The collieries at Markham were named after Charles Markham (Senior) (1823-1888), whose family were so prominent in the history and development of the Staveley company and the Chesterfield area. Charles Paxton Markham (whose funeral is seen here) was born at Brimington Hall in 1865 as the eldest son of Charles Markham (Senior) and Rosa, a daughter of Sir Joseph Paxton. One of five children, he has an amusing attitude to his siblings; his sister, Violet, quotes a letter written by her eldest brother Charlie to his father then aged 7 in 1872 , 'I cannot believe there is a new baby. I think it is an unnecessary expense. I would advise you to sell it'. Charles Markham Senior trained his sons to do the work of ordinary miners as part of their education, and all the family except Rosa took a keen interest in politics. Arthur became MP for Mansfield 1900-1916 and after a failed attempt to become an MP Violet eventually became Mayor of Chesterfield. In the late 1880s and early 1890s all the managers of the Staveley Company either died or retired. George Bond, Markham's 'right-hand man', took over as Managing Director in 1888 following Charles Markham Senior's death, and was followed by Henry Westlake who by the end of his tenure was little more than Managing Director in name only, having been sidelined by the heir apparent, young Charlie Paxton Markham. 'There can be very little doubt that Markham dominated the Staveley Board from the first. He was the experienced professional with formidable scientific and practical expertise and tireless energy, while the directors knew little... For 25 years Staveley's policies were essentially Markham's policies.' The Ramcroft colliery company was formed under the guidance of Charles Paxton Markham and he exploited the Top Hard seam in shafts of 152 yards deep as a direct result of the war effort. It was proposed in 1914 to further exploit the coal reserves of the Palterton and Heath areas of the Sutton estates. After the war he decided to construct a branch line into the colliery with sidings. He died in 1926 and it is his funeral procession that can be seen here. He had a younger brother Sir Arthur B. Markham (1866-1916) whose son, Sir Charles Markham, was also involved in the Staveley Company. See also DCCD000234 and ....309