Coal mining transformed the small village of Binley in the 1900s.

The colliery was closed in the 1960s and a small area at the former railhead is now a wildlife site with protected SSSI status. It is known as Claybookes Marsh, named in memory of Jack Clay and James Brookes who were killed when the roof of the mine collapsed in 1947.

We’re currently running an oral history project focusing on recording people’s connection with the site capturing their thoughts, feelings and memories of the land, during and after the colliery’s heyday, whether that be as a place of work when it was active, as a make shift playground following its closure or just of its continued presence in the area at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s Claybrookes Marsh.

If you want to share anything with us or know of anyone who does then get in touch with Lucy.Hawker@wkwt.org.uk