COLLIERIES OF SOUTH WALES [Part?] 1 by John Cornwell 2001  255 pp 275
photos published by the Landmark Publishing Ltd, Ashbourne Hall, Cokayne
Ave, Ashbourne Derbyshire DE6 1EJ at £22.50

My recollections of John Cornwell go back over 40 years, when I first met
him down a cave wearing just a pullover and swimming trunks.  His reason for
wearing this unusual garb was that it saved having to repair his caving
clothes after every trip.  Since then John has gone on to
photographing mines and over the years he has produced a number of books
illustrating Welsh coal mines, of which there are now very few left.

John has perfected a rather unusual method of underground photography
using existing Coal Board lighting as electronic flash guns and similar
devices are banned in coal mines.  For close up he uses a mining cap lamp on
a time exposure.  By “painting “ the area with the light from the cap lamp
he has produced some remarkable photographs.  For larger scenes he uses the
approved Locomotive lamp which has two batteries.  With this technique he
photographs shafts 1000 feet deep and long lengths of underground roadway
with remarkable clarity.  John does not say what sort of camera he uses, but
judging by the quality and superb definition of his photographs, I would
guess at some like a whole plate [10 x 8 inches] camera.

To demonstrate the importance of a book like this it should be borne in
mind that in 1975 there were 47 working collieries, today, there is only
one deep pit [Tower] and a few private drift mines. This book presents a
historical record of 35 pits which are no longer in existence, from
Cynheidre in the west to Tirpentwys in the east.  For each colliery there is
a brief historical account, date of sinking, and details of ownership (all
collieries before nationalisation 1947 were in private ownership).  Depth of
shaft, owners, number of men, production figures are all given together with
large scale OS maps and as mentioned previously, some superb photographs of
both men and horses at work underground. How did he get them to stand still
for so long?

There is an exquisite symmetry and balance within the subjects chosen for
photography.  The magnificent sweep of underground roadways, the neatness
and precision of the pitprops, the silhouettes of winding gear, the artistry
and attention to detail on the gargantuan machinery.  And overlooking the
surface scenes, more often than not a row of miners’ cottages, again built
with that same symmetry and precision.  How sad that the expertise and
commitment of the miners should only exist today through the printed page.

TO


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