redial Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 I know very little about coal mining but recently read a book called King Coal, which I couldn't put down. Looking for further reading recommendations please. Hoping to visit Big Pit next month. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 If your coming near the northwest at any point there used to be a small museum at Atherton i think, if its still open? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 https://lancashireminingmuseum.org/ Higher Green Road at Astley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winston72 Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 and the superior version https://www.ncm.org.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 3 hours ago, redial said: I know very little about coal mining but recently read a book called King Coal, which I couldn't put down. Looking for further reading recommendations please. Hoping to visit Big Pit next month. Thanks. Our family, we, the kids, and my parents, did the Big Pit 30 years ago. Very impressive. The utter darkness and sense of isolation. I would have had to be paid a lot of money to do mining as a job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveboy Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 1 minute ago, Winston72 said: and the superior version https://www.ncm.org.uk/ I took, my grandson here last week (8 years old) he loved the underground visit, I was unsure. I thought they might take my pension off me and make me work back underground? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fern01 Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 (edited) 41 minutes ago, Winston72 said: and the superior version https://www.ncm.org.uk/ A great day out , have taken my children and my grandchildren and the café is good too. Edited August 11, 2018 by fern01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 My grandad was in the pits through the war. My dads got his deputy stick scary thought. my uncle was also a pit safety officer in birch coppice. Tamworth has a massive mining heritage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 There are some documentaries on YouTube about the last independent drift mines in Lancs from a few years ago, real one man band type stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 My grandads pit 14-65 then retired. Dead in 2 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaconBoy Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 (edited) My grandad moved from south wales to keresley(covemtry area) for the mineing,was a coalminer for 45ish years. I watched an old programme today about keresley village during the miners strike and am pretty sure i saw my grandad on it.? Edited August 11, 2018 by BaconBoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 have a read of the unfortunate colliery,[high brookes] near wigan my great grandad was killed in a roof fall there i tell you will shed buckets reading the harrowing story of that pit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 30 minutes ago, hawkfanz said: have a read of the unfortunate colliery,[high brookes] near wigan my great grandad was killed in a roof fall there i tell you will shed buckets reading the harrowing story of that pit. http://www.baddesleypitexplosion.co.uk/ not a nice thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 another story to bring tears to your eyes,i grew up in haydock there were some bad events here as well,wood pit disater 198 killed an injured i pass the site often, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 11 minutes ago, hawkfanz said: another story to bring tears to your eyes,i grew up in haydock there were some bad events here as well,wood pit disater 198 killed an injured i pass the site often, We have a road called 21 oak with 21 oak trees after 21 died. my grandad started at 14 in the pits. 1930 ish . Imagine that . It’s got to of been scary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 i spent a couple of years doing my family history,and i feel priveliged to still be alive,i am 68 now and none of my male ancestors on my dads side ever reached this age the oldest died at 64,my dad.what a horrible place it was for these people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 On 11/08/2018 at 10:35, redial said: I know very little about coal mining but recently read a book called King Coal, which I couldn't put down. Looking for further reading recommendations please. Hoping to visit Big Pit next month. Thanks. My Gt Granddad worked the Black Country mines most of his working life (mainly West Bromwich) from around 1860s to 1913, during my family research I have read many sad stories of mining disasters, and just how hard it was with long hours and the consent fear of fire, cave-in or being gassed. The link gives some interesting reading, its a bit long but if you have a spare hour it lists lots of collieries, pay and conditions, number of deaths at each colliery etc….http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/11331/1/621436.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dessyb Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 21 hours ago, amateur said: Our family, we, the kids, and my parents, did the Big Pit 30 years ago. Very impressive. The utter darkness and sense of isolation. I would have had to be paid a lot of money to do mining as a job. they did pay me alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 This: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2011/10/the_senghenydd_pit_disaster.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 The National Mining Museum is good. I was going to Big Pit a couple of years ago, but it was closed due to industrial action (it must be a very realistic museum!) - so went to the Black Country museum instead - which is also very good and has quite a bit on mining and a simulated pit. I have also been to a mining museum just south of Edinburgh which also has a simulated pit, but interesting surface works still there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 22 hours ago, Gordon R said: https://lancashireminingmuseum.org/ Higher Green Road at Astley. cheers Gordon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyefor Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 My Grandfather worked in the pits in Fife. The Rita MacNeil song below is about Canadian miners, but the words are very appropriate for all miners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 Used to travel past Gresford with my Dad in the early 70s going to the swimming baths in Wrexham. The pit head gear was still standing. Terrible disaster at that pit. I saw some photos/video of some enthusiasts in Standish digging out a coal tub with wheels from an abandoned pit/drift. The ultimate garden ornament! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 8 hours ago, dessyb said: they did pay me alot Still probably not enough for me ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 My Grandad helped sink the pit at Ollerton Notts. My Dad and his two brothers started work there aged 15. My Dad came out and went to work at Thoresby Park estates as his bad eyesight was being made worse by working down the pit. He went back to the pit to work on a topside job in 1954 which came with a pit house which he bought from the NCB in the late 1970's. He retired from Ollerton pit in 1985. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.