ATV Today: 19.08.1968: Baggeridge Colliery

Summary

The use of pit ponies at Baggeridge Colliery in Sedgley.

Year:

1968

Duration:

0:08:54

Film type:

Black & White / Sound

Company:

ATV

Master format:

16mm

Description

Exterior shots of Baggeridge Colliery (looks deserted and closed). We then cut to underground shots riding on a colliery train (cut to music) and coal is seen on a conveyor belt. There are various shots of pit ponies underground being led along tunnels and looked after in their stalls. A miner provides a voice over describing their use and their life on the surface after retirement. We then see a pony being carried to the surface in the mine lift and the final shots (which are mute) show a pony being led from the colliery into a horse box and then released in a field with other animals.


Credits

No credits specified


Notes

According to the newsletter of the Black Country Society the final working shift at Baggeridge Colliery took place on 2 March 1968. The pit was the final one working in the Black Country. 19 August 1968 was the first broadcast of ATV Today following a two week strike.