Banner of Royston Drift Branch

Royston Drift Branch of the Yorkshire Area of the National Union of Mineworkers

The branch organised mineworkers at Royston Drift Colliery at Royston, north of Barnsley. Opened in 1975 under the Government’s ‘Plan for Coal’, the pit was funded by the EEC Capital Renewal Fund. It was originally opened in 1875 when it was known as Monckton Main Colliery. The pit closed in 1990 with the loss of 600 jobs.

Painted using oils on silk by George Tuthill in 1975, the banner is 201cm wide by 250cm high. It was last used by the branch in 1987 during the Centenary celebration in Barnsley.

Thanks to Fred Clowery, the last President of Royston Drift Branch, for information about the banner.

The banner is the property of the NUM and is currently stored at the National Coal Mining Museum, where a selection of banners are displayed each summer.

National Coal Mining Museum, Caphouse Colliery, Wakefield, West Yorkshire www.ncm.org.uk

Discover what mining was like underground, meet the pit ponies and explore the unique exhibitions. An experience for all ages and admission is free.

Thanks to the Yorkshire Area of the National Union of Mineworkers for permission to photograph and reproduce this banner. Image copyright NUM.

If you have any information about this or any other banner please tell the NUM or Past Pixels.

A minimum of 10p of the purchase price of this card is donated to the NJMC.

Photography by Martin Shakeshaft.
Photography, design and print by unionised labour.
www.martinshakeshaft.com    www.kavitagraphics.co.uk     www.russellpress.com