Coal Mining
BY NIAMH AND KATIE
Coal mining has existed
in Scotland since the 12th
century (1100’s)
Davy Safety Lamp detected
poisonous gases by its flame
changing colour.
There were many
technical advances
before 1830:
The Davy Safety Lamp
was devised in 1815 and
saved thousands of lives
Ventilation=Fire buckets
to draw fresh air through
the pit
Watts Steam Engine pumped
water out of the mine.
Gunpowder and fuse
helped get to coal easier.
Mining Before 1830
Reasons for Increased Demand
 When James Watt invented the Steam Train in the
18th century it increased the demand for coal
 In the 19th century the demand for coal increased
further because of railway development
had to be dug deeper
Mines
More Reasons
 As the population of towns grew, many people used
coal to heat their homes and cook food
 Coal was used in production for street and house
lighting
 Iron industry used coal for smelting
Types Of Mine
Bell Pit
Drift Mine
Types Of Mines
Spiral Pit
Trap Pit
Types of Jobs
Trappers
Hewers
 The youngest children
 Men/older boys who
(4-5) opened and shut
traps on the air doors
of the mines to keep
air clean.
cut coal away from
coal face using pick
axes.
More Jobs
Bearers
 Boys/girls who
dragged or pushed
coal in carts to bottom
of pit shaft.
 Or carried loads up the
shaft on their backs in
baskets called creels.
Working conditions before 1842
 There was a huge increase in demand for coal for
industrial and domestic needs
 There were long working hours (around 12 hours a day, 6
days a week) but workers were still paid poorly even
though they faced many dangers:
Choke damp
2. Flooding
3. Coal dust
Silicosis
4. Explosions
1.
1842 Mine Act
 In 1840, the government set up a Royal Commission
to investigate conditions underground.
 In 1842, its report was published. The Mine Act was
then published:
No females to be employed underground
2. No boys under the age of 10 to be employed
3. Boys under 15 not to operate winding gear
4. Inspectors to be appointed t0 enforce the act
1.
Aftermath Of The Report
 Even though many mines ignored the act it was a step
in the right direction
 For the first time, the government had passed a law
that was eventually to result in improved working
conditions in the mines.

The Mines Act
How Conditions Changed
Early 1800’s conditions
Late 1800’s conditions
 Technology:
 Technology
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Wooden Props
Buckets for drainage
Candles/Safety lamp
Picks for cutting
Gunpowder with fuse
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Metal Props
Steam Driven Pumps
Electricity
Electric digging tools
Gelignite with
detonator
W0rld War One
 When the war started there was a huge impact on the
coal industry
 By July 1915 the output of coal was down by 3
million tons due to workers joining the army
 With fewer miners, owners had to do something
they attempted to increase working hours which was
resisted by the miners.
So without enough
workers it was a big
problem!
To run
factories
Power
Railways
In February 1917 the
government decided IT
would control the
mines for the duration
of the war.
This is called
NATIONALISATION.
This also stopped
anymore miners
joining the army.
Iron
Works
(weapons)
Coal & WW1
Fuel
Homes
Coal was needed for…
Run
Ships
In many cases wages
were higher than before,
mining was just as
important as the troops
in France
Trouble heightened in
the 1920s when owners
tried to reduce pay and
increase working hours.
But miners went on
strike…
‘’Not a penny off the pay not a
minute on the day’’
In years after the war
a law was passed for
Safety and conditions:
Hours reduced to 7 a
day
Pithead baths were
introduced
But there were still a
few problems…
Improvements
Cheap coal was
coming from Poland
and Germany so less
coal was being
exported
The coal industry has
never regained itself
since.
A graph of coal mining production
from 1700>