Children in Mining Communities by Marian Lewis Working conditions in the 19th century were extremely bad with women and boys in the mines. Things were better in 20th century; conditions had improved. Children of my generation lived a more carefree life than our ancestors even though a world war was raging. Now in the 21st century coal mining no longer exists in Co. Durham children have to visit museums like Beamish and the Killhope mining museum to find out about mining. I wonder whether the children, born in the 1940’s enjoyed the best of both worlds, the freedom to roam freely to enjoy simple games without having to be escorted everywhere by our parents like this modern generation but not having to endure the hardship of working down the mines like our ancestors. Children of a Mining Village in the 19th Century The deep mines were dangerous, flooding and gases (fire damp) were found in the mines. Falls of rock and stone were common. A crude system of ventilation was used to clear mines of gases. Children called trappers earning pennies for a 12 hour day would sit underground, opening and closing doors to allow wagons to pass, allowing air to circulate. They sat in darkness pulling a string to open the doors. Children as young as four and five did these jobs older children worked like pit ponies dragging wagons wearing a harness, passed between the legs and hooked to a ring on a belt. Some “coal bearers “carried coals on their backs in big baskets. The Mines act of 1842 abolished female labour in the Coal Mines but refused to raise the age limit for boys beyond ten years. Children of a Mining Village in the 20th Century Many girls who would have gone down the mines now found themselves going into “Service” where the hours were long and hard. The girls often had to move away to find work. The older boys still went down the pits but some went into service as footmen and butlers. In 1926 a general strike brought the country to a stand still. Miners were “out” for longer than the rest of the country and conditions were harsh. By the 1940’s things changed. World War 11 had broken out. Men enlisted and women worked in munitions and drove buses etc. Education was better and many passed their eleven‐plus and went on to further education; more jobs were available. Boys no longer followed their fathers into the pits. Children were still expected to help, “dadding” pit clothes, cleaning pit boots. On washing day, turning the mangle or the handle of the washer, using a Dolly and scrubbing board. Helping make clippie or proggies mats, a new mat was made every Christmas, laid at the hearth, and the old one moved back in the room. Whilst life was easier than in the 1800s, the life of a child growing up in a mining village were still hard. Digitised by Anne Wright Note: The views that are expressed on the website are the contributors own and not necessarily those of Durham County Council. This is a community website so no guarantee can be given of the historical accuracy of individual contributions