COLLIERS

Photograph courtesy of National Museum of Wales

It was quite common for miners to be on their knees this way, spending much of their time undercutting the coal with his mandrel. It is understandable how miners working in these conditions with sometimes poor ventilation, while inhaling dust in this way became ill in later years. They would end their lives with their lungs filled with dust and gasping for air. These conditions were known as Pneumoconiosis and silicosis. Yet very little if any compensation was paid for their illnesses. Dust related diseases were hardly recognised in those days.

Photograph courtesy of National Museum of Wales

Three colliers working at Baldwin's Albion Rd Colliery, which was also known as the 'Clog and Legging' situated near the Old Furnace. This level was about 300 yards below the Glyn Pits 1-2. The mine was called the Clog and Legging because it was a very wet mine. These miners seemed to be lucky because it seemed fairly dry at this particular workplace. Two of the miners have mandrels (small picks) while the other has a round mouth shovel, uncommon today, but was easier to use on uneven ground. Note the candles, as even though safety lamps had been invented by Humphrey Davy in the early 1800s, naked flames were still used in deep and shallow mines well into the twentieth century. Flat caps were worn because during this time the use of safety helmets in this area had yet to come.

This 1910 photograph shows a typical heading (tunnel) It contains a tram and some

of the tools needed for filling it.