Wigan Album

When did the pit helmet come into being, a necessary item to wear, as a safety factor? as they are all wearing cloth caps. They are all in possession of oil lamps, these were a necessary piece of equipment to check for the presence of gas, but gave off very poor lighting, for illumination. when did the battery operated electric lamp become the main source of illumination?

My dad left Stones pit in 1945 and they still had oil lamps and no helmets then. I was at Stones in 1950 and some of the pitmen used to leave their hats on their tool rods and go to the pit bottom in a cap. Fred Pye the onsetter never wore a helmet at the pit bottom as there were electric lights there

Interesting stuff, Fred. Where was Stones pit?

Stones pit was also known as Park Collieries and was on Liverpool Road Ashton-in-Makerfield. There is a small industrial estate there now. There are a couple of pix of the colliery under "work"