The coal fields in the South West of England fit your description.
Forest of Dean
Nailsea
Bristol
South Gloucestershire
Somerset Coalfields
i.e. thin seams, small coalfield, rural area (although Bristol is a city
most of the mines were north of the city and in what was originally
undeveloped land) Most of the mines up until the mid 19th Century employed
less than 50 people although later they tended to merge and become bigger
outfits. When the last of the Bristol ones closed the in 1949 numbers were
down to similar levels. A new mine in the early 60's also employed small
numbers and by the time of closure of the last Somerset mine again it was a
relatively small outfit. There are still mines worked in the Forest of Dean
but these are very much on the basis of one or two people.
Your area of interest reminds me particularly of South Gloucestershire, the
northern part of which is very much a rural community. Details I have on
miners in Cromhall and Rangeworthy suggest that when the mines closed
(early/mid 19thC) some of the colliers became agricultural labourers. The
information on Yate (closed late (19thC) suggests many moved to larger mines
either locally or in South Wales.
Let me know if any of this is relevant I can provide further information &
suggestions if required.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Graham Owens" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 9:47 AM
Subject: Re: labour and environmental history in coalfields
> At 20:56 05/11/02 -0500, you wrote:
> >I know this is a somewhat more general inquiry than the kind normally
> >circulated on your interesting list, but here goes...
> >
> >I'm working on a short monograph about coal mining in Nova Scotia
> >(Canada)-- more particularly, a study of one rural coalfield
> >(Joggins-Chignecto) dominated by thin (approx. 4-foot-thick) seams of
> >rather marginal quality. I'm exploring the connection between nature
> >(the configuration of the seams and the quality of the coal) and
> >social history (the distinctive patterns of settlement, class
> >formmation and trade unionism found in an area where people can farm
> >and mine at the same time, smale-scale employers come and go, and
> >many of the mines employed fewer than 50 people). Do any list members
> >have recommendations for readings that explore similar topics in
> >Britain? Are others working on the interface of environmental and
> >labour history in related or contrasting ways? Are there British
> >coalfields that I ought to think about for purposes of comparison?
> >Thanks for any help.
>
> Try "In the shadow of the mines" by Joe & Seamus Moore (a private
> publication by Seamus Walsh but probably available from Mike Moore Books).
> It is a folky history of mining at Castleconner Colleries, Co. Kilkenny,
> Eire which produced a high quality anthracite from thin seams in very
> geologically disturbed ground. Seamus Moore has written the book based on
> the journals of his father Joe Walsh and covers the mines history to final
> closures in the early 80s, and includes narratives on the fight for union
> recognition and the mines/miners place in the community. If nothing else
it
> is an excellent read
> Regards
> Graham
>
>
|