Mining 100

The Mining Archive evidences the history of mining from its beginnings being conducted by landowners in the nineteenth century, via nationalisation in 1947, through to the heyday of the British Coal industry in the 1950s and 1960s. It also reflects the troubles of the 1970s and 1980s and the closure of the industry in North Staffordshire the 1990s. 

The three photos below give us quite an insight into the history of mining up to 1957. 

In the first image note the respectful dedication made to the Duke of Devonshire in the turn of the century (but undated) book about the geology of Derbyshire. The Devonshires were a landowning family who made a fortune out of the mining of copper reserves at Ecton in Derbyshire. The same was true for many coalmines across England and Wales - they were owned by wealthy land owners whose land held mineral reserves below ground.

Figure 1: Geology of Derbyshire with book dedication to the Duke of Devonshire. 

The Sneyd family, for example, owned many pits in the North Staffordshire area and made money from the sale of the coal extracted for both domestic and industrial use. The Sneyds lovely family home remains at Keele Hall now part of Keele University.

Figure 2: Scan of page 30 of the Colliery Guardian from 3rd January 1930

This photo shows the importance of the cost of coal in Staffordshire in early Spring 1932. Most homes relied upon coal fires for heat at this time. Gas and electric heating were very uncommon, if not unheard of, in homes at this time. The prices shown here are pre-nationalisation.

Figure 3: Scan of page 31 of the Colliery Guardian from 3rd January 1930

These books chart the history of nationalization from it first being mooted before the Second World War to its becoming its an actuality in 1947 and then in 1957, a ten year reflection on its success.

Figure 4: Four books help within the archive on the  lead up to nationalization and after

The Mining Archive holds copies of the reports and proceedings of the National Union of Mine workers.
 

Figure 5: Extract from minutes of an NUM meeting in 1962

This shows discussion of a matter relating to wages at Hem Heath pit in 1962. 1962/63 was one of the coldest winters of the 20th century and coal would have been used to heat freezing homes. Miners wages would have had an impact on the cost of coal. Gas central heating and electricity were still not the most common means of domestic heating in the early 1960s. Even just after the Clean Air Act 1956, homes still had coal fires and a major move towards gas and electric heating did not happen until the 1970s.

Figure: 6 Scan of the cover of the NUM Special Delegate Conference held in November 1984

This shows the report of the special delegate conference focusing on the future of the industry. This was held in November 1984 during the long running miners’ strike of that year. Note that Mr Arthur Scargill is the President of the Union. 

After the settling of the year long dispute in Spring 1985 in the mid 1980s pits across Britain began to close. The UK moved away from coal as the main source of power for industry and electricity generation. In line with these closures the North Staffordshire Polytechnic mining department (the 1980s successor to the Mining Institute) closed its doors too, but the Mining Archive collection continues to be housed in the University’s Cadman building which was its first home more than a century ago. It is strange to think that some of the books in the collection have moved less than a quarter of a mile in over a century and are still being consulted by students today.