Geologists speculated about possible coal seams beneath Kent starting in the 1840s, after coal was discovered in Oignies, France. This led to the creation of the Pas de Calais Coalfield, with collieries established in northern France and Belgium by 1852. Efforts to dig a Channel Tunnel began in 1880, but when this project was cancelled in 1882, plans were made for borehole drilling to study Kent’s geology. By 1890, iron ore and coal were discovered. Mr Arthur Burr became interested in these developments and set up the Kent Coalfields Syndicate in 1896 to buy mineral rights and start a colliery located beneath Shakespeare Cliff near Dover. Over the next 25 years, the Kent Coalfield faced potential abandonment multiple times. Since 1896, over 40 test bore holes were drilled in Kent, and around 10 collieries were established, with Burr insisting there was coal underneath Kent. Different companies owned these ventures, including the Deal and Walmer Coalfield, Limited.
On May 24, 1910, Deal and Walmer Coalfield, Limited, was founded with a capital of £100,000. It did not have a board of directors; the management was helmed by Mr Malcolm Burr, with his father, Mr Arthur Burr, serving as honorary consulting governor. Malcolm Burr later became a geological advisor for Kent Coal Concessions, Limited. After its launch, it became apparent that new geological insights had changed the risk analysis for the company’s operations. This was echoed by the author A. E. Ritchie, who noted that the company’s activities were limited and financially unpromising.
In 1891, geologist William Whitaker suggested a boring at St. Margarets, but it was only in 1910 that work began at Oxney. By April 21, 1910, boring reached substantial depths, uncovering coal that was considered of high quality. Four coal seams were found, but they were never developed. In July 1913, Deal and Walmer Coalfield merged with other companies. By 1914, Arthur Burr stepped down from his role, and Malcolm Burr resigned as director-general. Due to the First World War, no further development occurred, and the enterprise was suspended. Despite the coal reserves discovered, work halted after November 1912. Other drilling activities took place near Deal but did not result in further progress, ending in 1914.
Colin Varrall
Photo.1 – Arthur Burr
Photo.2 – Sinkers at the Oxney boring
Photo.3 – Plan of the coal reserves in the Kent Coalfield
Photos 4 to 6 – Share certificates
Photo.7 – Early boring sites plan
(note the alphabetical letters, which indicate the boring sites. Arthur Burr didn’t want anyway to know the original boring sites, so they were located in this way to disguise their exact locations). I can send another map, which shows a later example.
