Catalogue description Records of Research Establishments

The Coal Research Establishment (CRE) was set up in 1948 followed by the creation of a Mining Research Establishment in 1951. Developments in mechanisation caused the National Coal Board to focus more resources on engineering and in 1954 the Central Engineering Establishment was set up in Bretby. In 1968 the Mining Research Establishment and the Central Engineering Establishment were merged to create the Mining Research and Development Establishment (MRDE).

The CRE and the MRDE were each the responsibility of a member of the board, although both worked in conjunction with headquarters divisions. They were controlled by directors who ensure that their programmes of research and development support the board's long-term plans.

To maintain links with area management there was a national mining research and development committee and major development committees for the MRDE, and a sponsorship committee for the CRE. The former was situated at Stoke Orchard near Cheltenham, the latter, which took over some of the functions and records of the Powell Duffryn Research Laboratory in 1946, at Stanhope Bretby near Burton-on-Trent.

The Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh concentrates on research into matters such as the major environmental health problems arising from the inhalation of dust.