Wigan Album
WIGAN COAL
21 Comments
Photo: Keith
Item #: 31312
On my maternal side of the family I have come across Wigan relatives who were “Hewers” in the mining industry. I have also come across a website celebrating the history of coal mining in this country at the following link, http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/pits/Wigan/Wigan-2.htm
This has, amongst many things, a Glossary of mining terms - intrigued I looked up the definition of Hewer, here’s what it said………however the website added that if reference was made to the work on the site that due recognition should be given to the people who put it together, i.e. Steve Nicholls, Stewart Parr, Andrew Lomax and Alan Davies.
They firmly believe that not enough is published about mining in this country. So here is my small contribution taken from their website.
HEWER
Hewer - Coal face worker who works or digs coal. He cuts and loosens the coal with a pick, referred to as ragging in some pits. He could be aged from 21 to 70. Back in 1849, as part of his wages, which averaged 3s. 9d. to 4s. 3d. per day for 8 hours working, 4 or 5 days a week, he was given a house with two or three rooms, according to the number in his family, and a garden, also a fother (a cart-load) of small coals each fortnight, for which he paid sixpence.
1890s The hewer was the coal-digger. The seam he worked could be so low that he could hardly creep into it on hands and knees, or high enough for him to stand upright. He was the responsible workman who loosens the coal from the bed. The hewers were divided into "fore-shift" and "back-shift" men. The former usually worked from four in the morning till ten, and the latter from ten till four. Each man worked one week in the fore-shift and one week in the back-shift, alternately.
Every man in the fore-shift marked "3" on his door. This was the sign for the "caller" to wake him at that hour. When roused by that important functionary he got up and dressed in his pit clothes, which consisted of a loose jacket, vest, and knee breeches, all made of thick white flannel; long stockings, strong shoes, and a close fitting, thick leather cap.
He then took a piece of bread and water, or a cup of tea, but never a full meal.
Many prefer to go to work fasting. He would take a tin bottle full of cold water or tea, a piece of bread, which was called his 'bait', his Davy lamp, and "baccy-box." At the pit he got into the cage, and was lowered to the bottom of the shaft, where he lit his lamp and proceeded "in by," to a previously arranged place to meet the deputy. This official examined each man's lamp, and, if found safe, returned it locked.
Each man then found from the deputy that his place was right and proceeded onwards to his cavel (lot drawing or a lottery to decided the working-place of each individual). He then went to his place of work with his picks in one hand, and his lamp in the other. He would travel like this a distance varying from 100 to 600 yards. Sometimes the roof under which he had to pass was not more than three feet high.
To progress in this space he kept his feet wide apart and his body bent at right angles to his hips. His head was held well down, and his face looked straight ahead. On arrival at his place of work he undressed and began by hewing out about fifteen inches of the lower part of the coal. He thus undermined it, and the process was called kirving.
The same was done up the sides. This was called nicking. The coal thus hewn was called small coal, and that remaining between the kirve and the nicks was the jud or top, which was either displaced by driving in wedges, or was blasted down with gunpowder. It then became the roundy. The hewer filled his tubs, and continued thus alternately hewing and filling.
Taken from the website.http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/glossary/glossary.htm
The following information I also took from the previously mentioned website.
Perhaps some of the earliest recorded workings are those of Peter Plat. These are recorded in the Wigan Court Leet from the 17th century. Excavations in 1963 during the construction of Wigan Baths uncovered extensive workings thought to those of Peter Plat.
Alliance colliery could be found in the centre of Wigan between Woodcock Street and Standishgate.
At Frog Lane municipal tip there are 3 known shafts
Meadows House Farm Colliery just off Woodhouse Lane opposite Ingram street 1 shaft
Meadow Pit and Douglas Bank 6 shafts
6 shafts off Barnsley Street for Barley Brook and Gidlow Lane Collieries
Rylands or Swinley Colliery 3 shafts off Walkden Avenue
Swinley Colliery 3 shafts between Swinley Road and Kenyon Road
Ince Hall Colliery behind the Cricket Ground 2 shafts
Mesnes Colliery 3 shafts
Then there are the collieries near Bottling Wood including 2 shafts in bottling wood, a drift mine, Platt Lane or Round house colliery.
Shaft at Water Hey
A Shaft near Wigan Little Theatre
Water Hey Colliery Scholes 3 shafts
Hardy Buts Pit at the end of Hardy Butts Lane 1 shaft.
Keith, hopefully by Autumn there will be a commemorative statue on College Avenue,close to the site of Peter Plat's pit, marking centuries of mining history in the Wigan District and honouring those who lost their lives, or suffered as a result of the work.
I vividly remember my first introduction down the Maypole pit, April, 1950. A shot firer took me into the far end, to the coal face, I was just sixteen. We suddenly came up to what I thought was a face of rock. The shot firer said. “Climb up there” . There was a gap about a yard deep. I climbed up, and then commenced to push my tommy tin, and water can in front of me, as it was only a yard, or so high. When I reached the coal face, the seam being no more than four foot thick, a couple of colliers welcomed me. I was told that it was my job to operate the pan engine. Pans were a series of long metal troughs, each coupled to each other. The pan engine had a metal shaft that went from the pan engine to a coupling on one of the troughs. When you turned the air on, to start the engine, the shaft would work backwards, and forwards to move the series of troughs backwards, and forwards, and as the colliers spaded the coal into the troughs, the coal was shaken down the face to the conveyer belt, at the large tunnel end of the face. All the time, I was conscious of there being half a mile of earth, between me, and the surface.
That's something you would never forget Albert as a first job. What guts those men had to do that kind of work.
Keith , you , like many others on WW , hold huge credit , by showing us in minute detail Wigan’s history. You are the providers of reference for those who will follow .
Unfortunately, Keith , as anyone with half a cell can see , Wigan is being left behind . As you , and others , argue details to extreme accuracy, about a street or machinery at a particular coal face, the simple fact is Wigan is going absolutely nowhere ! I am unpopular on WW Keith , if you follow my posts , because , even though I value Wigan’s history, and the detail you and others provide , it can only be successful, if our history is recognised by our young people , and far importantly, the older generations remain polarised, believing the world stands still , or goes backwards . Wigan , will change , this is progress of life . Holding on with a ball and chain and refusing any aspect of Wigan’s future , only the past, only show people who are hooked on Dopamine of the past . This is no good for Wigan whatsoever. To challenge everything Modern and welcome every detail of past , how can , in respect to you Keith , succeed for Wigan, in its progression to future . Veronica, speaks of History.
I accept this completely! But have you ever heard Thomas Walsh even mention the future . If this is WW , History channel , then I can run with that . But it is certainly nothing to do with young people and Wigan’s future . Keith , You are highly detailed of the past . Wigan , unfortunately can’t stay there . It has to go to the wants and needs of next generations.
Sorry Keith , they are NOT , looking at the PIts or Cotton Mills of our generation, they are looking at their mobile phones. They couldn’t care less about our history , because it wasn’t theirs !!!
I have been tracing my family history and every male from 1800 until the 1950s was classed in the local census as hewer.
Good to see your posts Albert and Neil. Pleased to hear about recognition of Wigan’s mining heritage, not least for the fantastic contribution made by all those incredible miners.
A miner in 1849, working a 5 day, 40 hour week at 4/- per day equates to £125 a week, in today’s money. Getting up at 3am every other week to work down the pit for that money, small wonder this country became Great!
I have posted something like this before. I worked at Victoria colliery in the 1950 When I was 19 years old my first job on the coalface was as a driller.At that time the men who cleared the coal were known as fillers.All work done through the day was in cycles,they,the fillers began work at six thirty am.I worked the second cycle from ten am,my job was to go on face to start drilling.Here I must mention one fact.The name of the coal seam was the mountain mine and the face was so low you had to lie fully flat to crawl on the face.If for any reason you needed to roll over your shoulder would scrape against the roof and because of this the filler,as he cleared the coal he would have to set a single wooden prop to support the roof.On most coal faces the filler would normally set three props supporting a steel bar nine feet in length, but it was so low it was not feasible, you would only injure your shoulders.This cycle only works if the fillers or colliers get a good start to the shift so that each cycle get an early start. My job was to go on the face and drill holes where the coal had been cleared,but just think,the face was about 150 yards in length and I had to drag a drilling machine, two drills,one five feet and one three feet long, a leather pouch containg drill bits pliers and pins to hold the bits.The way this worked was to drag your machine which had an electrical cable to the centre of the face and work back to the main roadway.If you are wandering why I used two drills it was because if the filler had a late start and had not cleared much yould be unable to use your five foot drill.The way mining works is like this.The height of the seam depends on its thickness and the face I was working was as I have mentioned was low.One day I asked the deputy the height of the cutting machine He said it was 13inches high and there would be a few inches clearance.The face is set out as such.If I go back to the fillerwho was setting the wooden prop supports the props would be set in lines to form lanes so you would have about five lanes.At each end of a face there would be a roadway supported by arches and the face is between these roads. On the face you are extracting and advancing and the lanes are advancing too,this means the furthest lane is where the waste is and as you advance the idea is collapse the roof behind .I am getting sick of this now so before I leave I will mention one incident.Being a driller I worked split shifts which meant I and my driller collegue would be working on the face alone for about 1hr 30 mins .This particular day the roof seemed to be very disturbed,banging and creaking,very uneasy. However we finished our shift and went home.The next day we arrived at work and were notified that the mountain mine had had a terrible weight and crushed to a height of 6inches throughout its lenght
Same old , same old Julie. You just don't grasp this forum do you? In your mind do the young not care about both World Wars either because it's 'not their History'? They would not have had a future but for them. The wars would not have been won without the miners working long hours to produce coal for the war effort. Coal was needed for the all the factories to run. How do you think aeroplanes and weapons and ammunition was manufactured? Not forgetting the shipyards - everything was run on coal - Coal was King! You would be better on the other forum - Communications. They love talking politics and the future - there is something for everyone on WW. It just happens to be more about the past ( History if you like) on this particular forum. Communicate might go down better for you - not as frustrating! Anyway most people who look on here find it educating - I know I do.
Julie, why not give it a rest love ? Do you suppose for just one moment that the majority of today's youth have even the slightest interest in the past, the future, or even the present if it comes to that ?... I know I didn't , back in the days when I considered myself to be Emperor of the Galaxy.
I'm not deliberately trying to be unkind here you understand , but you do keep harping on, ad nauseum , about the future generation.
I personally couldn't care less about the future generation,.... after all , what has the future generation ever done for me ? ( credit.. Groucho Marx )
I've uttered this sentiment before actually, but what you really need to do is consume copious amounts of Pinot noir, ..,....not unlike wot I do....,then chill out.
This world is a mad , mad place after all , no doubt it always has been , and ultimately always will be . Qué séra séra.....but to quote a hero of my adolescent years , namely , one Alfred E Neuman.....(google it )....
...........................................What ! me worry ?...........................................
And please don't think that you're unpopular on this site. I personally find you extremely entertaining actually, ..........quite possibly for all the wrong reasons, but entertaining nonetheless, and debating with your good self certainly beats watching repeats of Wheeler Dealers doesn't it ? ...Although I do quite like that Ed China bloke.........but not in THAT way I would hasten to add.
And now ,half of my keyboard has shifted to the left hand side of the screen, while the other half has moved across to the right. I just can't be doing with this new fangled technology. What was wrong with a bit of papyrus and a quill fabricated from a dodo feather ? That's what I'd like to know.
Regards. The Whizzer.
Julie , I apologise if my comments have been found wanting in your opinion , and course I respect your right to express your thoughts candidly ; but I would just like to add this quote - A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. ...
How could I have forgotten about the trains for transporting the troops, food, and everything else needed for the country to survive. Coal was the most vital commodity this country possessed,without it we would have been lost. I don't see why you put the younger generation on a pedestal - what have they done for this country as yet? All they have now has been handed down to them. The past can't be ignored and that is a fact whether you like it or not. Things just don't happen of their own accord and it is childish to think the future is going to be golden because 'the youth'will be the driving force! You put too much faith in them, they have to learn the hard way - nothing comes easy. If you think this forum is going to change, think again, It exists for those who like 'gassing' about the recent past and it will go on until they are all dead and gone I imagine. It's a pastime or hobby not meant to change the world! Julie your soapbox will be eaten by woodworm before anything changes on here! If you don't like it go somewhere else - but like his imperial highness Ozy says have a glass of good red wine and 'chill out'! I'm sure you will be missed though, just for the fun...
Julie, knowing Tom Walsh,as I am proud to say I do,his interest in the future is displayed in the way he lives his life...helping both young and old with a kindness and generosity of spirit. As for your view that the past is an irrelevance,there is nothing wrong with moving forward whilst respecting the contribution and achievement of others. Should you be correct, that the current generation have no interest in that, then it goes some way to explaining the 'me,me, me,' culture that many,though not all, have.
Julie
When Brian founded the WW website he designated the album to be a repository for old photos. In other words a unique historical record covering more than a century of Wigan life.
Future generations of Wigan people will look at the album collection and, although they won’t necessarily connect with the memories, they’ll certainly get a feel for what made Wigan special to our generation.
'To know nothing of what happened before you were born is to remain forever a child'.
Cicero (106-46BC)
Yes I agree about Tom - a fellow St Pat's lad made good,whose stories of his childhood and youth are a pleasure to read. So good that they are printed in the local rag! What dizzy heights to attain ,
I have put this poem on previously. It really is true in every respect. It was composed by a Durham miner.
The Miner.
They have no workers' playtime, no music while you work. Theirs is but long hard labour, that all but heroes shirk. Yes a miner is a hero,and should any doubt my word,let me mention just one danger,though of many you have heard. Have you ever lain in a confined space with a constant water flow, a broken roof above you,a sodden floor below. Heard the voice of tortured strata,as the earth gives threatening growls, to the puny helpless humans hacking at her bowels?
Have you ever sat in the gleam of a lamp, and heard the timber creak,like the hinges on the gates of Hell, and you dare not move or speak. Have you watched a comrade dying as stones have crushed his frame, praying for the sunlight he'll never see again. Yes, it is easy to die with the sun on your face,while the gifts of God surround you, than to die in slime, and dust, with no family around you..
So when you speak of heroes,and speak of them with pride. Give some thought to the miner, and how many of them died. They have no place in history,no glory to their deeds, but Britain gained her national pride because of men like these.
I don't find Julie entertaining at all,she bores me to tears,must remind myself not to read any more of her comments,there's obviously something not right about her,has anyone got a soap box for her.
Julie is entitled to her opinions - and has as much right as anyone on here to say what they are. I may be wrong but I think she would go down well on another forum. At least her posts ' get the ball rolling' from time to time even if it is the same theme.
Albert what a very profound poem - it brought tears to my eyes...
Albert.S... My Dad was a coal Miner, I remember many mornings I would go downstairs and find my Dad fast asleep, still in his 'black', ( no showers at the pits in those days ). Too tired to have a bath , probably not even had anything to eat..just fall asleep in the chair..
Your poem,made me cry, every word true and heartbreaking.. they were Hero's Thank you..