Dear Trevor,
What you say is indeed correct.
Not only did this apply to Mid-Wales, but to all other mining areas.
Farming, whether as subsistence or alternative employment was a 'regular' and very
normal 'thing': the mines/mining Co.s' had regular complaint about absenteeism
at harvest time, but there was absolutely nothing they could do about it -
it was just one of those things... indeed many mines had simply to shut down
at certain times due to this. The Llangynog mines were very prone to this for
example: the Weardale mines had to put up with it just the same... likewise
in Derbs., N.Wales., & Cornwall. Freighting of ore and smelted metal suffered
just the same, in that in many cases the mines/smelters had to rely on
farmers for their haulage (due to their owning horses and carts), so this aspect
was of course very prone to harvest interruption - however, it must be stated,
that during the early 1800's it was recorded that the health of such labour
was poor due to low income, and that they were simply not fit enough to supply
a 'regular' service - this not due to freight rates, but due to the basic
income from their small farms. This situation however did not last to long.
Mid-Wales had a strong wool market (as indeed did other mining areas), and there
were many woollen mills around here (clearly defined by the OS maps), so
there is every reason to believe that miners could switch and change as they saw
fit - even then for health reasons.
Regards, Bernard
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