Job Description/Coal Mine?

[Seattle]

Hi,

I've just found that my grandfather lived in Penrhiwceiber in 1911 and was listed as a carpenter, below ground.  Can anyone tell me what the difference is between a timberman and a carpenter, specific to coal mines? I'm wondering what he actually did in the mine.  In later years he was a carpenter, cabinet maker and wheelwright.  Also, would there have been only one mine in Penrhiwceiber, or many?

Many thanks,
Seattle

[Bilge]

This is a guess but I would think the Carpenter would have produced and repaired the trucks, doors, stable stalls etc. where the timberman was probally responsible for the timber used in the beams and props.

Maybe you could mail these people they may be able to give a better explanation.

http://www.dmm.org.uk/company/p1024.htm

I also found this article that may explain the Carpenters job.

http://www.discovershropshire.org.uk/html/search/verb/GetRecord/theme:20070204190355

[Bilge]

I also found this about timbermen!

The timberman was the person who constructed the supports for the roof of the mine shafts. Coal was cut away from around these sections. No timberman worked on his own - and miners traditionally worked in teams with their 'marrers' (Durham) or 'mates'. This was important because their lives often depended on the support of their mates - if roof timbers collapsed or a pocket of gas was found, they could pull one another out. (In fact, it was the undermanager's job to note barometric pressure when there was the danger of a gas leak. If the air pressure was high, it kept the gas stable in its pocket, but low pressure meant that it escaped into the mine shafts, and it could overcome people very quickly. They used canaries to tell if there was gas about underground; they literally 'fell off their perch' and died very quickly before the human nose could detect anything.)

The timberman's job was very important; if he got the supports wrong, disaster could follow. There was often flooding in mines, and the supports had to be strong enough to withstand the flow of water; they also had to withstand the shocks of explosions from other parts of the mines when explosives were used to start a new seam of coal.

http://www.financialcrisis2009.org/forum/Business-Finance/What-is-a-colliery-timberman-303526.htm

[Seattle]

Thank you both, so much.  Both webpages were great and I have a much better understanding now.  My admiration still grows for all miners!

Regards,
Seattle

[osprey]

two mentioned here  - Penrhiwceibr & Cwmcynon

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/Llanwonno/Penrhiwceibr/

There will have been others in the vicinity.

[ozlady]

Have a look at www.welshcoalmines.co.uk That will tell you what mines were in the area.

[hdblue]

Have a look at That will tell you what mines were in the area.

Hi,

Thanks very much for this comment. It help me to think about my ideals.

Apart from that, you also can ref more resources at:  Carpenter job descriptions
Tks again and pls keep posting.