March is Women’s History Month and we are ending March by highlighting the role of women in coalmining. Professor Chris Wrigley in his essay, ‘Women in British Coalmining’, says that whilst the 1842 Parliament Act banned women and children from working underground, “There was a long history of female labour
Continue Reading
Blidworth Welfare Band is a brass band with a mining heritage. “We started out in the late 19th century as the Stanton Hill Temperance Band” based in Sutton in Ashfield, the band later changed their name to the Stanton Hill Silver Prize Band until the coal industry paid an interest
Continue Reading
We should like to thank Thoresby Colliery Band for allowing us to provide a link to their moving rendition of Gresford, The Miner’s Hymn. On September 22nd 1934 an explosion at Gresford Colliery in The North Wales Coalfield near Wrexham killed 266 miners. Gresford, the Miners’ Hymn,, with its haunting
Continue Reading
In this post for International Women’s Day 2022 we are celebrating the strength of the women in our coalfield communities. We celebrate their strength, whether they were fighting pit closures, acting as trade union reps for their fellow workers, campaigning against the closure of welfares, holiday camps and rehabilitation centres.
Continue Reading
This week’s Mining Blog continues our celebration of Nottinghamshire’s Mining Brass Bands and features Shirebrook and Clipstone Miners Welfare Bands. “Brass Bands make music and in doing so create environments where people from all walks of life can flourish and develop, socially, educationally and artistically.” Mike Kilroy, Chairman, Brass Bands
Continue Reading