Pontefract, was listed as being in the NCBs North Yorkshire region. A drawdown of the number of pits in the 1990s, led to a suggestion that Prince of Wales Colliery should be merged with nearby Kellingley Colliery, with the output being brought to the surface in just one location. In 2001, geological problems with the mine were discovered which led to an investigation paid for by the Department of Trade and Industry. This revealed that the cost of extracting the remaining of coal was too expensive, and in January 2002, UK Coal announced the closure of the mine for later in the same year. The company had been trying to develop the Went Edge reserves, and the inability to do so, meant the writing off of some £15.8 million in its initial investment. After closure in August 2002, equipment recovery took two months. In 2013, the site was remediated and by 2018, almost 400 homes have been built on the site with planning permission for up to 900 homes. The remediation yielded over of coal, which was sent to power stations to generate electricity. There are plans to erect a steel memorial to the miners who worked at the colliery on the new housing estate built on the site. In 2014, Alkane developed a methane plant at the site which burns the gas drawn from underground to turn it into energy. The site is rated at 2 megawatts. Incidents 9 August 1876, a 17-year old worker was killed by a descending access cage when he stepped underneath it. The cage killed the victim instantly, described as having "his head frightfully crushed." 2 April 1998, an explosion of firedamp caused the evacuation of 141 workers. Notable colliers Jimmy Savile - worked as a Bevin Boy in the colliery during the Second World War References External links Aerial image of the colliery from 1933 Layout of housing and industrial estate built on the colliery site 1870 establishments in England 2002 disestablishments in England Coal mines in West Yorkshire Mining in West Yorkshire Underground mines in England Pontefract