Standard Grade Revision Britain 1830-1930

1. Standard GradeRevision Britain 1830-1930 Coal Mining

2. Why was coal important? • Demand for coal – need for steam to power engines and industrial machines. • Steam power ran railways, steam ships, & machines of textile factories. • Coal was turned into coke to smelt iron. • People used coal as fuel in their homes. • Later coal was used to produce gas for street and house lighting.

3. Between 1830 and 1910 production of coal rose from 30 million to 270 million tons. • Over 1 million miners in 1910. • Most mines in Scotland were in the Central Belt, Ayrshire, Fife & Lothian. • Effects of increased demand had great impact on conditions in mines and development of new technology. • As demand increased pits went deeper to get more coal. This increased demands and dangers faced by miners.

4. Early mines • Early mines were bell pits owned or used by a few men. • Coal was hacked from the seam and carried along and up the tunnels to the surface. • Mines developed into an underground world of tunnels and routes hundreds of feet beneath ground.

5. Dangers • As mines got deeper dangers increased: • Roofs caving in • Explosions • Floods • Fires • Escaping poisonous gases. • Mine owners employed cheap labour for maximum profit. • Whole families worked in the mines. • Improved safety would cost money – so it didn’t happen – plenty of workers available • Government attitude of “Laissez-faire”

6. Trappers, Hewers & Bearers • Women & children worked underground including heavy cutting & carrying coal. • Trappers – youngest children (sometimes 4 or 5), opening & shutting traps on the air doors of mines – they sat in the dark & opened the doors when they heard a truck or people wanting to get to another part of the mine. • If the trap was not closed correctly, parts of the mine would lack adequate ventilation and dangerous gases would build up. • Hewers were mainly men or older boys who cut coal from the coal face. • Bearers would drag or push carts full of coal to the bottom of the pit shaft – children.

7. 1842 Coal Mining Act • 1840s government set up at Royal Commission to investigate conditions in mines. • Result was Coal Mining Act: • Banned women and children under 10 from working in mines. • One inspector appointed to monitor, (but didn’t have power to go down mines until 1850) • No mention of working conditions for men & boys over 10.

8. Other Legislation Despite legislation accidents in mines were still common.

9. 1850s onwards • Introduction of wire rope instead of hemp • Steam winding engines instead of horse, water or human power. • Increased extraction form 250 tons to 600 tones a day. • 1849 – air compressor installed at Govan Colliery near Glasgow, but at least 30 years before use of compressed air became widespread. – excellent source of energy foe coal cutters. • 1900 only 30% of coal cut in Scotland cut by machinery 1920 34%1930 most coal cutters powered by compressed sir, although electric power was being introduced.

10. 1880s onwards • 1880s to 1914 saw a record amount of coal being exported by Britain. • No change in number of accidents – as late as early 1920s almost 600,000 miners were injured underground. • From 1890s new technology began to be used: • Pumping, winding and haulage engines. • In 1914 most coal cutting still done by hand. • By 1928 60% was being cut mechanically.

11. Water • As mines got deeper problems of water and flooding increased. • Originally steam engines used, often above ground – but not reliable. • Only with introduction of electricity did this task become easier.

12. Electricity • 1881 – first mains electrical lighting system • 1891 – electrical driven coal cutter. • Dangers – sparks causing explosions with flammable gases. • 1912 – compulsory for all electrical equipment used in mines to be designed & manufactured to certain safety standards. • After this use of electricity spread rapidly.

13. Dangers • Roof fall: • initially roof propped up with coal supports • During C19th replaced by ‘artificial’ props • Stronger props made from wood or steel • Lastly hydraulic props which could absorb movements in roof were introduced. • Gas: • Better ventilation – fans were used, but their use was not widespread until beginning of C20th • Safety lamp invented by Sir Humphrey Davy, 1815 – presence of dangerous gases indicated by colour of flame • This lamp did not give as much light as naked flame & candles still being used in 1860s. • Although Davy lamp improved, problem of lighting not resolved until electric safety lamp.

14. Other Hazards • Transport of men & coal steadily improved & dangerous practices eliminated. • Winding gear improved so fewer accidents • Coal dust – lungs – dealt with by spraying water to damp dust. • As new mine workings cut near old, danger of breaking into old flooded workings – 1850 Act of Parliament made compulsory registration of Mine Plan.

15. First World War • Huge impact on coal industry – serious drop in output as miners joined army. • Coal essential – factories, iron works for weapons, railways & ships. • Owners had to increase production, so with fewer miners try tried increasing working hours – resisted by miners. • By July 1915 output was down 3 million tons a month. • Feb 1917 – Prime Minister David Lloyd George announced mines would be run by the state for the war.State would control output & distribution. • Miners not allowed to join army. • Wages rose.

16. After First World War • Laws passed to improve safety and conditions. • Hours cut to 7 & pithead baths • Cheap coal imported from Poland and Germany, & less coal exported. • Alternative fuels like oil developed & less coal needed in some larger industries like steel.

17. 1920s • 1921 mines retuned to former owners – cause conflict among miners who wanted them nationalised. • Further conflict when owners tried to cut wages – after a one month strike miners retuned to work. • 1925 – owners tried to increase working day by an hour & decrease wages:“Not a minute on the day, not a penny off the pay” • 3 May 1926 – miners joined the General Strike, (9 days), but miners stayed out for 6 months. • In the end they had to accept pay cuts & an increase in hours.

18. Work in mines in 1930 • Overall miners safer due to technological advances. • New machinery, deeper mines & new techniques created new dangers. • Dangers of flooding, roof fall, cage & lift accidents & gas explosions still present but rarer. • Age for going down pit raised to 14 + no women. • Working day (although increased in 1926), shorter than 12 hour day of 1830s. • New machinery created more dust & more lung disease. • Safety clothing introduced in 1930s – protective helmet. • Still dangerous, & physically demanding work

19. 1947 • Mines nationalised.