Book Reviews
“OFF, - ON A TANGENT . . “ with Brynmor by Brynmor Evans 1999 48 pp
illus. Brynmor Evans was born on 9th October 1930, the son of a miner,
in an era when coal mining was still the main industry in the Aberdare
and Cynon Valley area. Recollections of that era are still clear, deep
rooted and have a profound meaning for him, illustrated through a number
of poems which highlight the harshness of the industry at that time, and
also the unique comradeship that existed among the miners, - unequalled
elsewhere in industry. Being brought up in a close-knit mining
community that was typical of `The Valleys’ provided a sense of
`belonging’ that sadly appears to be on the wane in society today. The
mining industry of that time, with its risk of accidents, or `the dust’,
(pneumoconiosis or silicosis), was a key factor in creating that
community spirit, because families never knew when tragedy might
possibly affect them and consequently were very supportive of each
other. An evocative trip down memory lane. Should appeal to all those
who bought the Auden book and like the coalescence of industrial
archaeology and verse. SB £2.50 [post 50p]
MENDIP UNDERGROUND A CAVER’S GUIDE by D J Irwin and A R Jarratt 1999
241 pp illus. As its title implies, concentrates mainly on caves, but
many mines are included, with surveys, and valuable bibliographical
details: Axbridge Ochre Mine, Banwell Stalactite Cave, Box Stone Mines
[length 90+ km], Brown’s Folly Mine, Cairo Shaft, Compton Martin Ochre
Mine, Devil’s Cave, Dolebury Levvy, Five Buddles Sink, Great Maple
Mine, Lamb Leer Cavern Loxton Cavern, Mangle Hole, Pen Park Hole and
Redcliff Caves Bristol, Sandford Levvy, Singing River Mine, Single Way
Mine, Swan Mine etc etc. Also many caves containing mining relicts. SB
£14.00 [post £1]
from:
Tony Oldham, Specialist Mine and Cave Bookseller,
Duncavin, Rest Home for Retired Cavers, Riverside Mews, Cardigan, SA43
1DH, UK
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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