Coal mining records, data, deeds and documents
How to get data and documents held by the Coal Authority.
The Coal Authority holds a large quantity of data, including historical information, relating to coal mining in the United Kingdom.
The Coal Authority’s interactive map viewer allows you to view selected coal mining information for free in your web browser.
Get historical digital coal mining data
Coal abandonment plans
You may need to access historical mine plans for research purposes, for desktop studies prior to development or if you simply have an interest in the history of mining.
The mining records office houses a collection of coal abandonment plans, covering surface mining, also known as opencast, and deep mining operations, which depict areas of coal extraction and the point of entry into the seam.
All plans have been digitally scanned and are available to any interested parties.
Digital or paper copies of abandonment plans can be ordered by submitting your site plan and request to customerservice@coal.gov.uk
British Coal photograph collection
We have a large collection of old British Coal photographs. These photos are from a wide range of collieries covering every aspect of coal mining. These have all been scanned, are searchable and are available in the Mining Heritage Centre at our office in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire to view digitally.
Digital or paper prints of photos can be ordered by submitting your order request to customerservice@coal.gov.uk
If you would prefer to view the plans or photos on our bespoke viewing system at the Mansfield office then please call the Mining Heritage Centre on 0345 762 6848 to arrange an appointment.
Get historical paper coal mining records
Coal holdings register (CHR)
If you need to research mines or minerals ownership for a particular area or site then you will need to look at the CHR.
This is a paper archive held at the Mining Heritage Centre. The CHR dealt with the transfer in ownership of coal and other minerals prior to the nationalisation of the coal industry.
Any investigation into the title of mines and minerals in a coal mining area must involve an inspection of the CHR. The Coal Authority will not regard the investigation as being done properly without this being carried out.
To search the CHR you will need to provide a plan of your area of interest along with your request for a search to customerservice@coal.gov.uk
Licence register
If you need details on a coal mining licence then you will need to refer to the Coal Authority’s licence register. This holds details of all current granted coal mining licences , including underground, opencast and underground coal gasification, and also any current applications.
These are usually requested by homeowners if they receive a mining report that mentions a particular licence. An entry in the licence register provides you with details of the licensee and a plan of the area affected.
If you would like a copy of an entry from the licence register then you will need to submit your request, naming the licence you are interested in, to customerservice@coal.gov.uk
Property deeds and documents
In the first instance all enquiries should be directed to the Land Registry
If your title deeds to a residential property have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Coal Authority may be able to provide certified copies. The Coal Authority has in its archives copies of many of the documents created when land and property has been sold or otherwise disposed of by the National Coal Board or British Coal Corporation.
These include:
- uncertified copies of deeds or documents
- certified copies of deeds or documents
- replacement title deeds
If you need any of the above then submit your request to property@coal.gov.uk
Fees and Charges
To view charges and order our data, please view our fee information
Request further information
Customer services, mining reports and records
Coal Authority
200 Lichfield Lane
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
NG18 4RG
Email customerservice@coal.gov.uk
Telephone 0345 762 6848
Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Thursday, 8:45am to 5pm, Friday, 8:45am to 4:30pm GMT) +44(0)1623 637000
Last updated 1 June 2018 + show all updates
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Removed link to out of date polygon data and replaced with a link to the [Coal Authority's interactive map viewer](http://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/coalauthority/home.html)
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First published.