Coal mining subsidence to Stuffynwood Hall 1906
Update - Sept.08
Thanks to all who have sent me emails with advice and encouragement. The site is now averaging around 2000 hits a month and although I considered it to be of local interest only, is actually attracting a global audience! I’ve also had comments concerning difficulties loading pages. These problems are mainly attributable to your broadband speed or associated with the technical limitations of your system such as memory capacity of your computer’s graphics card or the age of your web browser and operating system or in some cases your security settings if your system blocks active content such as scripts or active X controls.
I’ve not done a lot to the website if anything in the last 6 months….I’ve been distracted with my new grandson! I’ve also had bad boys in town.......at Easter I had my JCB stolen from a barn….the thieves smashed it through a fence and gate to get it out across fields to Warsop Vale where they hid it in woods. However, they didn’t realise their limitations and it was recovered the same day. The second robbery in July resulted in the loss of my trailer, tools and electric-fence, lead batteries. On this occasion they used planks and rope to tow the trailer over a fence! We established they had broken a fence in a neighbouring field to get a quad bike through to a position where they could watch out under dense tree cover, while other members of the gang were breaking in to my compound. I repaired this adjoining fence only to find a week later that it had been tampered with again. So we staked it out for 3 nights, waiting in the car. On the third night two of them drove up in a Mitsubishi 4x4. We challenged them, getting a full description of their faces and the vehicle before they hurried off, insisting they had taken a wrong turn! The police confirmed they were well known to them and said the likelihood, now they had been seen, was that I wouldn’t have any more bother. So far this has been the case, however, this gang had also broken into my caravan, trashing it while leaving their excremental calling card. Infact, this is the second time this caravan has been broken in to and both times the thieves felt compelled to defecate! The police scientific support officer said it's not uncommon as adrenalin affects their bowels!
Anyway, onto something more palatable! The latest news is that Bolsover DC have commissioned a consultancy report on the Pleasley Vale Conservation Area including an historical appraisal. read it here It states that Vale House, built and occupied by the great man himself, William Hollins II, is up for sale to anyone who can afford to repair it and good luck to them ‘cos I took this pic of it the other day!! 
Lead, iron & copper in derelict properties have been the target of thieves due to the recent huge increase in scrap values. Vale House was no exception, subsequently leaving the building in a state that was a public health risk. Sadly, it had to be demolished. The pic below shows Vale House overlooking the millpond probably in the 1950's.
