Coal in Victorian Britain

---

General Editor: John Benson
Volume Editors: John Benson, Keith Gildart, James Jaffe and Quentin Outram

It is almost impossible to exaggerate the role that the coal industry played in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Britain. Coal, along with cotton, was the driving force of the British industrial revolution. By the time the First World War broke out in 1914, nearly two-thirds of all the coal entering world trade was mined in Britain, and coal mining accounted for one in ten of Great Britain’s male population in employment. The rapid expansion of coal mining had a profound impact not just upon the British economy but upon the social, cultural, religious, industrial and political life of the country.

This six-volume, reset collection provides scholars with a wide variety of sources relating to the Victorian coal industry. It is no longer possible to view the nineteenth- and early twentieth-century industry in terms of an unchanging confrontation between owners and miners locked together in an incessant stream of strikes and lockouts. The collection takes into account recent developments in the historiography of coal mining, showing that miners and their families did not live bleakly narrow lives in featureless, single-industry communities cut off from the rest of society.

Coal is an essential topic for those concerned with the causes, course and consequences of industrialization and de-industrialization. Sources included in this edition are rare and have been selected so as to reflect both the diversity and change taking place within the coal industry, the communities which serviced it and the industrial relations practices which emerged to regulate it.

• Offers a wide-ranging collection of documents dealing with key political, social, cultural and economic issues relevant to the British coal industry
• Includes extremely rare materials sourced from specialist archives and repositories including the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, the People’s History Museum and the Working Class Movement Library
• Editorial apparatus: general introduction, volume introductions, headnotes and endnotes
• Consolidated index in the final volume

Sample pages

• Sample pages on 'Gas' + notes

Contents

Part I
(Edited by Quentin Outram)

General Introduction

Volume 1: Useful Knowledge

A Survey
‘The Collieries', Penny Magazine (1835)

The Uses of Coal

Energy and its Transmission
Fire: Heating: Practical Economy: Or, The Application of Modern Discoveries to the Purposes of Domestic Life (1821)*; ‘On Warming and Ventilating’, Quarterly Review (1854)*. Fire: Cooking: Practical Economy: Or, The Application of Modern Discoveries ... (1821)*. Steam: Sir William Armstrong, ‘Centenary of the Steam Engine of Watt’ (1869)*. Steam: Pumping: From The Engineer, 'Report to the Metropolitan Board of Works' (1875). Steam: Navigation: ‘Steam Communication with India’, The Penny Magazine (1842)*; ‘The Manchester and Liverpool Rail-Road’, The Penny Magazine (1833); ‘A day at a cotton factory’, Penny Magazine (1842). Steam: Locomotion: 'The Manchester and Liverpool Rail-Road', Penny Magazine (1833). Steam: Manufacturing: 'A Day at a Cotton Factory', Penny Magazine (1843). Gas: William Murdock, 'An Account of the Application of the Gas from Coal to OEconomical Purposes … Read before the Royal Society' (1808); Stevenson Macadam, The Sanitary Aspects of Cooking and Heating by Coal Gas (1892). Electricity: The Telegraph: ‘Electricity and the Electric Telegraph’, Cornhill Magazine (1860)*. Electricity: Lighting: ‘Electricity as a Light-Producer’, Chambers’s Journal (1877); ‘The Prime Minister on Electricity’, Saturday Review (1889).

Energy and Matter: Coke and Metal Manufacture
Coke: A L Steavenson, ‘The Manufacture of Coke in the Newcastle and Durham Districts (1859–60)*. Metal: ‘Mineral Kingdom: Iron’, Penny Magazine (1834).
Matter: Coal Distillation: Edward A Martin, The Story of a Piece of Coal (1896)*. Tars and Ammonia: From ‘Some Account of Coal Tar and its Properties’, Tradesman, or Commercial Magazine (1809). Colours: ‘Colour in the Coal-Scuttle’, The Leisure Hour (1863). Tastes and Aromas: ‘Saccharin’, Colliery Guardian (1886).

The Nuisances of Coal
‘[A Description of the Staffordshire Collieries]’, Knight’s Quarterly Magazine (1822). Subsidence: John Buddle, ‘On Subsidences Produced by Working Beds of Coal’ (1839); Joseph Dickinson, ‘On Subsidence to the Surface Caused by Colliery Workings’ (1859). Pit Heaps and Colliery Tips, Soot and Ashes: ‘A Burning Pit-Heap: Alleged Extraordinary Effects’, Northern Echo (1895); Sydney Smith, ‘An account of the Proceedings of the Society for Superseding the Necessity of Climbing Boys’ (1818)*; ‘Juvenile Chimney-Sweeps’, Ragged School Union Magazine (1875). Smoke: Rollo Russell, London Fogs (1880)*; C S ‘The Smoke Question’ (1895–6); ‘London of the Future’, British Architect (1914). River Pollution: V B Kennett-Barrington, ‘River Pollution by Refuse from Manufactories and Mines Together with Some Remedies Proposed’ (1883)*; H Maclean Wilson, ‘The Pollution of Streams by Spent Gas-Liquors from Coke Ovens And the Methods Adopted for its Prevention’ (1909–10)*.

Knowledge: Exploration and Geology
John Scafe, King Coal’s Levee, or Geological Etiquette (1819)*; John Buddle, 'Search for Coal in a Part of the Counties of Roxburgh and Berwickshire' (1807)*

Knowledge: Engineering
Boring, Sinking and Explosives: Matthias Dunn, A Treatise on the Winning and Working of Collieries (1848)*; Major Beaumont, ‘On Rock Boring by the Diamond Drill, and Recent Applications of the Process’ (1875)*; From Donald M D Stuart, ‘The Development of Explosives for Coal-Mines’ (1904–5)*. Pumping: William Waller, ‘On Pumping Water’ (1866–7). Ventilation and the Chemistry and Physics of Colliery Atmospheres: Matthias Dunn, A Treatise on the Winning and Working of Collieries (1848)*; William Cochrane, ‘Description of Guibal’s Ventilator, at Elswick Colliery’ (1864–5)*; S F Peckham, ‘On the Explosion of the Flouring Mills at Minneapolis (1878). Illumination and Communication: Nicholas Wood, ‘On Safety Lamps for Lighting Coal Mines’ (1852–3)*; T S J, ‘Safety Lamps’ (1882)*; Henry White, ‘The Coad Electric Miner’s Lamp’ (1892–3)*; ‘The Telephone in Colliery Workings’, Colliery Guardian (1880). Haulage: Nicholas Wood, ‘On the Conveyance of Coals Underground in Coal Mines’ (1854–5)*; W Galloway, ‘Secondary Haulage’ (1896–7)*. Surface Works: Matthias Dunn, A Treatise on the Winning and Working of Collieries (1848); Edward Brownfield Wain, ‘Colliery Surface Works’ (1894).

Knowledge: Physiology and Medicine
Horses and Ponies: Charles Hunting, ‘The Feeding and Management of Colliery Horses’ (1882–3)*. Men and Boys: ‘The Milroy Lectures on the Hygienic Aspect of the Coalmining Industry in the United Kingdom’, British Medical Journal (1914)*.

The Growth of Knowledge
T Lindsay Galloway, ‘On the Present Condition of Mining in Some of the Principal Coal-Producing Districts of the Continent’ (1877–8)*.

The Engineering Institutes and the Education of Engineers and Miners
Nicholas Wood, ‘Inaugural Address Delivered to the Members of the North of England Institute of Mining Engineers’ (1852–3)*; T J Taylor, ‘Prospectus of a College of Practical Mining and Manufacturing Science’ (1855–6)*; Henry Davies, Coal Mining: A Reader For Primary Schools and Evening Classes (1906)*.

Volume 2: Organization and Production

The State and Property
Edward R Hartley, Socialism and Coal (1909); ‘State Control of South Wales Coal’, Colliery Guardian (1916); ‘Notes from the Coalfields’, Colliery Guardian (1916)*; ‘Significance of the South Wales Settlement’, Colliery Guardian (1916).

Land
‘In re The Chatterley Iron Company’, Colliery Guardian (1888); Mining Association of Great Britain, 'Mining Royalties' (1886)*.

Labour
The Formation of a ‘Free’ Labour Market and its Regulation: Scottish Serfdom: Reuben Percy [pseud.] and Sholto Percy [pseud.], ‘Slavery of Colliers’ (1821). The Annual Bond of the North East: ‘Durham Assizes: Bell v. Sir W Chaytor and Others’, Newcastle Courant (1843); ‘Northumberland Assizes Concluded: Williamson v. Taylor and Others’, Newcastle Courant (1843); ‘Meeting of Pitmen on the Black Fell’, Newcastle Courant (1858)*; ‘Conference Between Durham Coal Owners and Workmen in Newcastle – Abolition of the Yearly Bond’, Newcastle Courant (1872). Truck and Debt: An Observer, ‘[Letter] To the Editor of the Bristol Mercury', Bristol Mercury (1822); John H Moggridge, ‘Payment of Workmen’s Wages “In any Other Way than in Money” ’, Bristol Mercury (1822); S Etheridge, '[Letter to the Bristol Mercury] (1822). Tied Housing: ‘Eviction of Pitmen at Durham’, Daily Gazette (1877). The Exclusion of Women and Children: Robert Bald, A General View of the Coal Trade of Scotland … to Which is Added, an Inquiry into the Condition of the Women who Carry Coals Under Ground (1812)*; John Pilkington Norris, On the Employment of Children (1860)*. Informal Control: ‘The Haggs and Its People’, Glasgow Herald (1873)*. The Exclusion of Non-Unionists: ‘Miners’ Riot’, Newcastle Courant (1867). The Formation of a Labour Force: Internal Migration: From the 1881 Census of England: Colliery Cottages and New Colliery Cottages, Throckley, Northumberland (1881); From the 1881 Census of England: Fitzwilliam Terrace, Kinsley, Yorkshire (1881). Statistics of a Pit Village: ‘First Report of a Committee of the British Association for the Advancement of Science' (1839)*.

Capital and Profit
George Elliot, [Estimated Cost of Winning and Likely Profit of Working a Colliery in North Durham] (1845); A M Chambers, Mr A M Chambers’ Report upon Thorncliffe Collieries (1881).

The Organization of Production and Distribution
Collieries: Management and Inspection: From ‘Coal Mines and Colliers’, The Saturday Review (1879)*. Management thorugh Sub-Contract: 'Butties' and 'Doggies': ‘The Dudley Scientific, Art, and Industrial Exhibition: Conference on Practical Mining’, Birmingham Daily Post (1864). The Duties of a Colliery Manager: ‘Coalmining and the Duties of Colliery Managers’, Colliery Guardian (1890)*. Methods of Working: Matthias Dunn, A Treatise on the Winning and Working of Collieries (1848)*. The Division of Labour: John Adley, The Coal Trade: A Descriptive Poem (1818); 'Organization of Underground Labour in Coal-Mining', Colliery Guardian (1848). Colliery Districts: Local Public Goods in Production: Drainage and Rivers: Matthias Dunn, A Treatise on the Winning and Working of Collieries (1848)*; ‘The Mines Drainage Question at Tipton’, Birmingham Daily Post (1869); The Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce, '[Memorial] To Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council' (1871).

Transport and Distribution: Horse and Cart: '[A Review of A] General View of the Coal Trade of Scotland... By Robert Bald', Farmer's Magazine (1808). Coastal Shipping: The Coal Trade (1830); Robert Anderson, A Brief Exposition of the Present State of the Coal Trade between the Shipping Ports in the North of England and London (1839)*. Rail: Hyde Clarke, Contributions to Railway Statistics in 1845, 1847, & 1848 (1849)*.

Technical Change
Mechanization: ‘Coal-Cutting by Machinery: Its Probable Influence on the Future of Coal-Mining Industry’, Colliery Guardian (1874). Electrification: J A Longden, ‘The Electrical Exhibition at Paris, 1881’ (1881–2)*; ‘The Electric Light at Earnock Colliery’, Colliery Guardian (1881). Materials: The End of the Wooden World: E F Melly, ‘Use of Steel Girders and Props in Coal-Mines’ (1896–7); W R Crane, ‘The Use of Concrete for Mine Support’ (1908–9)*.

Law and Arbitration
In Chancery: Tempest v. Ord: Office Copy Report as to Railway (1817). The Administration of the Law: Property: '[Thomas Hinchliffe v. Monckton Main Colliery Co], Damage to Crops’, Colliery Guardian (1890); ‘Consett Waterworks Company v. Ritson’, Colliery Guardian (1888–9); ‘Hanley & Bucknall Colliery Co v. Perrins’, Colliery Guardian (1885). Employment: ‘Fine for Leaving Work Withouth Notice’, Colliery Guardian (1880); ‘Ceasing Work without Notice’, Colliery Guardian (1890). The Coal Mines Acts: ‘Carelessness of Miners’, Colliery Guardian (1885); ‘Reckless Miners’, Colliery Guardian (1890); ‘A Colliery Manager Fined’, Colliery Guardian (1890). Exchange: H Golding, A Complete Elucidation of the Frauds in the Coal Trade by a Gentleman, Who Was Many Years a Coal Meter (1819). The Law's Delays: ‘Phillips v. Homfray & Fothergill v. Collins’, Colliery Guardian (1890). Arbitration: ‘Alleged Colliery Subsidence at Cockfield’, Colliery Guardian (1890); ‘Important Colliery Prosecution’, Colliery Guardian (1890); ‘The Coedcae and Hafod Arbitration’, Colliery Guardian (1886); ‘Mining Arbitration’, Colliery Guardian (1885).

The People of the Trade
The Absence of Women: Extracts from the Diaries of Anne Lister, coal royalty owner; C Wilkins, The South Wales Coal Trade and its Allied Industries, concerning Lucy Thomas (1888)*; From the Correspondence of Frances Anne Emily Vane-Tempest, Marchioness of Londonderry and Coal Owner (1854–8); Lady Rhondda, ‘Business and Commerce [as Careers for Girls]' (1928). The Heroes of the Industry: Stephenson and Davy: Nicholas Wood, ‘Address on the Two Late Eminent Engineers, the Messrs Stephenson, Father and Son’ (1859–60)*; ‘To the Memory of Sir Humphry Davy, Bart.’, Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction (1829); J F C, ‘Lines on the Death of Sir Humphry Davy, Bart.’, Mirror of Literature, Amusement and Instruction (1829); ‘Paris’s Life of Davy: Secondary Rewards of Science, and Primary Ignorance of the Aristocracy’, Examiner (1831). Pioneers and Leaders: John Buddle: ‘Births, Deaths, Marriages and Obituaries’, Newcastle Courant etc (1843); ‘[His Funeral] Newcastle, Oct. 20’, Newcastle Courant etc (1843); ‘The Late Mr. John Buddle’, The Times (1843). Walter Coffin: C Wilkins, The South Wales Coal Trade and its Allied Industries (1888)*. Archibald Hood: C Wilkins, The South Wales Coal Trade and its Allied Industries (1888)*. Thomas Powell: C Wilkins, The South Wales Coal Trade and its Allied Industries (1888)*.

Organization
The District Associations: Rules of the Association of Coal Masters of South Yorkshire (1860); From W Gascoyne Dalziel, Records of the Several Coal Owners’ Associations of Monmouthshire and South Wales, 1864 to 1895 (1895)*. The Mining Association of Great Britain: Nicholas Wood, Prospectus of the Mining Association of Great Britain (1856); [Mining Association of Great Britain], Suggested Scheme for Reconstruction of the Coal Owners’ Federation (1894)*.

Policy: Monopoly and Competion
Monopoly: The Vend: ‘Pro Bono Publico’, ‘Frauds which Have Been Practised in the Coal Trade’, Gentleman’s Magazine (1800); ‘Trial and Conviction of the Coal Owners for Conspiring Against the Pitmen and the Public’, Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser (1844)*. Competition: the Collapse of Transport Costs: W D Holmes, Civil Engineer, on the Midland Grand Junction Railway [&c], Report (1837)*. The Hankering after the Old Ways of the Trade and the Movements Towards the New Monopoly: ‘[Report of a meeting of] The South Yorkshire Steam Coalowners’ Association’, Colliery Guardian (1889); ‘[Report of a meeting of] The South Yorkshire Steam Coalowners’ Association’, Colliery Guardian (1890); A Scheme for Regulating and Reorganising the Sale and Distribution of Fuel (1896); [Mining Association of Great Britain], Coal Schemes: Memorandum (1896).

Victorian Retrospects and Prospects
James Tonge, ‘Coal Mining in 1850 and 1890: A Few Contrasts’ (1890–2)*.

Volume 3: The Problems of the World

Risks and Returns
Risk and Liability

The Risks to Life and Limb: Accidents and Assaults
Mining Association of Great Britain, Employers’ Liability for Injuries (1879); The United Coal Trade Association, Cost of Colliery Accidents From 1879 to 1880 (c.1880); ‘The Cost of Colliery Accidents’, Colliery Guardian (1890); John Thomas Jeffcock, Parkin Jeffcock, Civil and Mining Engineer: A Memoir by His Brother (1867)*; ‘The Colliers’ Strike in South Lancashire’, The Times (1868)*; ‘Strike Disturbance at Leeds’, The Times (1911). Insurance: Articles, Rules, Orders & Regulations of the Colliery Viewers’ Society (1821); Rules and Conditions of the Coal Trade Association for Insurance on Policy (1839)*; W Gascoyne Dalziel, Records of the Several Coal Owners’ Associations of Monmouthshire and South Wales, 1864 to 1895 (1895)*. Dearness and Scarcity, Cheapness and Glut: The Instability of the Trade: From ‘Among the Pitmen’, Pall Mall Gazette (1894)*. Production and Market Risks and their Allocation: Royalty Owner, Colliery Owner abd Miner: ‘The Blanks that are Drawn in Mining Lottery’, Colliery Guardian (1881); Edward Cockburn, ‘The Strike in the Coal Trade – Mineral Royalties' (1885); James Joicey, ‘The Alleged Huge Profits of the Coal Trade’ (1901). Financial Risks: Bankruptcy and Liquidation: From the Local and National Press Concerning Dan Rylands (1849–1910) (1893–1910). Profits and Losses: ‘The Coal Trade’, Westminster Review (1843)*; G P Bidder, ‘The Profits of Coal-Pits’ (1894)*; J B Simpson, Capital Labour in Coal Mining (1900); T Richardson and J A Walbank, Profits and Wages in the British Coal Trade (1898–1910) (1911)*.

Costs and Efficiency: Costs

Wages and Hours: The Eight Hour Day: From The Eight Hours Movement (Coal Mines): Proceedings at a Joint Conference of Representative Coal Owners and the Miners’ Federation ... (1891)*. Wages and Hours: The Movement Towards a Minimum Wage: Durham Coal Trade Arbitrations (1876)*; T Richardson and J A Walbank, Profits and Wages in the British Coal Trade (1898–1910) (1911)*. Freight Rates and the Railway Companies: ‘The Battle for the Coal Trade’, The Saturday Review (1865); Report of Mr J R Breckon on Railway Rates, Etc (1882). Efficiency in Production: Isaac Hodges, ‘Increase of Working-Costs in Coal-Mines during the Past Half-Century, the Rate of Increase, and the Causes Thereof’ (1910–11). Efficiency in Transport: ‘The Collier Brig’, Leisure Hour (1855); ‘The Coal Trade between London and the North-Eastern Ports – The Use of the Telegraph; A Profitable Prospect’, Colliery Guardian (1858); J D Twinberrow, ‘Capacity of Railway Wagons as Affecting Cost of Transport’ (1900)*; Henry S C Ree, ‘Mechanical Appliances Used in the Shipping of Coal at the Bute Docks, Cardiff’ (1906)*. Efficiency in Use: ‘[Report of a Paper Read by F W Bramwell] on [the] Economy of Fuel in Steam Navigation’ (1872)*; James R Napier, ‘On the Economy of Fuel in Domestic Arrangements’ (1873–5)*; J S Jeans, 'On the Consumption and Economy of Fuel in the Iron and Steel Manufacture' (1883)*; H E Armstrong, ‘The Provident Use of Coal [A Summary]’ (1910)*.

Sustainability: The Duration of The Coal
Introduction: ‘Mrs Brown on the Coal Question’, Fun (1866); ‘[A] Colliery Director’, A Warning Voice from the British Coal Field: Or, Coal Exhaustion and its Remedy (1885)*. Estimates of Duration: ‘A Curious Statement Showing the Probability, at Some Distant Period, of a Failure of the Coal Mines’, The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure (1801); ‘Our Supposed Inexhaustible Stores of Coal’, The Penny Magazine (1844); G C Greenwell, ‘The Duration of the Coal of Great Britain and Ireland’ (1882–3)*. Deep Workings: From Emerson Bainbridge, ‘On Coal Mining in Deep Workings’ (1870)*. The Search for New Fields: Sir Roderick I Murchison, ‘On the Parts of England and Wales in which Coal May and May Not be Looked for Beyond the Known Coal Fields’ (1866); ‘Discovery of a Coalfield in Kent’, Colliery Guardian (1890); From Local Press Reports and the 'Provisional Committee, Proposed Prospectus and Geological Reports' of the Eastern Counties Coal Boring and Development Syndicate (1891–5); George Dunston, Black Diamonds from the New Eastern Coalfields (1910)*.

The Rise of the New Industrial Powers: The USA
‘Extensive Coal Fields’, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement and Instruction (1830); ‘The Coal Trade’, Westminster Review (1843)*; ‘The Comparative Costs of Working Coal’, Colliery Guardian (1886)*.

The British State in Coal Powered World
The Naval Conversion to Coal: ‘Our Screw-Navy’, Chambers’s Journal (1859). Coaling Stations: From George Robert Parkin, ‘The Geographical Unity of the British Empire’ (1894)*; From Lt Col Sir R Lambert Playfair, KCMG, ‘Reminiscences’ (1899)*; ‘Port Hamilton’, The Saturday Review (1886); Basil Thomson, ‘The Samoa Agreement in Plain English’ (1899). The Naval Conversion to Oil and the Birth of Neo-Imperialism: ‘The Navy and Fuel Oil: Some Essential Factors’, The Times Engioneering Supplement (1912); ‘Coal and Oil: The Question of Fuel for the Fleet: Conflicting Arguments’, The Times (1913); ‘Government and Oil Properties: Arrangement with the Anglo-Persian Company’, The Times (1914); Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, ‘Lord Fisher on the Navy’ (1919)*.

Internationalism and Imperialism
The Latin American Disaster 1825–40: From [Benjamin Disraeli], An Inquiry into the Plans, Progress, and Policy of the American Mining Companies (1825)*. India: From the Reports of a Committee for Investigating the Coal and Mineral Resources of India (1838)*; ‘The Raneegunge Coal Field, Bengal’, Colliery Guardian (1872)*; Walter Saise, ‘The Kurhurballee Coal-Field' (1880–1)*. Russia: ‘[The Progress of Russian Coalmining]’, Colliery Guardian (1882); ‘Coal in Russia’, Colliery Guardian (1886); Joseph Crankshaw, ‘Coal Mining in South Russia’ (1898–1900). China: Thomas Young Hall, ‘On the Progress of Coal Mining Industry in China’ (1865–6); ‘This Evening’s News: Coal in China’, Pall Mall Gazette (1873); ‘Coals and Colliers’ Wages’, Birmingham Daily Post (1873)*; Baron von Richthofen, ‘The Distribution of Coal in China [A Summary]’ (1873); Frederick N Newcome, ‘The Development of the Coal Fields of China’ (1882); Report by Mr J G H Glass …On the Concessions of the Pekin Syndicate, Limited in the Provinces of Shanai and Honan, China (1899). Labuan,Sarawak and North Borneo: ‘Indian Steam Navigation and Coal Supply’, The Examiner (1860); Report of a Meeting ... for the Discussion of Affairs in Borneo (1879)*. Imperialism and Economic Warfare: From Capt J C R Colomb, RMA, 'The Naval and Military Resources of the Colonies' (1879)*.

Coal, Oil and Natural Gas: The End of the British Coal Economy
‘Oil or Coal?’, Colliery Guardian (1886); ‘Natural Gas’, Colliery Guardian (1886); ‘Substitutes for Coal’, Colliery Guardian (1889); ‘Motor-car Mania’, Review of Reviews (1898); F S S, ‘Oil Fuel versus Coal’ (1913).

Part II

Volume 4: Identities and Communities (Edited by James Jaffe)

Coalfield Identities
Becoming A Collier: A Letter from the Dead to the Living, or, The Collier Boy and his Mother (1841); Thomas Wilson, The Pitman’s Pay, and other Poems (1843); Jack Lawson, A Man’s Life (1932)*; G Parkinson, True Stories of Durham Pit Life (1912); Frank Mundell, Stories of the Coal Mine (1896). Work And Industrial Relations: United Association of Colliers, A Voice from the Coal Mines, Or, A Plain Statement of the Various Grievances of the Pitmen of the Tyne and Wear: Addressed to the Coal Owners, Their Head Agents, and a Sympathizing Public (1825); James Wilson, An Address to the Public by the Delegates from the Coal Miners of Northumberland and Durham … on the sufferings and wrongs endured by that Body (1844); Gordon Armbruster, Appendix of interviews from, The Social Determination of Ideologies: Being a Study of a Welsh Mining Community (unpublished PhD thesis, 1940); ‘Ignotus’, The Last Thirty Years In A Mining District; Or, Scotching And The Candle Versus The Lamp And Trades-Unions (1867); E A Rymer, The Martyrdom of the Mine; or, A Sixty Years Struggle for Life (1898); Will Ye Starve? A Few Plain Words to the People of Great Britain, on the Wickedness, Selfishness, & Rapacity of Coal Owners and Coal Miners: With Suggestions for a Remedy for the Present Calamitous Abuses, by the Strong Hand (1873); [Anthony Errington], Coals on Rails: Or the Reasons of My Wrighting, P E H Hair (ed) (1988)*; William Martin, The Downfall of the Coal Viewers (1842); William Martin, The Philosopher’s Letter to the British Government on Behalf of the Poor Pitmen (1844); Lord Londonderry, A Letter to Lord Ashley on the Mines and Collieries Bill (1842); Jacob Williamson, Report of the Colliery Case, Williamson v. Taylor (1843); Kellogg Durland, Among the Fife Miners (1904); James C Welsh, ‘Labour’, ‘The Miner’ and ‘A Tribute to Robert Smillie’ in Songs of a Miner (1918); Paul de Rousiers, ‘The Labour Question in Mines’, The Labour Question in Britain (1896).
Coalfield Communities
Community Institutions: George Waddington, Inaugural Address delivered at the opening of the Mechanics’ Institute at Gateshead (1848); Guy Hayler, The Northern Temperance Year Book: A Directory Of Temperance Work And Workers In The North Of England (1894); The New and Enlarged Hymn Book for the Use of the Primitive Methodists (1853); Henry Brougham, ‘Durham Case – Clerical Abuses’, Edinburgh Review (1822); Wilfrid Sparroy, The Colliers of Windy Hill: Crucial Moments in a Welsh Village (1903). Community Life: ‘The Worst Village in England’, Christian Budget (1899); Ernst Dückershoff, How the English Workman Lives (1899); Linda McCullough Thew, The Pit Village and the Store (1955)*; The Miner: A Journal for Underground Workers (1877); Rev R East, A Sermon on the Death of Children (1876); Rev T E Forster (ed), Memoir of the Hartley Colliery Accident, 1862 (1912); J Raven, The Colliery Calamity: Or, A Voice from Hartley (1862); T M, The Drunkard’s Catechism (n.d.); T Stewart, Among the Miners (1893); Report on Welsh mining villages, Morning Chronicle (1850); Report of the Commissioner appointed, under the Provisions of the Act 5 & 6 Victoria, to inquire into the operation of that Acts, and into the State of the Population in the Mining Districts (1850); J H Merivale, ‘Presidential Address’, Transactions of the Institution of Mining Engineers (1907–8).

Volume 5: Environmental Health (Edited by John Benson)

Environmental Health
Health, Housing and Households: Rev W Leigh, An Authentic Narrative of the Melancholy Occurrences at Bilston in the County of Stafford, during the Awful Visitation in that Town, By Cholera in the Months of August and September 1832 … (1833)*; Enumeration District 7, Brynmawr, Breconshire, from Census of England and Wales (1841); Slater’s (Late Pigot & Co.) Royal National Commercial Directory and Topography of the Counties of Chester, Cumberland, Durham, Lancaster, Northumberland, Westmoreland and York … (1848)*; ‘Notes on Miners’ Housing’, Glasgow Herald (1875); Ystradyfodwg Local Board, Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the Year 1893 (1894). Statistical Investigations: C Walford, On the Number of Deaths from Accident, Negligence, Violence, and Misadventure in the United Kingdom and Some Other Countries (1881)*; J S Haldane, ‘The Health of Old Colliers’, Transactions of the Institute of Mining Engineers (1915–6).
The Poor Law, Charity, Industrial Relations and Self-Help
Infirmaries, Orphanages and the Poor Law: Laws for the Regulation and Government of the Alnwick Infirmary (1860); ‘Regulations for the Better Administration of Out-Door Relief’ (1876); ‘Lancashire and Cheshire’, Provident (1881); Miners’ Orphanage, Rotherham, press cuttings (1885). Industrial Relations: Durham Coal Trade Arbitration: February, 1876 (1876)*; ‘Revised Rules’, Mining Association of Great Britain, Report of the Fifty-Seventh Annual Meeting (1911). Friendly Societies: Foresters’ Directory (1865)*; ‘Friendly Societies’ Medical Attendance’, Friendly Societies’ Journal (1883); William Watson, Superannuation for Miners, reprinted from Barnsley Chronicle (1890).
Occupational Health
Ownership and Management: Special Rules for the Conduct & Guidance of Persons Acting in the Management of Collieries and of All Persons Employed in or About the Same in the South Staffordshire District (1861); ‘The Appeal Case of William Brown, A Deputy at the Oaks Colliery’, Barnsley Chronicle (1877). Explosions, Inundations and Diseases: Henry H Bourn, Earth’s Diamonds; Or Coal, Its Formation and Value. With a Plea for the Miner (c1882)*; T Lister Llewellyn, Miners’ Nystagmus: Its Causes and Prevention (1912)*. Statistical Investigations: Summaries of the Statistical Portion of the Reports of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Mines for the Year 1890; G J Binns, ‘On Accidents in Mines’, Colliery Guardian (1890); L Tylor, ‘Are Mining Accident Risks Diminishing?’, Central Association for Dealing with Distress caused by Mining Accidents, 1892 Report.
Charity, the Law and Self-Help
Charity and the Law: G E Swithinbank, Report and General Statement of the Oaks Colliery Explosion Fund, to 31st December, 1871 … ; A H Ruegg, A Treatise upon the Employers’ Liability Act, 1880 (1882)*; ‘Action against an Insurance Company’, Mansfield Reporter (1884); ‘Miners’ Provident Society’, South Wales Daily News (1893); Workmen’s Compensation Act 1897; GL Campbell, The Hartley Surplus: Correspondence and Report, Central Association for Dealing with Distress Caused by Mining Acccidents (1903). Trade Unions: ‘Mr John Holmes on the Past and Present Conditions of the South Yorkshire Miners’, Barnsley Chronicle (1877); An Appeal to the Trades of East Worcestershire, South Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, and the Public in General (1885). Friendly Societies: ‘The Reading High Court Meeting’, The Foresters’ Miscellany (1888)*; G L Campbell, Miners’ Thrift and Employers’ Liability: A Remarkable Experience (1891); ‘Heroes in Humble Life’ and ‘Diglake Disaster’, The Foresters’ Miscellany (1895); Northumberland and Durham Miners’ Permanent Relief Fund, Re Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1897 (1897); North Staffordshire Coal & Ironstone Workers’ Permanent Relief Society, 36th Annual Report (1905).

Volume 6: Industrial Relations and Trade Unionism (Edited by Keith Gildart)

The Coal Owners and Industrial Relations
‘The Coal Owners and the Pit Men’, account of families being made homeless through dispute (1831); ‘Coal Owners Vs Pit Men’, letter to the Miner’s Advocate (1844); ‘Caution to Pitmen’ (1844); South Hetton Colliery Notice on Gambling (1852); Durham Coal Trade Rules of Joint Committee (1872); Notice Warning against Absenteeism at Bettisfield Colliery, North Wales (1889); [article on arbitration], Colliery Guardian (1893); [editorial on treatment of non-unionists], Colliery Guardian (1893); Board of Conciliation for the Durham Coal Trade (1896); Lewis Jenkins (Point of Ayr Colliery Manager) Vs Edward Hughes (trade unionist) account of petty sessions (1897); Report of Nottingham Conciliation Board on wages (1899); Letter from Nottingham Miners’ Association asking for holiday (1900); North Wales Miners Magazine(1903)*; ‘Checkweighers Duties’, North Wales Miners Magazine (1903); MFGB Denaby and Cadeby Main Collieries Vs Yorkshire Miners Association (1905)*; ‘The Selfishness of the Miner’, Colliery Guardian (1912); ‘The Workman and the Manager’, Colliery Guardian (1912); Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association, ‘Miner’s Demand for a living Wage’ (1912); Letter requesting coal owners to join the Midland Coal Owners Federation (1899); [article on anti-nationalization], Colliery Guardian (1912).
County Unions and National Organizations
[Artcile on meeting of National Miners’ Association], The Wigan Observer (1865); North Yorkshire and Cleveland Miners Association, Minutes of Meeting 2 November 1874 (1874); Rules of the Scottish Miners’ Association (1881); Meeting of National Miners’ Union, The Labour Tribune (1889); ‘Miners’ National Conference’, The Labour Tribune (1889); ‘Miners’ Conference Manchester’, The Labour Tribune (1889); 'List of affiliated miners’ unions’, Trades Union Congress Report (1891); 'Eight Hours Bill', Trades Union Congress Report (1891); Durham Miners’ Association Monthly Circular (1902); [article on Gala], Durham Miners Association Monthly Circular (1902); Lancashire and Cheshire Miners Federation 1906 Demonstration at Blackpool (1906); ‘Conference of Miners’, Trades Union Congress Report (1908); Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Federation, females employed at collieries (1911); ‘Nationalisation of the Mines’, Trades Union Congress Report (1912); ‘Miner’s Struggle for a Minimum Wage’, Trades Union Congress Report (1912); New Deleval Miners’ Lodge Rules (1913).
The Miners’ Federation of Great Britain (MFGB)
'8 Hours Bill Deputation to Home Secretary from miners of Merthyr and Aberdare', MFGB Annual Report (1896); ‘10th International Miners’ Congress’, MFGB Annual Report (1899); ‘Annual Conference Pickard’s Report on Federation’, MFGB Annual Report (1901); ‘Newspaper Criticisms of 8 Hours Bill’, MFGB Annual Report (1902); 'Minutes of Conciliation Board 25 January 1906', MFGB Annual Report (1906); Miners’ Next Step (1912).
Strikes and Lockouts
Cessation of work by Pitmen (1844); Seaton Colliery notice of strike (1854); Notice of Colliers Strike in South Staffordshire (1858); Reward poster for information on those accused of attempting to murder strike breakers in Dudley (1864); Reward poster for arrest of those who attempted to blow-up houses of working colliers in Dudley (1864); Amalgamated Association of Miners, ‘Great Strike in South Wales’ (1873); ‘Strike in Somerset’, The Labour Tribune (1889); portrait of union leaders on Somerset Strike, The Labour Tribune (1889); ‘1893 lockout’, Colliery Guardian (1893); MFGB notice to all lodge secretaries proclaiming end of 1893 lockout; MFGB terms of settlement of coal dispute (1893); Trades Union Congress discussion of coal strike (1893); Letter of resolution of Nottingham coal owners on 1893 coal strike; North Wales Colliers’ Strike Poem (1894?); Tonypandy Dispute letter from Lionel Lindsay to Churchill (1910); election leaflet on Police Brutalities in Wales (1910); Tonypandy Dispute letter from General Macready with lists of troops etc (1910); Tonypandy Dispute Diary of Strike (1910); Tonypandy Dispute Report of General Macready on attack on Electric Power station (1910); ‘Special Conference on South Wales Dispute 9 March 1910’, MFGB Annual Report (1910); Speech by Brace on Cambrian miners, Labour Party Annual Conference Report (1912); Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Federation statement allowing certain persons to work through strike (1912); Letter from Chief Constable of Lanarkshire to the Sheriff of Lanarkshire on 1912 dispute (1912); Daily report of Local Government Board of Edinburgh on distress in Scotland during 1912 dispute; [article on strike and outcropping], Colliery Guardian (1912); Effect of 1912 Coal Dispute.
Labour Politics
Durham County Franchise and Political Reform Association (1882); 'Conference on Labour Representation: List of delegates', Trades Union Congress Annual Report (1900); Letter from Edward Hughes seeking election to Board of Guardians (1901); 'Special Conference on parliamentary labour scheme', MFGB Annual Report (1907); Labour Party Conference Report on miners’ affiliation (1909); South Glamorgan election address by William Brace (1910); Robert Smillie election address (1910); election pamphlet by Henry Twist to electors of Wigan (1910); MFGB leaflet on 1910 election; Lancashire and Cheshire Miners Federation and injunction on payments to Labour Party plus reply (1911); address by Edward Hughes on Labour Representation (1912)*; ILP Pamphlet.
Autobiographies and Biographical sketches
Portrait of miners’ leaders, MFGB Annual Report (1899); Edward Hughes, ‘North Wales Miners’ Leader’ [unpublished autobiography]; obituaries of miners’ leaders from Derbyshire and Lancashire, Trades Union Congress Annual Report (1913).

Index

* indicates an extract or extracts

Related titles

• British Trade Unions, 1707–1918
• The Urban Working Class in Britain, 1830–1914
• Welfare and Old Age in Europe and North America : The Development of Social Insurance

Leaflets

• Coal in Victorian Britain: colour leaflet

Return to top