The colliery was one of the seven areas of deep gales - founded after the Dean Forest (Mines) Act in 1904.
The colliery exploited six seams containing 41,000,000 long tons (41,700,000 t) of coal which could give a working life of around 200 years (at an extraction rate of 200,000 long tons (203,000 t) per annum.[1] The principal coal seam was the Coleford High Delf, a steam coal much in demand and said to be up to 5 ft 0 in (1.524 m) thick. Demand led to discussions with the Great Western Railway over the provision of a link to its network.[2]
History
The first gale was granted on 19 March 1906 to Mr. J. R. Brown.[3] Henry Crawshay & Company was offered the gale in October 1907 and completed the purchase on 24 December 1907.[4] The purchase took place because the company was aware that the coal reserves at its Lightmoor Colliery would not last ten years, let alone the predicted twenty.[5]
Construction of the railway connection began in 1908 along with the sidings but the facilities were basic, having a two-lever ground frame allowing access to the complex.[6][7] A signal box at Eastern United was not provided until late 1913.[8]
In early 1914 it was announced that Eastern was not the success everyone hoped as the western portion of the gale could not be exploited because of its geological condition.[9] By 1916 its fortunes had changed, the coal seam had levelled out. By April 1919 output was up to 250 long tons (254 t) per day.[10] Accounts showed that the colliery was running at a loss until 1923, except for a small profit made in 1919.[11]
Expenditure at Eastern was made to modernise the facilities (including the repair and replacement of the boilers, the fitting of electricity and pumping equipment) and the provision of railway vehicles.[12][13] In 1914 twenty 12 long tons (12.2 t) wagons were purchased from the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company (at a cost of £16 5s 6d per wagon) to complement thirty 10 long tons (10.2 t) others.[14] The older wagons had been rented and subsequently purchased (at a cost of £8 16s per wagon) from the Ince Waggon & Ironworks Co. of Wigan, through their broker - the Lincoln Wagon Co. of Doncaster.[15]
The colliery was nationalized in 1947 and became part of the National Coal Board South Western Division.[16] It closed on 30 January 1959.[17]
