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Coal mining continued in Pentrich for centuries, the pits only being closed in 1946 when the rest of the industry was nationalised. Pentrich was a comparatively safe colliery and one where innovation took place a pumping engine from Pentrich Colliery was formerly on display at the Science Museum in London; Pentrich was one of the earliest pits to stop the use of pit ponies. One of the village’s other employers can still be seen at the old red brick building on Asher Lane (just as our trail turns left towards Butterley). Now Pentos Office Furniture Ltd, this was formerly the cotton-spinners Messrs J. Towlson & Co., who manufactured lace threads. Arthur John Towlson lived at Victoria Cottage, near the Dog Inn; his company, which had another mill at Wingfield Park, were important local employers. The site was taken over by Stevensons Dyers in the 1940’s. Local dye-working had been important since before the 1830’s, when the Pentrich damson trees were originally grown as a crop for dying; before chemical dyes were available. The trees are still enjoyed by villagers for their fruit. Study the list of revolutionaries involved in the rising of 1817, we can see that many of those involved men, were ironworkers (at Butterley), colliers and miners at Pentrich mine, labourers, framework knitters and farmers. This was a busy and thriving village in the process of change from agricultural to industrial lifestyles. It was against this backdrop that the Revolution was played out.
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