Markham Main Colliery

Markham Main Colliery was a coal mine in Armthorpe, on the eastern edge of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It could be seen, and was a landmark, from the nearby M18.

Plans for the pit started in June 1913 when Earl Fitzwilliam leased the minerals under his estate in Armthorpe to Sir Arthur Markham. The pit was sunk on 6 May 1916, but following the death of Markham on 5 August 1916, the pit was named Markham Main in his honour. However work stopped shortly afterwards on 24 August 1916 on account of wartime restrictions on capital and shortages of both labour and other resources. Work continued on 21 May 1922. Coal was first recovered on 5 May 1924. The site cost around £1 million and a model village for the pit was built. The pit was served by an LMS-LNER joint railway, first built by the South Yorkshire Joint Railway.

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