What was it like working in the Pits?

[Paddy O'Dors]

I worked with elderly people through Shiney Row in the 1980s. Most of the old blokes who were former pitmen had terrible breathing issues, and they were just the ones that managed to reach pensionable age. Many didn't even manage that.

 

[black-cat]

Is that new, or is it just the drift mine you mean?

There is actually a working shaft you can visit at the

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- it actually looks like the underground side is temporarily closed, but the site is worth a visit anyway if you are ever in the area (free entry and can while away a couple of hours eeven without the underground tour) They have a few ex-miners working their who can talk all day long!

Just the drift mine I reckon, as it's not new. The one you walk into and it gets narrower and more cramped the further you get into it

 

[Mousehold Mackem]

According to Google:

In 1970, average weekly cash earnings for National Coal Board (NCB) mineworkers were approximately £23.82. Surface workers earned slightly less than the average, while underground workers earned roughly £29.05. Despite the physically demanding and dangerous nature of the job, these weekly wages were slightly less than the national average for manufacturing industries.The breakdown of weekly wages for 1970 reflects these industry-wide averages:Average All Manual Workers: £23.82 per week.Underground Workers: £29.05 per week.Surface Workers: £24.10 per week.At this time, miners were falling behind the pay rates of other industrial workers. This wage stagnation compared to the rest of the manufacturing sector led to growing industrial unrest. These underlying wage disparities ultimately sparked the major national strikes in 1972, which resulted in the Wilberforce Inquiry recommending significant pay bumps

So in 1970 it paid the equivalent of about £22k a year. Shocking that.

Gold--plated pensions tho. Not.

 

[YorkMackem]

Would you apply for that job today if they were still open?

It seems like really hard work with all the dust and crouching down.

Massive respect to those that did the hard graft.

Get yourself down the shaft at the National Mining Museum in Wakefield. It is well worth a visit.

 

[SPUFF]

Well working in searing heat, covered in dust, no toilets, pitch black with a significant real risk of injury, long term health problems and physically exhausting.

Nothing like Nissan.

I honestly reckon some would choose the pits.

 

[DBStar]

Get yersel to Beamish, they've got an old shaft open there

Yeah even from that it doesn't feel a pleasant working environment in that little test area. My ex-wife's dad worked there for a while. Failed to declare his bad back on his application and was scared to tell them when he was assigned there

 

[JAZZMANB]

According to Google:

In 1970, average weekly cash earnings for National Coal Board (NCB) mineworkers were approximately £23.82. Surface workers earned slightly less than the average, while underground workers earned roughly £29.05. Despite the physically demanding and dangerous nature of the job, these weekly wages were slightly less than the national average for manufacturing industries.The breakdown of weekly wages for 1970 reflects these industry-wide averages:Average All Manual Workers: £23.82 per week.Underground Workers: £29.05 per week.Surface Workers: £24.10 per week.At this time, miners were falling behind the pay rates of other industrial workers. This wage stagnation compared to the rest of the manufacturing sector led to growing industrial unrest. These underlying wage disparities ultimately sparked the major national strikes in 1972, which resulted in the Wilberforce Inquiry recommending significant pay bumps

So in 1970 it paid the equivalent of about £22k a year. Shocking that.

Free coal and subsidised housing though
No idea how much we paid for the pit House .
My dad started 14 . Could read ,couldn't write . Decent option for him

I worked with elderly people through Shiney Row in the 1980s. Most of the old blokes who were former pitmen had terrible breathing issues, and they were just the ones that managed to reach pensionable age. Many didn't even manage that.

All I knew was my Dad coughing up stuff . He smoked too though

 

[YorkMackem]

Put it this way, at 16 I started a 24 year army career, with me fatha's blessing rather than gannin down the pit. There was great camaraderie but little else going for it, although, by then (1979), wages were canny.

Me fatha knew the writing was on the wall re. closures, and he was correct.

 

[tonyfromalnwick]

It must have been tough. My grandad worked down Shilbottle pit, and the day war was declared (1939), he enlisted to get away from it.