Access coal mining information and data
Use this guide to access records, maps, photographs and documents about coal mining held by the Mining Remediation Authority.
What information is available
The Mining Remediation Authority holds extensive historical records about coal mining in England, Scotland and Wales, including:
- more than 120,000 coal abandonment plans, some dating back to the 17th century
- more than 47,000 British Coal photographs
- coal holdings register (records of mine and mineral ownership before nationalisation)
- licence register (details of granted coal mining licences)
- property deeds and documents from the National Coal Board and British Coal Corporation
View information online for free
You can view selected coal mining information at no cost using these online tools.
Interactive map viewer
Use the Mining Remediation Authority’s online map viewer to see:
- coal mining data and the extent of mining in Britain
- planning and development information for coalfield areas
- historical coal mining plans
- mine water heat potential
- historical metal mining locations in England
Mine plans catalogue
Search the abandonment plan collection using text-based searches through our mine plans catalogue, or use the map viewer for location-based searches.
Visit the Mining Heritage Centre
All plans and photographs have been scanned and can be viewed free of charge at the Mining Heritage Centre at our office in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4:30pm; Friday, 9am to 4pm
Book an appointment in advance by emailing recordsmanagement@miningremediation.gov.uk or calling 01623 637225.
Data you can licence
Access information about data available to licence from the Mining Remediation Authority.
Order copies of coal abandonment plans
These plans show:
- worked coal areas (surface and underground)
- underground roadways
- shafts
- adits (horizontal mine entrances)
Digital copies cost £20 per plan (excluding VAT) and can be ordered online by completing our form to purchase plans.
Printed copies cost £35 per plan (excluding VAT). Contact the customer services team to place an order.
Research mine and mineral ownership
To research who owned mines or minerals in a particular area before nationalisation, you need to search the coal holdings register.
This paper archive is held at the Mining Heritage Centre. Any investigation into the title of mines and minerals in a coal mining area must include an inspection of this register.
Contact the customer services team with a plan of your area of interest to arrange a search.
Visits to view entries are free. Copies cost £40 per entry (application plans charged separately).
Find coal mining licence information
The licence register holds details of all current coal mining licences (underground, opencast and underground coal gasification) and applications.
You may need this if a mining report mentions a particular licence. Each entry shows the licensee details and a plan of the affected area.
Visits to view entries are free. Copies cost £40 per entry.
Contact the customer services team with the licence details you need.
Get property deeds and documents
For property deed enquiries, first contact HM Land Registry.
If your title deeds have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Mining Remediation Authority may be able to provide certified copies.
The archive contains documents from sales by the National Coal Board or British Coal Corporation, including:
- certified or uncertified copies of deeds
- replacement title deeds
| Document type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of property deeds | £65 plus £25 per sheet |
| Uncertified copy of property deeds | £65 |
Plans are charged separately if applicable.
Submit requests by emailing property@miningremediation.gov.uk.
Commission a detailed search
For site-specific research, you can commission a surveyor to search the records.
| Search type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Detailed search by surveyor | £92.67 per hour (or part hour) plus VAT |
| Abandoned mines catalogue search | £96.52 plus VAT |
| Wisdom database interrogation | £50 |
Detailed searches provide a list of abandonment plans showing workings that cross your site.
For larger sites taking over an hour, you will be informed before payment is required.
All search charges are payable in advance.
Court orders, mining leases and notices
You can order copies of court orders, mining leases and notices.
| Document type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Court order | £50 |
| Mining lease | £50 |
| Notice | £40 |
Plans are charged separately if applicable.
Geological data
Surface mining borehole data is also available.
| Document type | Cost per borehole |
|---|---|
| Without scientific data | £2 |
| With scientific data | £2.50 |
Contact us
Customer services, mining reports and records
Mining Remediation Authority
200 Lichfield Lane
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
NG18 4RG
Email customerservice@miningremediation.gov.uk
Telephone 0345 762 6848