Church Ladies Enthralled By Coal Miners

Yesterday I had the privilege of giving a presentation to twenty two ladies of a local church concerning  some economic and social aspects of coal mining. This was my third such talk; the previous ones had been at Surrey University and the University of the Third Age.

I emphasised the importance of coal to the Industrial Revolution and contrasted the advantages of coal over wind power and water. Wind power was spasmodic and unreliable; water storage was expensive and businessmen had the problem of having to locate to fast flowing streams that were often in remote locations. I put the view that railways created a double demand for coal. It was needed for smelting the iron used in railway construction and for the running of locomotives. Industry demanded more and more coal as steam power  and mechanization become more general between 1830 -1850. There was also increasing domestic consumption. Demand was met by working existing mines more deeply and extensively. In addition new mines were created and some abandoned ones were reactivated. The coal industry demanded and got more labour and capital.

Coal Production in Great Britain - expressed in millions of tons:

1700   2.50

1800  10.00

1830  23.00

1856   65.00

1913  285.00



I described some aspects of the lives of pitmen's wives. There was always a lot to do -scrubbing, rubbing, washing, baking, dusting and much more.  They relied so much on the free coal that was provided by the colliery. It was the means to hot food and a tolerably warm house. Hot water for washing and baking was made possible by coal.

Many miners' wives ensured that they had plentiful jam - it was needed by the miners, in sandwiches, to provide a moistened throat to counteract coal dust.

Although the audience was generally aware of the dangers lurking in coalmines I brought it home to them by reference to the many deaths at both the Ushaw Moor and Sleetburn pits. I also pointed out that dangers existed in the homes of miners; boiling water freshly poured into a tin bath could spell disaster fora child that tripped into one.

The ladies seemed especially interested in the sociology attached to mining communities - in particular the level of support given to fellow member of the community, when needed. It was not uncommon for a widow to enter into a marriage of convenience with a man from the village; such arrangements supplied social and economic advantages to both the miner and his bride. That is not to say that such a relationship lacked caring and respecting elements.

The ladies loved singing the first three verses of the Wash Day Song and I loved hearing it!

I introduced the topic of the 1984/5 Miners' Strike. I pointed out tht the miners were felt to be the elite organization that would energise wider, even national, strikes. Indeed they had gained recent victories over Governments. With coalstocks high  the Conservative goverment was ready for them in 1984/5. It was clear that the government would do everything possible to defeat the miners, what ever the cost. Little consideration for the taxpayers there then! Even so if Nacods had come out it would have been a different story; without such staff men to maintain the pit during the strike essential safety legislation would not have been adhered to. Some felt that the reputation of the police had taken a battering during the strike and certainly some ex miners can still recall dubious police tactics. Certainly some miners had 'lost their heads' in terms of behaviour but then the temperature was running high and the threat of pit closures was very real.

The second half of my talk concentrated on specific examples of happenings in our villages. I was already aware of many interesting  tales but the brilliant descriptive writings of of Brian Mcloughlin, and others, on this site, were plundered to ensure a good talk. I know that he would not have minded. Examples of local stories included:

The deference required by mining families in Sleetburn -the mild controversy surrounding the 16 year old who married an artist who was in his 40s - the German POW's who were handed beer by the New Brancepeth miners- the cockroaches in Unthank Terrace - Harold Swift's sad plunge to the bottom of the pit shaft- police motor cyclist Jock Allen bumping into Arthur Hodgson, in the badly lit 1940s, and blaming Arthur for it- the upturned coffin in Ushaw Moor Cemetery.

Finally I would like to say that I am fully aware of a few errors in the article - e.g. the odd comma and perhaps a letter missing from a word.This new site is causing me a bit of a problem when trying to self edit - so just bear with the odd lack of a comma that causes you to lose your breath! We will need some fresh impetus this year if the memories site is to continue to develop. Frank has mentioned the need for new blood and I have also given reminders from time to time. It would not be so bad if we had a few more comments in response to postings. I know that my request is not unreasonable - bearing in mind some of the fantastic sites elsewhere. Do try and support Paul Clough's facility for the sake of posterity! By the way do not forget that there is Paul's old site which has many postings and is currently accessible from this site's archive.

Happy New Year

Wilf