Ushaw Moor Historical Website - Aged Miners Homes

Once the miner had become old and unable to work at the pit, he was forced to leave his tied cottage, and though he might receive something from the Permanent Relief, for many the workhouse was their only prospect. In 1896 one of the great philanthropic movements of this country took root, with the aim of providing a free house and coal supply to retired miners - a 'haven of rest'. The scheme was started by Joseph Hopper, aided by Henry Wallace, Canon Moore Ede (later Dean of Worcester) and John Wilson of the DMA. It brought together both colliery owners and miners to provide these things. The coal owners gave financial support, land and materials.

Sir A.F. Pease, when laying the foundation stones of eight houses at Randolph Colliery in 1924, said:

"There could be no finer work, surely, than to provide for the comfort and happiness of a aged miners who had spent nearly all of their lives in daily toil in that district, and other places."

The miners too contributed from their pay towards the aged miners' homes.

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via Ushaw Moor Historical Website - Aged Miners Homes.