1841  That George Meek and James Meek, Free Miners, did after 9 April 1832 apply for the gale but were refused; and that certain persons carrying on trade under the firm of ëThe Cheltenham Forest of Dean Coal Mining Companyí (as claiming through or under George and James Meek) acted as if granted.
Coal in the Hill Delf vein commencing at the deep pit at East Slade.

Ruardean Hill:   Depth
East Slade   70(H) High pressure engine in two     pits.
(Cheltenham & Forest
of Dean Coal Company) idle (Extensive and offered for sale)
Ruardean Woodside  60(H)

F3 286
c1847  Cheltenham & Forest of Dean Mining Co.  Outputs:
 1842 1,845 tons
 1843    587
1849?  Surrendered.

21 November 1849  Re-galed to Isaiah Stephens of Shortstanding, near Coleford, a colliery situate on Ruardean Hill.

30 April 1850  Gloucester Journal   To be sold by private contract (by order of the Official Managers appointed to wind up the Cheltenham & Gloucestershire Bank.)
A valuable Gale or Coal Field, in the Forest of Dean known as the East Slade & Newham Bottom Collieries, containing about 140 acres of unwrought coal and having 4 shafts sunk the required depth.  The collieries are contiguous to railways communicating wirh Hereford, Gloucester, Cheltenham and the Metropolis.  A Tramway extends from the mouth of the principal pit to a branch of the South Wales Railway.  The coal is the celebrated High  Delf Vein, varies in thickness from 5 to 6 feet, & yields about a ton & a half of superior coal in every square yard.  The facilities for conveyance are great.  The reserved royalty is 2s. per ton.  The title is indisputable...

13 August 1859  Gloucester Journal   East Slade & Newham Bottom Collieries, being offered for sale at Auction at the Kings Head, Gloucester 3rd. September 1859 without reserve - had been previously offered on two previous occasions but had not reached reserve.  Late owners had expended upon the works in excess of £16,000 for sinking four pits and erecting buildings etc.

22 October 1859  Gloucester Journal   Ruardean Collieries.  the Public are respectfully informed that the above (or True Blue & Newham Collieries are now being worked, and the COAL, admitted to be the BEST NESH COAL in the Forest can be obtained at the following Ready Money Prices
AT THE PITS 7s. 0d. per ton BEST BLOCK
AT CHURCHWAY 7s. 6d. per ton BEST BLOCK
October 19th. 1859

1871 Bought by Messrs. Holden & Illingworth from the receivers of the New Bowson Co.

F3 694
12 June 1872  Letter from GWR Engineers Office, Gloucester.
ëI now send you a tracing showing the cheapest mode of junction practicable for a locomotive.  The red open lines show the sharpest curve practicableí
When plans are complete 3 or 4 lines will extend from the loading stage to the GWR.

17 June 1872  The New Bowson Coal Company.
ëWe have laid in our Railway from the old points and crossings @ the Churchway Siding of the Great Western Rly. up to the Wooden House but we find the locomotives cannot go round the curve. [!]  Mr. Owen the GW Rly. Engineer proposes for us to make a separate or additional branch according to the given radius for the Engine to travel round with the empty trucks.
We have decided to do so.[!]

10 September 1872  William Burdess, manager.  Had a plot at Brierley for a water wheel and small engine to pump water up to the colliery.

October 1874  We leased 21/2 acres  for East Slade but after working the colliery 2 years found we could not make it pay and it was arranged to work coal from Brittania and Favourite Gales through East Slade.

2 October 1880  Gloucester Journal   FATAL BOILER ACCIDENT IN THE FOREST.
On Thursday, an accident occurred at the East Slade Colliery, Cinderford Valley, belonging to Mr. Illingworth MP. and others.  There are two boilers in the pit, one of which was under repair by R. Cooper of Cinderford, William Hurst, and Cornelius Mason.  A pipe had been connected with the employed boiler and this burst, killing Cooper and severely injuring the other men.

18 February 1881 Dean Forest Mercury   Accident on Friday night, a serious accident befell a man named Arkell, engine driver at the East Slade Colliery whereby he sustained serious injuries, whilst attending to his duties.  He stepped into a hole and fell, coming into contact with the fly-wheel which threw him against the wall, injuring his head and hip, and breaking two of his ribs.  Dr. Fletcher of Lydbrook, was promptly in attendance, and under his care Arkell is, we believe, progressing favourably.
6 April 1889  Interested in Arthur & Edward.

9 January 1890  Mound at East Slade on fire, also that at Hawkwell.

8 April 1892  Messrs. A. Bright & Co. to have a small portion of coal unworked at the east end of East Slade for them to work through New Bridge Engine Colliery or Small Profit Colliery.

20 December 1892  Smoke damage to trees from tip fire.
Trying to work Favourite through Brittania.  Trying to get Arthur & Edward opened to work Favourite.

13 January 1893  The New Bowson Coal Coy. wishing to work barriers between East Slade and Woodside.  Thos. Burdess.

9 February 1895 Gloucester Journal   Colliery Accident in the Forest of Dean.
58 men and boys imprisoned for 32 hours at the East Slade Colliery belonging to Messrs. Illingworth.  Colliery situate at Ruardean Hill ëone of the most out-of-the-way places in the Forestí.  On Wednesday morning the two cages which work in the down-cast shaft got jammed some considerable distance down the shaft.  Could not be made to move.  The intense cold began to freeze the dripping water that was in the shaft, and every minute the block became worse.  There were 58 persons working down the colliery and so effectively was the way sealed that the men were kept in the colliery for 32 hours before any of them could be communicated with or rescued.  This was succesfully accomplished by 3 o,clock on Thursday afternoon.  When the poor fellows came to the bottom of the shaft to be drawn up they found something was wrong and unable being in any way to communicate with the top quickly retired to the engine room at the up-cast shaft hoping that a way out might be found there, but, unfortunately, as the furnaces were being used, this means of egress was cut off.  The cages still could not be moved and so the engine which hauled the tubs from the tips was requisitioned and after rigging up a small ëcowlí this was attached to a special rope and pully.  This having been let down the up-cast shaft a start was made in drawing the men up.  Very slow as great care was needed, only three persons at a time could be brought up.  The New Bowson Colliery manager, Mr. J. Burdess, who was at the works at the time, remained at his post until the work was complete.  Every man and boy was brought up without a scratch but having done without food.
When the matter became known in the district wives and relatives made for the pit.  Welcomed the men with open arms.  Nothing of the kind has happened in the Forest before.

March 1899 Owners, Angus and Edward Holden, Alfred  and Henry Illingworth.

5 April 1899  East Slade and Woodside gales nearly worked out.  To be given up?

21 August 1899  Tip at East Slade a very low one, covered 21/2 badly on fire.  Line of pipes from pump at Brierley.

30 May 1902  Dean Forest Guardian   CLOSING OF A COLLIERY  The men, numbering 150, employed at East Slade Colliery, were all given notice on Saturday last that their present contracts must cease on the 31st inst.

31 October 1904  Woodside gale given up.

30 June 1905  East Slade surrendered.

20 June 1907  Lydney & Crump Meadow Collieries Co. Ltd. ë We bought from the New Bowson Coal Co. their East Dean Deep and New Bowson Gales and also all their plant at the East Slade Colliery, and we thought, the Wooden Structures comprising the Carpenter and Blacksmiths Shops.

F3 928  EAST SLADE No. 2.
22 February 1904  Application by John Harris.  Granted.

10 July 1908  Gale for sale.  Great difficulty in getting Harris to pay rent.

23 August 1909  Some connection with the Dean Forest Coal Co.??

20 September 1909  Forfeited for non-payment of rent.

East Slade produced 497,199 tons in three production eras from 1872 until 1905.