Daw Mill Colliery, Warwickshire. © Christopher Thomond

05-12-2008 - Miner leaving at the end of his shift, Daw Mill Colliery, Warwickshire. © Christopher Thomond

16-07-2008 - Harworth colliery, mothballed by UK Coal, Doncaster, South Yorkshire. © John Harris

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. No entry sign © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

24-01-2008 - Tower Colliery,Wales the last deep pit mine in Wales closes. 239 Welsh miners scraped together 8,000 a piece to keep open a mine that British Coal had declared worthless. Miners with mixed emotions le... © Paul Box

20-01-2006 - South Crofty Tin Mine, Camborne, Cornwall. In 1998 it was the last mine to close. There are plans to re-open in 2006 © Geoff Crawford

20-01-2006 - South Crofty Tin Mine, Camborne, Cornwall. In 1998 it was the last mine to close. There are plans to re-open in 2006 © Geoff Crawford

20-01-2006 - South Crofty Tin Mine, Camborne, Cornwall. In 1998 it was the last mine to close. There are plans to re-open in 2006 © Geoff Crawford

20-01-2006 - Derelict Tin mines near Camborne, Cornwall © Geoff Crawford

20-01-2006 - The ruins of South Tincroft Mine compressor House, Brae, Cornwall. The mine closed in 1921 © Geoff Crawford

20-01-2006 - The ruins of South Tincroft Mine Engine House, Brae, Cornwall. The mine closed in 1921 © Geoff Crawford

19-01-2006 - Daffodils pickers near the village of Brae near Camborne in Cornwall. Local pickers are joined by Polish and Lithuanian labourers and receive 8p per bunch which goes down to 6p when the season picks u... © Geoff Crawford

19-01-2006 - Daffodils pickers near the village of Brae near Camborne in Cornwall. Local pickers are joined by Polish and Lithuanian labourers and receive 8p per bunch which goes down to 6p when the season picks u... © Geoff Crawford

19-01-2006 - Paulo Nunes a picks daffodils near the village of Brae near Camborne in Cornwall. Local pickers are joined by Polish and Lithuanian labourers and receive 8p per bunch which goes down to 6p when the se... © Geoff Crawford

21-09-1996 - Polish miner emerges from the metal cage lift after a shift underground in a coal mine, Silesia, Poland © Janina Struk

13-05-1993 - Women Against Pit Closures Trentham Colliery. Supporters of 4 women occupying headgear Trentham Colliery against pit closure, Staffordshire 1993 © John Harris

13-05-1993 - Women Against Pit Closures Trentham Colliery. Supporters of 4 women occupying headgear Trentham Colliery against pit closure, Staffordshire 1993 © John Harris

01-02-1993 - Demolished Askern Colliery, Yorkshire coalfield 1993, mother and pushchair crossing a footbridge over the former mine © John Harris

01-02-1993 - Women walk across the remains of the demolished Askern Colliery closed in the second round of pit closures Yorkshire coalfield 1993 © John Harris

30-11-1986 - Miners coming off shift, Maerdy Colliery, South Wales 1986 © Peter Arkell

10-11-1986 - Miners coming off shift, Shirebrook Colliery, Derbyshire © John Sturrock

02-06-1986 - South Hetton colliery, County Durham closed down June 1986 after end of miners strike © Peter Arkell

23-05-1986 - Cutting up pit winding gear for scrap, South Wales, 1986 © Peter Arkell

10-05-1986 - Children playing, Senghenydd colliery disaster memorial 1986. It was the worst colliery disaster in Britain. The explosion at Universal Colliery, Aber Valley, Senghynedd, Glamorgan, South Wales, kille... © Peter Arkell

15-02-1985 - Miners Strike 1985. Pickets watching as pithead coal stocks are moved from Silverwood colliery to Cottam power station in a convoy of lorries as stocks of coking coal runout. Yorkshire © John Harris

31-10-1984 - Striking miner riddling for coal, South Kirby slagheap, 1984, collecting fuel for the winter, South Kirby, Yorkshire © John Harris

06-10-1984 - Police lines and pickets, Blidworth colliery 1984, Nottinghamshire, miners strike © Peter Arkell

24-07-1984 - Miners Strike 1984 mass picket confronting police lines, Bilston Glen. Norman Strike at the front of a mass picket, Scotland © John Sturrock

05-07-1984 - Family day Picket, Penrikyber Colliery, South Wales, 1984 The Miners Strike. Penrhiwceiber © John Harris

11-05-1984 - Mass picket of striking miners Welbeck colliery, 1984 Nottinghamshire during the miners strike. © NLA

11-05-1984 - Mass picket of striking miners Welbeck colliery, 1984 Nottinghamshire miners strike. © NLA

01-05-1984 - Pickets, Lynemouth colliery 1984 Northumberland. Striking miners. Miners strike © Ray Rising

05-03-1984 - Pickets picketing out spreading the strike Thurcroft 1984 Yorkshire pits. Flying pickets persuading other miners to come out on strike, first day of the Miners strike, Thurcroft colliery © John Harris

20-02-1984 - Pithead coal stocks, Bold colliery, St Helens, 1984, Lancashire. Heap of coal stockpiled as the miners strike begins © John Sturrock

12-02-1983 - NUM picket Lewis Merthyr Colliery, 1983 Rhondda Valley, South Wales strike against pit closure © John Harris