My understanding is that 'Sinkers' were (usually) contractors engaged to do
the following :
1) Locate coal seams using boring rods to core the strata (as described 'iron
towers')
2) Sink the shaft down to the seam
Thereafter the work was taken over by the coal company, ie fitting out the
shaft and getting coal.
The sinkers would then move on to find another contract.
MARK PINKNEY (DDMS)
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