I have only known one person who did any shaft sinking, and that was in the
Bedlington area of Northumberland. I once asked him about the surveying
method used to sink a vertical shaft, and was told that as long as they
could see the sky as they were going down, that was good enough.
stafford
>I have just been given some letters that were written by a now
>deceased relative in 1992. The relative (our Aunt Mabel) wrote about
>some family members of old although she (Mabel) was 88 at the time and
>her mind/memory was failing) There is a very interesting section in
>one letter which refers to 'Uncle Frank'. This person was Francis
>Joseph Clifford, born 1858, died 1952 and was the elder brother to
>Walter Clifford, the subject of my research.
>
>The section gives an insight into his character and lifestyle but also
>touches on his work as a 'Sinker'. In trying to ascertain how
>accurate Mabel's account was I would ask if anyone can expand on the
>method she refers to (sounds like an early method of bore hole
>drilling?)
>
>I quote from the letter :-
>
>"Uncle Frank was quite a character. He lived at Ilkeston when he was
>at home, which I gathered was not very often. He liked a drink - but
>liked it too much at times. However he held down a good job (good in
>those days). He was a Foreman Sinker. In his duties he must have
>walked all over England!. In his 90's he could tell you how many
>miles it was from A to Z! Anyway I'll tell you about his job first.
>It must have been quite interesting really as he went all over the
>place. He was 'boss' of a gang of men, he held all their wages until
>they had finished the job and they were paid a lump sum at the end.
>They used to go to various places and 'sink' for coal. Somehow or
>another they put long rods into the earth and brought up the layers of
>everything, sand, clay and cola. Whether they had any 'tackle' to do
>it with I don't know, but they must have done and I seem to remember
>towers of iron rising up from the ground. When they found coal of
>course I suppose that job was finished and they moved on to another,
>probably walking and pushing hand carts with their tools and luggage.
>Uncle Frank thought nothing of walking any distance, that seemed to be
>the only way of getting around. He never wore an overcoat, just a
>short jacket type of thing......."
>
>Regards
>
>Phil Clifford
>
>"Je Suis Prest"
>
>mailto:[log in to unmask]
>
>Mines Rescue History site at:-
>
>http://freespace.virgin.net/kathryn.c/index.htm
>
>
Stafford M Linsley
Lecturer in Industrial Archaeology
The University
Newcastle upon Tyne
England
NE1 7RU
Tel. 0191-222 6795
|