Events & Courses

Please note that this event has been postponed due to the ongoing public health risk posed by the coronavirus. A rescheduled date is yet to be confirmed.

Join the British Geological Survey and the East Midlands Regional Group between 1.00pm and 2.00pm for this lunchtime lecture.

The exploitation and development of the UK’s natural resources has been the bedrock of the country’s progress through feudal times, the industrial revolution and North Sea oil and gas. 

Who owns them, why and how is rooted in history and has created a patchwork of interests. The Land Registry, the country’s definitive record of title interests, has only just started to come to terms with mineral ownership after dealing with surface ownership for nearly 100 years.

This seminar will take a whistle-stop tour through the origins and recording of legal mineral titles and the nature of existing mineral interests. It will then outline the case law applying to legal arguments about whether or not something is a “mineral” and how the answer to that question in relation to the same substance may vary by location and over time.

Speaker

Stephen Hadley, Partner in Dispute Resolution at Freeths LLP

Stephen Hadley is a partner in the Dispute Resolution group at national solicitors Freeths LLP. Stephen has a niche expertise in manorial and mines and minerals law, including coal mining and brine subsidence claims. 

He has acted for and against landed estates, farmers, landowners, property developers and mineral operators in disputes involving mineral rights, including for a power station and one which turned on the interpretation of a grant written in pidgin Latin and signed by Queen Elizabeth I.

Cost and registration

This is a free event for Geological Society members - please inform Clive Mitchell if you plan to attend by emailing him via [email protected], or give your name to BGS reception on the day.

Venue

British Geological Survey
Environmental Science Centre
Nicker Hill
Keyworth
Nottingham
NG12 5GG