Coal mining - labour movement etc (General)

by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Saturday, September 22, 2007, 04:51 (6274 days ago) @ Jean Herbert

Migration ( economic ) is not new to the FOD, many were "Voreigners" who arrived from South Wales, Staffordshire and other areas. Also many left to seek fortune elsewhere, - Staffordshire (!), South Wales ,Lanacashire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Durham, America etc etc.

Mining - Iron, Coal - and Quarrying have been part of Forest life for many generations ( Centuries). Witness the Freeminer traditions.

I'm sure that labour was scarce in other regions, so the skilled workers - sinkers, etc, as well as the face workers and engine men, were recruited to other areas as Mining developed there. In the late Victorian era, and then again in the Depression of the 1920/30's. Finally as Beavan boys in the 1940's we can see evidence of Labour movement.

Prior generations of "slowhands" have tunneled under the Vorest and Yorks/Notts.

S

< Whilst penning this, I'm reminded of a Monty Python sketch - "We had it tough" etc etc .... I'm proud of my roots, and admire the hard life these folk endured; repetitive strain injury, knowledge workers, what would they have made of that ! >