Brinsley Headstocks: Miner’s tag mystery prompts appeal

“I noticed they were working in the nature reserves, I saw the old foundation and I was kicking around (and) I came across this thing,” Mr Rogers said.

“I just saw a hole in the top of it, I cleaned it out and there it was.”

Mister Rogers’ father, Alan, as well as his grandfather and great-grandfather, all worked in the pits.

“I called my dad and he said he had his old tickets, and he also had his grandpa’s old tickets, so that was nice,” he said.

“It looks like it was minted or (it could have been) reissued to give to another miner – maybe no one had that label.”

Tags were used in the mines to track people in the shaft in the event of an accident, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Ken Hamilton, chairman of the Friends of Brinsley Headstocks group, said he could investigate further and urged anyone who could help to come forward.

The site is currently undergoing a redevelopment involving the complete wooden replacement of the headstocks at a cost of up to £220,000.

The decision came after the old wooden structure – which dates back to the 19th century – was deemed unsafe following inspections.

Work is also underway on a wildflower meadow and a memorial orchard in memory of the 27 miners who died in the mine.