Huthwaites Past Public Houses

The Miners Institute

The Huthwaite tute historically represented a relatively new building. Opening was reported in detail by the Evening Post, dated at 3rd February 1893, listing the necessary amenities including a library, reading room and billard room, plus pavilion and quoit ground. Architect Mr P J Adlington of Sutton held good repute. Messrs, Gell & Sons of Nottingham constructed the premises, which when costing the local pit around £1,000 was titled by them as New Hucknall Colliery Institute.

That influential New Hucknall Colliery Company had also purchased larger village plots under pit management of Simeon Watson. He secured his own palatial home addressed in 1891 as Hill House, later called Mill House. They invited workers however into more modest terraced houses, similarly constructing Newcastle Street before leaving site for this amenity cornering New Street.

The keeper of New Hucknall Colliery Institute was indentified in 1900 as Henry Evans. Along with John Hick as secretary they reappear listed in 1912, both presumably witnessing that year when the building was reportedly enlarged. The Second World War demanded its use for also locally billeting territorial troops, including some miners kept at digging needed coal. A Kelly's 1945 trade directory simply identified Herman Wharmby, secretary the Institute and Reading room. The extension of its concert room is currently estimated circa 1951.

Certainly proving most popular staging weekend live acts and more frequent bingo nights to a packed audience, where everyone fiercely claimed their own regular seat position. Coal production ended December 1981 at New Hucknall Colliery. The Huthwaite pits closure left this Miners Tute run by committee until eventual sale. Attempts were made to maintain business, but several private ventures failed to reclaim neglected pride facing competition between other pub renovations by major breweries.

Partially re-roofed the empty property eventually sustained greater fire damage. Bought by the local Doctor Smith it was soon demolished in year 1992. The exposed plot firstly gave site a new Huthwaite Chemists, bottoming New Street handily adjacent the Health Centre. Main area did continue laying waste until eventually sold for constructing a row of modern town houses, facing Newcastle Street and recently completed this year 2007.

Endeavouring to uncover the tutes fuller history, I would truly appreciate receiving helpful reminders and especially any photographs inside or outside which have remained elusive.

Personally though vaguely, I recall first attending some Junior School classmates birthday party. Most brought a present, but all were armed with plastic cutlery, unbreakable plates plus dish with names cellotaped on the back for safe return. The Sweet then was not a dessert, but like Slade were a disco group played at 45rpm by stacking vinyl records. The snooker table did retain popular use in its own corner room, outliving one armed bandid mechanical slot machines and the later bar room pool table.

Published 15 Dec 04   Revised 19 May 2007