Grimethorpe: Difference between revisions

For much of the 20th century Grimethorpe's economy was rooted in coal mining. Since the [[UK1984–1985 United Kingdom miners' strike (1984–85)|1984–85 miners' strike]], the downscaling of UK coal mining accelerated and international cheap [[open-cast mining]] provoked closure of its colliery in May 1993. In 1994 it was regarded as the poorest village in Britain.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/03/grimethorpe-hit-rock-bottom-then-bounced-back|title=Grimethorpe, the mining village that hit rock bottom – then bounced back|date=3 March 2015|website=The Guardian|accessdate=2 July 2022}}</ref>

The 1981 census recorded that 44% of all workers in Grimethorpe were miners.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.barnsley.gov.uk/docs/census/oldwards/Brierley_Ward_Profile.pdf | title = Barnsley MB report | access-date = 4 April 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140903215532/https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/docs/census/oldwards/Brierley_Ward_Profile.pdf | archive-date = 3 September 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The two pits in the village were 'Grimethorpe' and 'Ferrymoor' which merged with 'Riddings' in 1967, which in turn merged with 'South Kirkby' in 1985. Grimethorpe colliery was one of the deepest pits in Britain and, following similar mergers with 'Houghton Main' and 'Dearne Valley', employed 6,000 men at the time of its closure in May 1993. During mid-October of the [[UK1984–1985 United Kingdom miners' strike (1984–85)|1984–85 miners' strike]], there was a series of riots in Grimethorpe and local residents complained that the policing was too heavy-handed. Relations between the community and the police remained cold for the next decade.