colliery in morpeth in 1939

[truebritmega]

yes.. its a John Woller hes a hewer,. it says hewer and then in brackets (below) .. a neighbour on the following page, robert willey his occ has mothergate and gate "something" (cant read that word lol)

[stanmapstone]

In Longwall Mining the Mothergate was the main roadway to the coal face containing the conveyor, the other roadway(s) was called the Tailgate.

Stan

[truebritmega]

ahh so... my relative.. would be, as a hewer ... below, im taking it.. at the hmmm far end of the shaft? the front line so to speak? lol

(sorry, but my knowledge of mines is very little)

[stanmapstone]

yes.. its a John Woller hes a hewer,. it says hewer and then in brackets (below) .. a neighbour on the following page, robert willey his occ has mothergate and gate "something" (cant read that word lol)

Mothergate + Gate Caunches, means as the coal face moved forward the Mothergate was also advanced by removing the stone, which was done by a Canchman.

Stan

[JenB]

ahh so... my relative.. would be, as a hewer ... below, im taking it.. at the hmmm far end of the shaft? the front line so to speak? lol

It just means he worked below ground as a hewer. The person who wrote up the pages has been most particular in writing the word (below) where necessary.

[truebritmega]

ahh ty and yes that was the word I couldnt make out

[truebritmega]

A hard life poor great aunt... born in the workhouse and... it didnt seem there life got easier ?

[JenB]

There is a useful glossary of occupations here http://www.dmm.org.uk/educate/mineocc.htm#h

[stanmapstone]

There is a useful glossary of occupations here http://www.dmm.org.uk/educate/mineocc.htm#h

You won't find Ca(u)nchman but it is the same as Brusher "Person employed to cut or blast the roof or floor of a roadway and so give more height"

Stan