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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: tomkin on Wednesday 05 December 07 00:45 GMT (UK)
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In a small Churchyard, In a small Village, not many miles away from where
I live, stands a Monument.
A Sandstone Monument that records the horrendous events of the 4th July
1838, whence 26 children died.
Died in total darkness and within a few minutes.
The young Queen Victoria, herself not much older than some of them,
was so shocked that she called for a Royal commission to investigate
the employment of children.
So a Commission (under the Royal seal) for inquiring into the
Employment and Condition of Children in Mines and Manufactories
was set up and presented its results in early May 1842.
The Events of that fateful day became known as “The Huskar Pit
Disaster.”
A small coal mine known as Housecarr ( pronounced Huskar
in the local dialect) was connected underground by tunnels
to Moorend colliery. The “Huskar” was a drift mine whose coal had been
“worked out” and was used as part of the ventilation of Moorend.
Moorend had a vertical shaft with a small steam engine which would
raise and lower coal, workers and materials. Huskar pit was a drift mine
in which the shaft is driven down at an incline from the surface to the coal
deposits. The workers would go down the sloping tunnel to their place of
work and coal would be hauled up the slope to the pit top.
The 4th of July 1838 was a very hot and oppressive day. During the
afternoon storm clouds gathered and resulted in a violent thunderstorm.
Hailstones and torrential rain fell upon the small mining communities.
The rain fell so heavily that it flooded the Moorend boiler house and put
out the fire. A message was sent down the pit for all workers to assemble
at the pit bottom for their own safety. Finding that the winding engine
was out of use and, not knowing what was happening ( some said that the
sound of the thunder was an explosion in the pit) about 40 children decided
to leave the Pit by the Huskar Incline. At this time they had been down
the pit for about 9 hours. Ignoring the advice of the older miners who
told them to “Stay Put” they set off and thus the fate of 26 of them was
sealed.
Eventually the children reached an Air Door at the bottom of Huskar Drift
went through and excitedly started their ascent up the slope. On the
surface, a small stream ( which many said was dry for 9 months of the
year) started to overflow. Soon water started to flow towards the open
mouth of the Drift and then poured down the incline towards the children.
Some of the older children, who were at the front, escaped by a small side
tunnel in the drift. 26 others were swept off their feet and ended up
against the closed Air Door. The water, finding no escape, rapidly filled
the small tunnel and the lives of 11 Girls and 15 Boys came to an end.
They worked each day in total darkness and died in total darkness.
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The Names and Ages of the Children that Died
Boys Girls
George Burkinshaw 10 years old Catharine Garnett 11 years old
Joseph Burkinshaw 7 years old Hannah Webster 13 years old
Isaac Wright 12 years old Elizabeth Carr 13 years old
Abraham Wright 8 years old Anne Moss 9 years old
James Clarkson 16 years old Elizabeth Hollings 15 years old
Francis Hoyland 13 years old Ellen Parker 15 years old
William Atick 12 years old Hannah Taylor 17 years old
Samuel Horne 10 years old Mary Sellors 10 years old
Eli Hutchinson 9 years old Elizabeth Clarkson 11 years old
George Garnett 9 years old Sarah Jukes 10 years old
John Simpson 9 years old Sarah Newton 8 years old
George Lamb 8 years old
William Womersley 8 years old
James Turton 8 years old
John Gothard 8 years old
On the 10th August 1842 The Mines Act became law. Females were
prohibited from working underground and the employment of boys under
10 years old in mines was banned.
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Tomkin
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I can't find any words to describe how I feel on reading this
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Can you please tell me where the mine was
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I know what you mean Half Pint.
I thought long and hard before I put the topic on, but,
next year will be 170 years since this event took place.
I think that they deserve to be remembered.
Tomkin
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Hi Halfpint,
This link should show you the village where the Memorial is.
The pit was in a place called Silkstone Common which is about 1 mile
above Silkstone itself.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/388869
Click on the "More Nearby" Link at the side of the photographers name for
photographs of the locality (2 pages)
Tomkin
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They do deserve to be remembered. :'(
You're a good man Tomkin.
George
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Hi George,
I'll be putting some more on this topic including
interviews with some of the children who worked in the area
and were questioned by the commisioners. It certainly alters
your thinking about the early victorian era.
Tomkin
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:'(
Seven, Eight and Nine year olds working underground! :(
I have a 10 year old daughter and her happy carefree life is just so far removed from that of these poor children.
- Belinda.
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I am moved to tears reading this post ...... Tomkin you amaze me sometimes :-\
And you're right - they do deserve to be remembered !!
Please let us know what happens !!
Annie
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Thanks Tomkin for bringing this thread to my attention. As you may imagine I know (as you must too) Silkstone only too well. One surprising thing is that the event was almost forgotton and untill recent many locals knew little of the incident. Let's hope it doesn't get forgotton so easily again.
By the way I made mention of it some time ago in this post together with a couple of links
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,139198.0.html
Denn
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One of the links is modified here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/making_history/makhist10_prog8a.shtml
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Reading those links I only just realised that the Huskar Colliery is near Barnsley. This is the area where my Husband was born. In the 1950's there were basically 2 jobs for a lad in those parts, the coal mines or the railways. My Husbands parents decided to come here to Australia to give their sons a better life.
They left England when my Husband was 9 and in 40 years he has never been back but we are going in April, if we have some spare time I may try to visit this memorial.
- Belinda.
*ETA* I just went and checked google maps, 11.9 miles from my Husbands village.
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Reading those links I only just realised that the Huskar Colliery is near Barnsley. This is the area where my Husband was born. In the 1950's there were basically 2 jobs for a lad in those parts, the coal mines or the railways. My Husbands parents decided to come here to Australia to give their sons a better life.
They left England when my Husband was 9 and in 40 years he has never been back but we are going in April, if we have some spare time I may try to visit this memorial.
- Belinda.
I must ask, living where you do, does your husband work in the mines?
Secondly I was back in the Barnsley area a few years ago and was surprised at the vast changes there. The mines and the slag heaps have dissapeared to be replaced with Englands green and pleasant hills. Mind you I shall never - CAN never forget those days working in conditions that although infinitely better than our forebears had, were still nonetheless a far cry from what we expect today. Even when out of the mine, all around was dirt and grime. I'm sure Tomkin and others remember well the grey snow that we had.
There was much dissent when "Maggie" shut down the pits, but I wonder how many now after those few short years would go back down the mines?
Denn
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I must ask, living where you do, does your husband work in the mines?
Secondly I was back in the Barnsley area a few years ago and was surprised at the vast changes there. The mines and the slag heaps have dissapeared to be replaced with Englands green and pleasant hills. Mind you I shall never - CAN never forget those days working in conditions that although infinitely better than our forebears had, were still nonetheless a far cry from what we expect today. Even when out of the mine, all around was dirt and grime. I'm sure Tomkin and others remember well the grey snow that we had.
There was much dissent when "Maggie" shut down the pits, but I wonder how many now after those few short years would go back down the mines?
No he doesn't!
We operate the Mining Museum that is here right next the the SOG pit.
We used to work at a Tourist Mine in VIC and he did underground mine tours. It used to be a big joke between him and his Dad, that they left Yorkshire to spare the boys a life in the mines .... and here he was in Australia ... working in a mine!
- Belinda.
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This is such a sad story :'( and brought back memories of things my father used to tell me about working in the mines.
He started work in the mines, Huddersfield area, at 14 in 1931, still in short trousers he told us :) and the work was still really hard.
He used to spend a lot of the time working in areas where it was so low you had to spend all the time laid on your stomach and crawl around.
He stayed in the mines until he was 50, the early retirements and big pensions hadn't started then. When he finally retired at 65 he used to receive 19p a week from the coal board. >:(
Christine
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Those poor souls, may we all remember them :'( makes me think of my own two children enjoying a happy life, I will show them this article later
Jane
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Hi I have just been given permission to post these pic's, they are from the site http://pitwork.net/ . May I suggest that you look at some other stories on this site. This is the page that covers the Huskar disaster http://pitwork.net/daz.htm .
Denn
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Thanks for the Links Denn.
2 quick observations.
You may notice that the Girls were laid to rest at the feet of
the boys. Some say that this is a continuation, in death,
of the Females status in life. Subservient to the Males.
The Inscription on the Monument speaks of Divine retribution
and speaks as though the deaths were an act of God. Nowhere
is there any blame on the Mine Owner or Society at Large for
allowing children to work at such a tender age and in such atrocious
conditions.
Tomkin
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Tomkin .. this is tragic.
These little people would never have enjoyed the wonders of childhood when they were alive.
Old before their time .. then taken long before their time .. in one way I don't suppose they ever really lived in the sense that we all take for granted now?
Phew!! I really can't think of anything to else to say .. apart from saying thankyou for posting it .. .. ..
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Thanks Pels,
Tomkin
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How very, very sad...
I just read that memorial through several times... 'an awful visitation from the Almighty...the Lord sent forth etc: ....suddenly summoned to appear before their maker...and then the dire warning to finish! Bet the chapels and churches were overflowing for the next few months!
I wonder who thought up the words for that memorial >:( it almost sounds as though those poor little souls were somehow to blame for their own deaths :'(
Suey
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I may try to visit this memorial.
- Belinda.
*ETA* I just went and checked google maps, 11.9 miles from my Husbands village.
Here is a link with directions to the memorial and Nabs wood.
http://www.treeforall.org.uk/_newsArticles/Children+remembered.htm
Denn
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Thanks for the Links Denn.
2 quick observations.
You may notice that the Girls were laid to rest at the feet of
the boys. Some say that this is a continuation, in death,
of the Females status in life. Subservient to the Males.
The Inscription on the Monument speaks of Divine retribution
and speaks as though the deaths were an act of God. Nowhere
is there any blame on the Mine Owner or Society at Large for
allowing children to work at such a tender age and in such atrocious
conditions.
Tomkin
Says a lot about how some people thought.
And something to think about is the fact that 7 yr old children in some parts of the world (Sierra Leone for one) still work in the mines. Isn't it a pity that the worlds energy cant be directed towards fixing problems like these?
Denn
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Isn't it a pity that the worlds energy cant be directed towards fixing problems like these?
Exactly Denn.
I wonder who thought up the words for that memorial
We used to have a Vicar Like that. Fire and Brimstone.
I understand that next year, to commerate the 170th anniversary of
the Disaster, a community Play will be held.
Tomkin
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Hi All:
I too am from Barnsley, left when I was 9 years old with my parents for Canada, but I do remember hearing about this from my grandmother.. My family members were coal miners, right up to when Maggie closed the mines. It is hard to believe that young children had to work in those conditions.
Anne
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The Mines Act that came into being due to this disaster ,was in some
respects remarkable in itself. It was published in early May 1842,
went through the House of Commons, then to the House of Lords
and with some modifications, became law on 10th august 1842.
This was astonishingly rapid. The Report was also illustrated
and the use of people trained in the use of the New Shorthand
( Pitman) enabled the quick recording of all those interviewed.
Thus the interviews could be conducted more like a normal conversation
than a stop-start session while the Scribe recorded it.
The report was widely reported in the Newspapers of the day and
probably for the first time, society had to acknowledge the lives and
conditions of the "Workers". Something that was for the most part,
out of sight, out of mind.
Although the deaths of the 26 children at Huskar had resulted in the
creating of the Commissions report, it was something else that so outraged
Society and the Government that made this Act, Law.
Tomkin
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Tomkin and Denn
I have 6 grandchildren aged from almost 4 to 12 - 3 boys and 3 girls. All happy, healthy, rowdy, messy adorable humans who will have a chance to do whatever they desire, thanks to living in one of the luckiest countries in the world - Australia.
They will never have the fear of being forced to work in the dark and the cold by circumstances of poverty or exploited by money hungry pit owners. And if, God forbid, they are 'called to their maker', suffer the indignity of having God blamed for something man created.
I know there are children in this world of ours who still have to work in conditions beyond belief. We say 'what can we do to stop mans inhumanity to man'. You two have taken steps in the right direction by bringing this disaster to the notice of many either too young to know or who were living in different parts of the world.
Thank you both and thank you to RC for attracting caring human beings.
May you all have a happy and holy Christmas and a safe and happy new year.
Jan
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Thanks Jan,
All over the world ,children are being exploited and forced
to work in conditions that beggar belief. As someone once said
" if we do not learn the lessons of history then we are doomed to
repeat it."
Tomkin
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There were still Pit Brow Lasses working in the coalfields in 1942.
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There were still Pit Brow Lasses working in the coalfields in 1942.
Was that on the "Screens" DM?
Tomkin
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On the Wigan and Lancashire coalfields the women were still working at the pitheads on the screens. Hard work and out in all weathers.
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Although the deaths of the 26 children at Huskar had resulted in the
creating of the Commissions report, it was something else that so outraged
Society and the Government that made this Act, Law.
Tomkin
What passed this Bill with such rapidity was the emphasis placed
on the Moral danger that Women and Children were in. Lord Ashley, who
demanded this Bill, knew how the mind of Victorian society worked. He concentrated
to a large extent on the "Moral Degradation" that Women and Children suffered in
these circumstances. The report told of Men working totally naked and Females of
all ages working naked from the waist up. All working in close contact with each other,
underground. To add to this outrageous behaviour, Women and Girls often wore trousers.
All this was totally against the Victorian ideal of family life where the Man was
the bread winner ( and wore the trousers) and Women stayed at home and looked after
the family and did womanly "things."
Tomkin
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There were still Pit Brow Lasses working in the coalfields in 1942.
Was that on the "Screens" DM?
Tomkin
I think that the "pit brow lasses" were what we used to call pickers.
A picker worked t the point between where the coal came out of the pit and where it was screened for size. They would watch the coal travelling on a conveyor and remove any stone or other foriegn body from th coal. As DM says, it was often heavy work and at most collieries out in all weather.
Although the deaths of the 26 children at Huskar had resulted in the
creating of the Commissions report, it was something else that so outraged
Society and the Government that made this Act, Law.
Tomkin
What passed this Bill with such rapidity was the emphasis placed
on the Moral danger that Women and Children were in. Lord Ashley, who
demanded this Bill, knew how the mind of Victorian society worked. He concentrated
to a large extent on the "Moral Degradation" that Women and Children suffered in
these circumstances. The report told of Men working totally naked and Females of
all ages working naked from the waist up. All working in close contact with each other,
underground. To add to this outrageous behaviour, Women and Girls often wore trousers.
All this was totally against the Victorian ideal of family life where the Man was
the bread winner ( and wore the trousers) and Women stayed at home and looked after
the family and did womanly "things."
Tomkin
That would be hillarious if it weren't true. It's hard to believe in present day society that these ideals ever existed. It makes me shake my head.
Thanks Jan,
All over the world ,children are being exploited and forced
to work in conditions that beggar belief. As someone once said
" if we do not learn the lessons of history then we are doomed to
repeat it."
Tomkin
Yes Thanks Jan.
Not only is child labour a problem around the world. I/Our family in Oz were recently forcefully reminded of the terrible levels of medical care in some parts of the world.
Three of our nieces contracted dengue fever so we had to send mony to have them treated. Two recovered within ten days but the youngest deteriorated and began to haemorage, we sent more money so that her father could buy some blood. This involved him combing the city, visiting various "blood clinics" to find one that had the correct group, he then had to take it to the hospital for screening and final use - all this would take 12-18hrs. Our niece continued to deteriorate and was deemed to be in need of intensive care. The crunch was that the hospital wanted payment before they would even consider putting her into IC. The family here again had a quick whip around and got enough money for at least a couple of days. I then called the hospital and explained the situation but they still wouldn't move her untill the money was in thier hands.
Luckily after a week more in hospital she was released and is now recovering quite well, but I often think of all those poor people that dont have the luxury of "Rich" relations; how many children (and adults) die, simply because they can't afford treatment.
And this happens in many parts of the world.
Denn
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Truly Horrendous, Denn.
Tomkin
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No.77. Isaac Beaver. Examined March 1st., at Rawmarsh.
I am going on 12. I work in Barber’s thin coal pit. I hurry. The gates are almost 20 inches, We
pull the corves with a great and belt from the bank faces down to the tram way and then we thrust
them along. I work at night every alternate week. I like it well enough. They use me well and they
never leather us. It does not tire me at all. I’d rather be in the pit than at school. I go to Sunday
School always. I read “Reading Made Easy”. I have learnt religion pretty well. I don’t know who
Jesus Christ was. I never heard of him. I’ve learnt the Church Catechism but I don’t know it all. I
don’t know what is the largest town in England. Three times ten is twenty. I know God made the
world. I often hear a good deal of swearing and bad words in the pit. There is one man that leathers
me.
No.86. Ann Mallender. Examined March 13th,.
I am 15 years old. I went into the pit when I was nine years old. I trapped a door for about three
years. I have been hurrying since then. I always dress as you saw me to day, naked down to the waist
and with trousers on. I hurry with another girl. I don’t hurry the corves full up hill and it does not tire
me very much but sometimes it does. I have never been poorly with the work. I work with James
Martin who is no relation but he is the getter that employs me. They use me pretty well in the pit. I
have not been a good deal at school but I was at a day school when I was a little girl before I began
going into the pit. I have to riddle and help to fill always. All the girls and boys have to do this. I
cannot read. I go to Sunday School at St. George’s. I learn my letters. I don’t often go to Church or
Chapel. God made the worlds. I don’t know who Jesus Christ was, I am sure I don’t know. My
father and mother never tell me about such things but they have taught me to pray.
[This girl scarcely knows her letters.]
The above are two of the children who were examined by the Commission and these are
their actual replies. Unfortunately the questions are not quoted but it is not hard
to guess what they were.
Tomkin
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I have been profoundly moved reading about this disaster and the statements made by these children. Many times in the past I have heard about the 'good old days' and have thought for many people they were not 'good old days' at all.
As has been mentioned in earlier postings on this thread, the sad thing is there are still children in this world suffering conditions like these poor young children, and quite often they work to provide goods for the West at pitifull wages and awful conditions, their parents being so poor that they have no choice but to get their children to work to help with the home finances.
You only have to read the books by Charles Dickens to give an insight into the life in Victorian England, life was considered cheap and a child's age did not seem to matter in the slightest when it came to work or a conviction for a minor supposedly criminal act.
It is essential that tragedies like this one are kept in the public domain so that the following generations can understand and learn from previous mistakes.
Thank you for posting this Tomkin.
Cathy
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At This Juncture, I would like to thank Ian Winstanley & others
for the permission to publish the extracts from the Draft Copy
of The 1842 report which you have been reading.
( See Attachment)
No.93. William Beaver. Examined March 13th.
I am going 16. I hurry in Mr. Porter’s Pit. It is hard where I work. We hurry at the far end with
my brother. Sometimes we hurry 15 and sometimes 20 corves a day. There used to be girls there but
not now, because the pit is nearly worked out. I have been at a Sunday School I can read “Reading
Made Easy.” The Lord made the world. He sent Adam and Eve on earth to save sinners. I heard my
grandfather tell about it. He’s a great reader but he can’t see. I have heard of the Saviour. He was a
good man, but he did not die here. He is in Heaven. We must pray to be saved. There is but one God
and he does not die like men. Jesus Christ was nailed on a cross but there is all I have heard about it.
I have not begun to learn to write.
I get bread to eat or dinner and we get to sup out of the beer bottles when the men let us. There is
water but there is ochre among it. We get potatoes and meat, and a bit of bread when we come out of
the pit. We get as much as we can eat. I am never poorly. London is the largest town in England. I
never heard mention of France. I never heard mention of Wales or of Scotland but I know people
that come from Ireland. I think Ireland is a town as big as Barnsley where there is plenty of potatoes,
and lots of bullocks. 20 pence is 1 shilling and 8 pence, 32 pence is 2 shillings and 8 pence, 7 times
3 is 32, no it’s 22. I have learnt the Lord’s Prayer.
[Though this child can repeat the Lord’s Prayer but he has no comprehension what it means
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One thing is evident from these interviews is that the childs moral standing as evidenced from his/her knowledge of the bible was of the utmost importance - ahead of thier physical well being.
Denn
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Nowhere
is there any blame on the Mine Owner or Society at Large for
allowing children to work at such a tender age and in such atrocious
conditions.
Tomkin
In fact, during the investigation which followed, the kids themselves were blamed and it was 'suggested' that they were climbing up to skive off work.
Jalkatz
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I have read through all the messages about the huskar children, I live just around the corner from the monument in the wood (Silkstone Common) there is a book written by Alan Gallop called Children of the Dark which tells the tale of the disaster and the mine owners too. I have read it 4 times, it breaks your heart every time.
In 1996 a mechanical digger( in a nearby field to the monument) was removing topsoil and the earth began to fall into a large hollow cavern. it was investigated and found to be the same Huskar day hole where the 26 dhildren had perished.
It also tells in the book:- in 2002 a local man made a find when he discovered a death certificate in his neighbour's front garden. The certificate related to Catherine Garnett who died at the Husker Drift in 1838
Caz
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Hi Caz,
book written by Alan Gallop called Children of the Dark which tells the tale of the disaster and the mine owners too.
I've seen references to this book before. I'll have to get a copy if I can.
Thank you,
Tomkin
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The Commission didn't only look at the conditions in Coal Mines but also
Iron mines and other industries such as weaving. Although a lot of weaving
was done in family groups in weaving cottages any that was done in the large
Factories must have been horrendous for children.
As usual there are conflicting opinions from the Medical people and the
"Worthies of the time". It would appear though that many were of the opinion
that Miners and their familys were healthier and better fed than the weavers.
As well as looking into the working conditons, religious understanding,morals etc.
the commision also looked at the living conditions of some of the workers.
These are the deatails of one family, although I am puzzled at the sizes of the rooms
or how these measurements were obtained:-
John and Anna Charlesworth and 4 children. The oldest 9 years who works
with his father at the Pit.
Total family income 19shillings.
Rent of house 9 1/2 d
Number of rooms---- House and Bedroom
Size of house 6ft by 4ft
Size of bedroom 5ft by 3 1/2 ft
Beds 2 decent.
Furniture Clock, Chairs, 2or 3 tables, Cradle, Drawers, Delf Case
8 Cages of Birds.
Books Bilble, Testament.
A small but neat Garden.
Remarks. This person is a good and regular worker, but extremely negligent of
his religious duties, spending the Sabbath in smoking and feeding
his birds.
This man is one of the most regular workers in the Colliery. His
house is rather close, the light and air being much impeded by the
cages of six Larks being hung in the small window. He as worked with one
master 12 years.
Now I know what it means when they talk about " Not enough room to swing a cat."
Tomkin
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Gosh Tk That makes very sober reading ... thanks for directing me here
Poll
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I found this little chap quite by accident yesterday on the 1841 census.
(http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/394/georgeek3.jpg)
Not in Yorkshire, but in Northumberland .. according to the IGI
the enumerator hadn't made a mistake with his age.
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Yes Pels, although Huskar hit the headlines so to speak, the death of children was probably a common (if not regular) occurance in industry throughout the country,
Denn
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the enumerator hadn't made a mistake with his age.
Thanks for that Pels,
I'm trying to find something that I read recently whereas
a miner took his 4 year old child down the pit. Afterwards I think he
realised that it wasn't a good idea.
Incredible!
Tomkin
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The topic of this thread is the sad death of 26 children in a Coal mine. Many may wonder why children were in a pit in the first place. It was of course so that they could “earn their keep” and contribute to the family income.
Most miners were literally self employed. A mine owner would pay them for the quality and amount of coal that they could (Get ) produce.
No coal, No pay. The wages paid to a miner was also dictated by Market demand. No demand, no pay.
The more family members working, the more the income into a family’s coffers. Alternative work was often in short supply and mainly in agriculture and weaving. The wages of these was often a lot lower than a miner could obtain. ( in agriculture a child would be of little use)
It wasn’t only the miners children who were employed. Workhouse children would be hired out to miners ( So called Apprenticed) A case was reported of a child, before the age of 5 years old, apprenticed to a miner in a thin seam colliery at Thornhill. Small children being particularly useful in very thin, cramped seams.
Tomkin
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We often get a very sanitised version of our history don't we .... ? Thanks tomkin .. for reminding us.....
Poll
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I think I should make my 13 year old daughter read thread who sometimes thinks she's hard done by because she has to wait a week to get the latest fashion look.
A truly sobering and heartrenching thread and I have shed a tear for those poor babies (and they were babies) whose very existence could only be described as sheer misery, and then to die in such a tragic way, it really breaks your heart. As people have pointed out, I'm sure there were many more children that met a similar fate that we will never know about.
Thank you Tomkin for sharing this and I hope these children and their ultimate sacrifice is never forgotten.
Caz
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Thank you for posting such an interesting thread Tomkin. I wonder what young children were doing elsewhere in Britain at that time ... doing menial tasks in the workhouses, scavenging or sweeping chimneys are some of the jobs that spring to mind but mining for coal at such a young age must have been horrific.
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Hi,
I was surprised to come across this post. One of the casualties was my 4th great grandaunt (Ellen Parker). It does not even bear thinking about, what happened to the poor little mites.
This was her death certificate entry:
Regards,
Kath
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Hello Kath,
Thank you for the information. Could you type it as I'm afraid
I can't read it in it's present form. (Bad eyes)
I looked in the book "Children of the Dark" by Alan Gallop which
is all about the disaster and which is an excellent book.
The book also attempts to tell the story of all the events by, including
a fictional account of the life of a child called "Joey" and the lives of all those that
he knew. Although this part is fictional, all of it is based on fact. This makes
the book more of an interesting read.
In this story, Joey meets a girl called Ellen Parker who is pushing a corve
underground. It says that Ellen is 15 years old and is getting married the next year
to a farming lad from Cawthorne. They had met at Sunday School and that they
had already saved up £1-15s which all agreed was a small fortune.
Tomkin
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It wasn't just in the coal pits that children suffered:
Items on child labour:
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/IRchild.htm
'The youngest children in the textile factories were usually employed as scavengers and piecers. Scavengers had to pick up the loose cotton from under the machinery. This was extremely dangerous as the children were expected to carry out the task while the machine was still working.'
'a piecer walked about twenty miles a day.'
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/IRscavengers.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/IRpiecers.htm
'Children who worked long hours in the textile mills became very tired and found it difficult to maintain the speed required by the overlookers. Children were usually hit with a strap to make them work faster. In some factories children were dipped head first into the water cistern if they became drowsy...'
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/IRpunishments.htm
John Brown, A Memoir of Robert Blincoe (1828)
"A girl named Mary Richards, who was thought remarkably handsome when she left the workhouse, and, who was not quite ten years of age, attended a drawing frame, below which, and about a foot from the floor, was a horizontal shaft, by which the frames above were turned. It happened one evening, when her apron was caught by the shaft. In an instant the poor girl was drawn by an irresistible force and dashed on the floor. She uttered the most heart-rending shrieks! Blincoe ran towards her, an agonized and helpless beholder of a scene of horror. He saw her whirled round and round with the shaft - he heard the bones of her arms, legs, thighs, etc. successively snap asunder, crushed, seemingly, to atoms, as the machinery whirled her round, and drew tighter and tighter her body within the works, her blood was scattered over the frame and streamed upon the floor, her head appeared dashed to pieces - at last, her mangled body was jammed in so fast, between the shafts and the floor, that the water being low and the wheels off the gear, it stopped the main shaft. When she was extricated, every bone was found broken - her head dreadfully crushed. She was carried off quite lifeless."
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/IRaccidents.htm
'Many parents were unwilling to allow their children to work in these new textile factories. To overcome this labour shortage factory owners ...[bought] .. children from orphanages and workhouses.'
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/IRworkhouse.children.htm
The V&A Museum of Childhood ~ Children at Work
http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/childrens_lives/health_&_work/work/index.html
1802: The Health and Morals of Apprentices Act. .. No children under the age of 9 were to be apprenticed and the working day limited to 12 hours with no night work. There was no system for enforcement.
1842: Mines Act. This stopped children under 9 .. from working underground.
http://www.angryharry.com/refactoryacts.htm
http://www.angryharry.com/refactoryacts.htm
Also:
http://www.uk.filo.pl/uk_history_9.htm
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Hi Tomkin,
I cannot read one of the words at the moment, this could be because of the tears from reading Tricia 2's post.
Will have another look later, but in the 1st column (when and where died), it has July 4th in the ?????? or Day Hole leading from the Huskar Coal Pit, Silkstone, under occupation it actually has miner, cause of death: Accidental death by drowning, the informant was Thos badger, Coroner, Rotherham.
Thank you so very much for the excerpt from the book "children of the dark", a book I will definitely be ordering.
Regards,
Kath
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Thanks Tricia,
When I read the Draft copy of the Commission Report, I
noticed many references to the fact that overall Miners were healthier
than those that worked in the Weaving industry. Children were employed
in both industries because they were cheap and that they could get into
places where others couldn't. I also personally think it was because
they hadn't got a "voice" and had to do as they were told.
a book I will definitely be ordering
You might have some difficulty Kath, as it is out of print. There is some hope
that it might be printed as a paper back to coincide with this years
commeration of this tragic event.
Tomkin
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Just for information there is a small paperback book called
'The Last of the Dayhole Miners' by John Senior. ISBN 1 874754 78 0 PUBLISHED IN 1997 BY
Happy Walking International LTD. Unit 1 Molyneux Business Park, Whitworth Road, Darley Dale, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 2HJ. Price £4.95.
This book touches on the Huskar disaster but also gives loads of names and photos of the owners of this mine and several similar mines in the same area. There are sketches of the mines and it gives a clear description of Drift mines and others etc. right up to the closure of these mines some as late as the 1960's. At the end of the book it mentions other similar mines not recorded in the book.These others could perhaps be researched online. It is worth a read for anyone researching Dayhole Mines and the owners.
Pennine
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John Brown, A Memoir of Robert Blincoe (1828)
"A girl named Mary Richards, who was thought remarkably handsome when she left the workhouse, and, who was not quite ten years of age, attended a drawing frame, below which, and about a foot from the floor, was a horizontal shaft, by which the frames above were turned. It happened one evening, when her apron was caught by the shaft. In an instant the poor girl was drawn by an irresistible force and dashed on the floor. She uttered the most heart-rending shrieks! Blincoe ran towards her, an agonized and helpless beholder of a scene of horror. He saw her whirled round and round with the shaft - he heard the bones of her arms, legs, thighs, etc. successively snap asunder, crushed, seemingly, to atoms, as the machinery whirled her round, and drew tighter and tighter her body within the works, her blood was scattered over the frame and streamed upon the floor, her head appeared dashed to pieces - at last, her mangled body was jammed in so fast, between the shafts and the floor, that the water being low and the wheels off the gear, it stopped the main shaft. When she was extricated, every bone was found broken - her head dreadfully crushed. She was carried off quite lifeless."
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/IRaccidents.htm
:'(
-
Some awfully sad messages here.
Can I recommend the National Coal Mining Museum near Wakefield? It has a special exhibition about pre-1842 working conditions.
I feel awfully for my ancestors who had to leave the famine-stricken, stark beauty of the west of Ireland and wound up working down the pits aged 10.
Awful.
Cat
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Thanks Pennine.
I've tried a quick search but haven't found a copy.
I'll keep trying.
leave the famine-stricken, stark beauty of the west of Ireland and wound up working down the pits aged 10.
Out of the frying pan. If only they had known, but life was terribly hard
for most people and today we moan about so many petty things.
Tomkin
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Coming from a mining background as far back as 1800 and having had relations killed in the mines, it still grieves me to read of such dreadful accidents.
In the North East we've had our share of disasters.
Mining terminology relating to children :-
Trappers 1825: boys of the youngest class, employed to open and shut the doors, which keep the ventilation in the workings regular.
1849: A little boy whose employment consists in opening and shutting a trap-door when required : his wages are 9d. or 10d. per day of 12 hours (1849). At present 1s. to 1s. 2d. per day of 8 hours. (1888).
1892: They are the youngest boys employed in the mine. They are stationed at traps or doors in various parts of the pit, which they have to open when trams of coal pass through and immediately to close again, as a means of directing the current of air for ventilation to follow certain prescribed channels. It was formerly the practice to send boys of not more than six years to work in the mine as trappers. They remained in the pit for eighteen hours every day, and received fivepence a day each as wages. He was in solitude and total darkness the whole time he was in the mine, except when a tram was passing. He went to his labour at two o'clock in the morning, so that during the greater part of the year it was literally true that he did not see daylight from one Sunday till the Saturday following.
1894: Boy attending to a ventilating door.
Bob
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My name is Alan Gallop and I was delighted to read several references to my 2003 book 'Children of the Dark - Life & Death Underground in Victoria's England.' It was originally published by Sutton Publishing (now known as The History Press) and the ISBN code is 0-7509-3094-2. The book is a very detailed re-telling of the story of the Huskar Pit Disaster of 1838 based on a great deal of research. It runs to 228 pages and contains over 20 photographs, drawings and reproductions from newspapers and magazines of the time. Some of you might remember a two-page feature about the book in the Daily Mail newspaper back in 2003.
Sadly the book is currently out of print but The History Press are hoping to produce a revised paperback edition in July 2008 to coincide with the 170th anniversary of the disaster, when a number of different events will take place in the twin communities of Silkstone and Silkstone Common.
I am hoping that a gathering will take place at the very spot where the disaster happened - in Knabbs Wood, Silkstone Common, on Friday July 4 2008. Watch this site for more information closer to the time. I am also hoping to give some talks to local schoolchildren in/around Silkstone and also to other community groups. I am also looking forward to seeing the Silkstone Community Play about the disaster called 'Profit & Loss' which promises to be a fantastic and moving experience for everyone who goes to see it in the beautiful church in Silkstone.
You should be able to get copies of the book from your local lending library or if you want to grab a copy for yourself, why not try http://www.usedbooksearch.co.uk, which is a remarkable website for finding second-hand books. However, I am told that when copies of Children of the Dark come onto the site, they are quickly snapped up - so if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
If anyone has any specific questions about the Huskar Pit Disaster, I will be delighted to respond. I understand that it now appears on the 'Recommended Reading List' for the history curriculum of several educational authorities here in the UK.
All good wishes to you all.
Alan Gallop
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Thanks for that info' Alan. if anyone wishes to keep thier eyes peeled for the revised edition "The History Press" has a site http://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/tabid/4038/Default.aspx
Not to be confused with the American "The History Press" http://www.historypress.net/index_new.php , although they do have a couple of interesting titles on there.
Denn
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I came across this looking for something else .... it was happening in America too !!
http://www.historynet.com/picture_of_the_day
Annie :-\
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Thanks Annie,
( you will need to go to Feb 19th to see the picture that Annie is
referring to.) That was in 1908 but Child slave labour is still rife all
around the World today.
Tomkin :(
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What a sad picture, poor little things.
:'(
- Belinda.
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Tomkin,
Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
I am saddened by this thread and by the knowledge that, as has been said before, many children are suffering the horrors of heavy child labour today.
There is a book, "The Pit Pony" which tells the story of miners in Cape Breton which may be of interest to some. The author is Joyce Barkhouse.
Kathleen
The book became a favourite for the enlightenment of modern children and many adults who knew little of the miners' lives.
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That book although aimed at children gives a good insight into both children and ponies in the mines.
It seems that many children reading the book wrote to the author
"Many children have written to Joyce about Pit Pony. Some strongly related to Gem and have expressed anger about her death in the mine."
Having worked in the early 1960s as a pony driver I thought that I would have been one of the last of the pony drivers, But no! it seems that they were working at Ellington colliery in Yorkshire untill as late as 1994 and according to some scources were working in Wales up until 1999
these links give some info'
last pit ponies
http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/display.var.1305047.0.end_of_an_era_as_last_pit_pony_dies.php
a couple of stories that should be read about the life of modern pit ponies
http://www.pitponies.co.uk/modern.htm
Denn
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I have been researching the family tree of a friend of mine, and it turns out that she is also related to one of the victims of this disaster, Elizabeth Hollings, who died aged 15. At the inquest a statement was given by her cousin Joseph Hollings, describing how he escaped but she didn't.
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Hi Blackwater,
Josephs account is in the Book by Alan Gallop which
is an excellent read if you can get a copy.
Tomkin
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It is when one reads of this kind of incident that the reality of the Victorian age become clear to the modern eye. After a court of enquiry, THEY decided that kids under TEN years of age should NOT go down the mine. WOW now that's progress! Remember always, that when there was slavery in America, there was slavery here and the slaves included children. Read any biography of W.E.Gladstone and the politics of the 19th. Century. For God's sake don't mention Democracy!! These poor children died, because they were poor and children. The Mother of Democracy - I don't think so!!
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Hi Tomkin,
Yes I know, we were lucky enough to find a copy of the book at a shop in Holmfirth. We've also been and photographed the churchyard monument at Silkstone.
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Hi Blackwater,
Glad that you got a copy as the book is out of print.
I mentioned earlier that the Village of Silkstone is putting on a
Community play this year to commerate the anniversary of the event.
Tomkin
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If anyone is interested, there are two copies of my book 'Children of the Dark' now on sale via www.amazon.co.uk. These are original first editions, so I guess that means that they can charge more than the original cover price of £20.00. One copy is priced at £28....but I won't tell you how much the other copy costs.
Click on the following link for further details:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/0750930942/ref=pd_bbs_sr_olp_2?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1204822050&sr=8-2
Happy reading!
Alan Gallop
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I bet that you would have been happy to get a part of that second price for each and every copy sold. :)
Denn
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Such a sad story! I noticed within my own family we had quite a few children listed as "Hurriers" in the census documents! As these were listed after 1842, they were boys over 10 only that had this occupation.
My Gt Gt Grandfather James Wells married Martha Coultas, his brother Henry was a hurrier in the coal mines. Henry married Martha's sister, Sarah, who's brothers were hurriers in the iron mine in Yorkshire. They subsequently emigrated to the USA and it was no surprise to find they had named their son, born after they left Freedom Coultas Wells!!
My Granddaughter (9) and I have written a children's story book about our discovery of this child oppression to inform our future generations, lest anyone ever forgets! She was shocked to find out that children were once treated this way and felt moved to write a little piece herself and present it to her class at school.
Jill
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Thanks Jill for that interesting account. Even after reading these things
you still can't quite take it in that children would have to suffer so.
And still we grumble.
Tomkin and take good care of your Granddaughter. she sounds like a treasure.
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Yes Tomkin, it still makes me cringe every time I talk about my little long gone Hurrier kids! I watched a TV show by Tony Robinson (I think) which walked through the worst children's jobs in Victorian history, it covered the hurrier job in detail, with some graphic stories from kids rescued out of disaster's just like the one you described.
It wasn't just the "hurrier" jobs either, I'd never heard of kids being "mud larks" before, truly terrible. I took the opportunity to express to my Grandchildren how important it is to exercise your right to have a voice in the country's government to make sure that situations like this are never repeated. We have already seen the covert end to the 8 hour day in Australia, in practice if not in policy and yet on Monday we have a public holiday to celebrate "Labour day", we're kidding ourselves if we think it can't happen all over again if we're not diligent!
So it is very important that the anniversary coming up is remembered far and wide. I hope that it has a global reach so that we can all have a chance to reflect on these little lives lost and learn the lessons from history that shape our global future!!
Cheers,
Jill
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hello to you all well this is a very sad but true story and i suppose in the old days nobody really thought about the dangerous with working underground,
and found this forum by accident and found a site what i think might be intresting to you all and just thought i would sign up on here to leave you all this link,
http://news.BBC.co.UK/1/hi/england/south_Yorkshire/4046039.stm
take care to you all and all the best,
kind regards
Stuart.
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Hello Stuart,
Welcome to Rootschat.
I tried the link you posted, but it didn't work.
Regards, Kathleen
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Hi Stuart,
As Kathleen said, Welcome to RootsChat and thank you for your
Contribution. The link doesn't work I'm afraid.
Did you type the link manually? If you did then I'm afraid an error
must exist.
Tomkin
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link dont work Blimey ok lets see if this link works http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/south_yorkshire/4046039.stm
if the link above dont work then the only thing i can think off it copy and paste the link into a new browser ;)
and thank you for you nice warm welcome cathleen and tomkin.
p.s silkstone common is near barnsley not rotherham lol what a typeing error ::)
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p.s silkstone common is near barnsley not rotherham lol what a typeing error ::)
Close enough Stuart, there's only a couple of miles the difference.
Denn
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Those of you still searching for a copy of 'Children of the Dark' for a reasonable price might like to try the following link, where copies are available for £20 (the original first edition price). Good luck.
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails-Children+of+the+Dark+-9780750930949.html
Alan Gallop
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A couple of years back I had the great pleasure of appearing on the BBC Radio 4 programme 'Woman's Hour' talking about the Huskar Pit disaster and my book 'Children of the Dark.' Also taking part was Angela John talking about her book 'The Sweat of their Brow' about the role played by women in the coal mines during Victorian times.
I am happy to say that this broadcast is now available to listen to once again - for free - on a BBC Radio 4 website. Go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2003_12_thu_04.shtml
Remember to have your speakers turned on...
All good wishes,
Alan Gallop
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Hi Alan,
I just wanted to thank you for the information you are putting on about the Huskar children.
I am in the fortunate position of having a copy of your book, purchased from Cannon Hall Garden Centre a few years back, and will not lend it out to anyone, I live in Silkstone Common so this thread is so interesting to me, and I can see the wood from my bedroom windows. I am now going to listen to the radio programme, and thanks again.
Caz
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Readers of these pages might be interested to learn that I will be giving an illustrated talk about the Huskar Pit disaster in the parish church at Silkstone on Thursday May 8 at 7.30 pm. This will be a Huskar 170 anniversary event and part of a programme of events and activities taking place in the village until July marking this historic event. The evening will be suitable for people of all ages and families will be especially welcome. For more information and tickets please contact Margaret on (*).
See you there?
Alan Gallop
Author of Children of the Dark
(*) Moderator Comment: telephone number removed in accordance with RootsChat policy, to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
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Further to Alans comments the admission fee of £3-00 will
be taken at the door. Tickets not required.
Looking forward to the illustrated talk by Alan.
Should be a really good evening.
Tomkin
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Further to Alans comments the admission fee of £3-00 will
be taken at the door. Tickets not required.
Looking forward to the illustrated talk by Alan.
Should be a really good evening.
Tomkin
Do you mind if I tag along ?
Denn
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Do you mind if I tag along ?
Denn
As long as yer stand yer round in the local hostelry yer more than welcome,
Tomkin ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Do you mind if I tag along ?
Denn
As long as yer stand yer round in the local hostelry yer more than welcome,
Tomkin ;D ;D ;D ;D
I'll shout the whole bar, not only that I dont even mind paying our three quid admission each - but just to be fair I shall let you pay the fares to get there.
Denn
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With the way the price of Beer is going in this country
It might be cheaper for me ;D ;D ;D ;D
Tomkin ;D
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With the way the price of Beer is going in this country
It might be cheaper for me ;D ;D ;D ;D
Tomkin ;D
Maybe that is why I graduated to the vino, Beer is; I dont know! but I can buy 4 ltrs of vino colapso for the equivalent of three pounds. Now that is value !
Denn
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I know that we are getting a little off topic but do you know where the word plonk (generally asssociated with cheap wine) comes from?
Denn
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Readers of these pages might be interested to learn that I will be giving an illustrated talk about the Huskar Pit disaster in the parish church at Silkstone on Thursday May 8 at 7.30 pm
Alan Gallop
I had the pleasure tonight of attending the above talk by Alan Gallop.
May I thank Alan for a very interesting and informative talk and for all the work
he has done in bringing this subject to a to a wider audience.
Alan has also been giving talks to many Schools in the area, which must be very
time consuming for him, but he is obviously passionate in making sure that people
never forget the horrendous conditions that our ancestors had to endure.
Tomkin.
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This is a photo that I will be putting on another topic
but I thought it might be of interest to those who have been
following this one. It's a representation of a wagon or "tub".
It's probably not historically accurate but near enough to show
what the children would be pulling or pushing. That is, if they were
fortunate enough to have tubs with wheels and tracks. The size would
vary depending on the height of the tunnel through which the coal would
be transported. In this case we will imagine the height to be approximately
3 feet. The child would wear a stout leather belt and a chain would be
attached to the front . The chain would pass between the legs and be
fastened to the coupling at the front of the tub. The child would then
lean forward, and again depending an the conditions, pull the load often
on all fours. Another child would push from the back, often using his head
which quite frequently would become swollen from the pressure. They
could often be identified by the bald spot that would form in that area of
the scalp. This was more often than not, done in total darkness. A child
would consider themselves very lucky if someone had greased the axles
making the task a little easier. The tubs would be filled as much as possible
because the wages were dependant on the amount of coal moved.
Tomkin
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Tomkin,
I for one appreciate seeing the photo and reading your
description of the horrible load the children had to take on.
I know we have discussed this earlier, but here in the 'modern' world, too many people are choosing to
ignore the plight of children in the developing world so
that more 'stuff' and 'things' can be made for large
company profits.
Regards,
Kathleen
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Tomkin,
Ive just had a look at the list of names and saw Elizabeth Carr. I now need to check to see if she was one of my Carr's from Silkstone. :-[
Thank you for starting the thread.
Jen
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Hi Jen,
From Alan Gallop's book "Children of the Dark,"
Elizabeth Carr Aged 13 was the daughter of Issac & Jane Carr.
Tomkin
-
thanks tomkin,
I haven't come across Issac Carr before, so she probably isn't one of mine. I will check the parish records for Issac's parents next time I am at the archives.
Jen :)
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Just an Update.
The Play "Profit and Loss" which ran for a week at Silkstone Church
was a resounding success. The Play was an enactment of the life and
times of the coal mining community and the events of the Huskar Pit
disaster. If I'm correct I think that over 1250 tickets were sold for the
performances.
Tomkin
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Wow, Tomkin, it obviously proved to be very popular, didn't it?
While we're on the subject, have you seen this site:
http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/disasters/
If you scroll down the first page, there's a list of ages of those who were either injured or died in pit accidents. Every age from 1 to 95 is represented. :o
Now that's scary......
Sort of connected.....I've recently read a book loaned to me called "Black Diamonds" by Catherine Bailey. It is primarily about the Fitzwilliam's of Wentworth - great reading in itself - but there is plenty of information about the surrounding area - and it's coalmines.
I've lived locally all my life and am ashamed to say I knew very little about the Fitzwilliams or their influence as mine and land owners etc. Perhaps now I'm stuck with several of my family history lines, it's time to start looking into local history until I can chip away a bit further!
Regards,
Sally :D
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Hi Sally, have you seen this site:
Yes I have, although I haven't been on it for quite a while.
I purchased the C.D. Rom of the 1842 Commission from there.
It's a very good site. The Fitzwilliams House at Wentworth ( Wentworth
Woodhouse) is the longest fronted house in England. If you get involved
in the history of the area you will find plenty to interest you, believe me.
Tomkin
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Hi sally again, ;D ;D ;D ;D
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,290612.0.html
Click on the above link to one of my other topics. There may be some
interesting information about the Fitzwilliams and the surrounding area.
Tomkin. (hope it doesn't bore you too much ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D )
-
Oooops! :-[ Sorry Tomkin, missed that one........should've known. ::)
Bore me?? Not a chance. Not in my new, improved "local historian" mode. :D
(I can already hear my kids groaning....."Mum, Nnnnoooooo!")
Thanks for the link.
Sally
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Hello everyone,
You might like to know that there is a copy of Children of the Dark currently for sale through Amazon.com for the price of £28.50. For more information, see the following link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/0750930942/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&qid=1237386064&sr=8-3&condition=used
Best wishes,
Alan Gallop
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If You can get hold a book called "the hardest work under heaven" by Michael Pollard , it will open your eyes, to think that children from the age of 7 lived & worked under these conditions is almost impossible to believe,
Wal >:(
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Thoughts of Huskar
How terrible to die, to die in youth
To die in childhood, a bitter truth.
Life’s breath taken by grasping water
Lambs trapped and held, then put to the slaughter.
To die in terror, in true petrifying evil dark
Cruel smothering of life, washing away every tiny spark.
To have to wait in screaming knowing
That death ever nearer was coldly flowing.
Little lives of no value to man or nature
Where was Earth with her motherly nurture?
When these babes of toil faced such torment
Was she the provider of this violent torrent?
Or did man alone create this untimely tomb
These infants barely left their mother’s womb.
Another example of man with nature tied
And still no ones fault that these children died.
Brothers and brother’s sisters, playmate and friend
Stood together in terror awaiting their end.
The swollen stream swept into that mine
Lord, twenty-six tiny souls were then made thine.
Taken from mothers but also from pain
To face underground hardships never again.
Children in heaven should at last know the sun
As miners we pray that this has already been done.
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Thank you for that Dazbt.
On your first posting as well.
Excellent.
Tomkin.
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Thank you, I believe we share a similar emotion.
-
revisiting this thread still makes me sad & angry, this was not an isolated case as far as child exploitation in the mines were concerned.
Wal
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Wal
See the new thread I've started on another disaster involving children, if anything it will make you more sad and angry.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/06z4/
Lizzie
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Hi everyone,
I share the same horror as you all do on this topic, but recently found this web-site which is still under development and has some good things added.
http://www.sblha.com/sblha.html
Click the miscellaneous tab and then the Child Labour 1841 tab. The children involved were interviewed about there work situation and surprisingly didn't seem to be as affected by these roles as one might expect. I suppose they may have been coerced into putting there case in a good light, or too scared to say anything controversial, or maybe they just weren't as frightened or averse to the work as we think they would/should have been.
Any thoughts, anyone?
Jill
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Jill I have just had a look at that site. I wonder under what conditions the children were interviewed. was there a bit of coercion ? would they have been afraid of losing their job ? and what would have been the consequences of that? What else would they & their families do?. I'm glad I wasn't around then.
Wal :-X
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Hi
i know it's a long time from anyone posting on this post but, just want to say how sad it has made me feel reading about them poor children and especially when realised that John Gothard was my gt gt gt gt uncle.
i was searching for other gothard when i came across this,
God Bless x
Lisa
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Hi Lisa,
If it helps in your research, John Gothard was the son
of Thomas and Harriet Gothard. This is from the book "Children of
the Dark," by Alan Gallop.
Tomkin
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thankyou Tomkin
i have this info
i'm going to order a copy of the book
Regards
Lisa
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Thank you Tomkin for giving the children of Huskar the right to be remembered. I often pass the Silkstone memorial. To me it's one of those places you cannot pass without thinking of the horrors they suffered. I managed to order a copy of the book today.
Have you thought of creating a page for the Oaks Disaster? This one was so informative that I really think, if you have time, would be of great interest too. I understand there is a list of the 361 men and boys killed.
Thanks again for a great contribution.
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Thanks Ebch,
I'll have to have a think about the Oaks disaster.
I'll also have a re-read of this subject and add a few more interesting things from
the Investigation.
Tomkin
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This must take a lot of research. In the National Archives there was a piece on Victorian Times
where it stated that girls were considered to be of age at the fine age of 12, if the parents were poor and the child was pretty, she would be sold and married off to anyone who would take her on and state that they would care for her. Without realising what that might mean.
Tomkin, would you consider covering this topic as a subject. it is no different to children nowadays using their computers and being groomed by paedophiles in these days as in Victorian times there were always people around who would take advantage of others circumstances.
marcie
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Readers of this forum might like to know that my book 'Children of the Dark' - originally published by Sutton Publishing in a hardback edition in 2003 - will be coming out again as a paperback in June, 2010. The book has been out of circulation for the last couple of years, despite appearing on the recommended reading list for KS2/KS3 students. Copies have even been changing hands for £90.00 a pot on some web sites!
The new edition - published by The History Press - will appear under the name of 'Victoria's Children of the Dark' (don't ask me why - ask the publisher!) price £9.99. However, if you pre-order a copy from Amazon.co.uk. you can save £1.00 on the cover price and have it delivered to your door post free by clicking on the following link (you might have to cut and paste into your web browser:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Victoria's-Children-Dark-Underground-Empire/dp/0752456989/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266928923&sr=8-4.
The book will have a brand new cover, too, and I will paste in onto this site as soon as it is ready.
I will be in Yorkshire early in July to promote the book at the National Coal Mining Museum for England and elsewhere.
Meanwhile, if anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact me by email on
Moderator comment: Email removed in accordance with rootschat policy. Please use our personal message system. New members need at least two posts to do so.
For those preferring to order from local bookshops, here are the details you will need:
Title: Victoria's Children of the Dark - The Women and Children Who Built Her Underground Empire
Author: Alan Gallop
Publisher: The History Press
Publication Date: June 1, 2010
ISBN codes: ISBN-10: 0752456989
ISBN-13: 978-0752456980
Paperback: 252 pages - fully illustrated
All good wishes.
Alan Gallop
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I will be in Yorkshire early in July to promote the book at the National Coal Mining Museum for England and elsewhere.
Do you have definite date for this promotion ? as I intend visiting the museum in either July or August.
Denn
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Don't know if you saw Look North last night Tomkin?
There was a really heartwarming story - local churchgoers at Silkstone are making a stain glass window to go into the window in the church that faces the graves of the children. They have been taught the art of stain glass - the window will have the name of each child that died. Another fitting memorial!
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Hi Ebch,
Unfortunately I missed the transmission.
It's a project that they've been on with for quite a while.
It will indeed be a worthy addition to the church
and a reminder of that tragic event.
Tomkin
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Hello everyone,
A little while back I promised to share the cover artwork of my book 'Victoria's Children of the Dark' with readers of the forum, once it was available. Please see link below. The book will be available from June 1, 2010 and is a paperback edition of the book which first appeared in 2003. Further information appears higher up on this page.
Several people have also been in touch to ask about the promotion I will be giving at the National Coal Mining Museum for England in July. I can confirm that I will be giving talk on Saturday July 3 - times yet to be confirmed. If you are interested in coming along - admission is free - please contact me via this forum and I will post them programme once it is available.
I look forward to meeting some of you in person.
Alan Gallop
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I will be giving a talk about 'Children of the Dark' and the 1838 Huskar Pit Disaster at the National Coal Mining Museum for England at Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Overton, Wakefield, WF4 4RH on Saturday July 3, 2010 at 2.00pm. Admission is free and the talk is suitable for people of all ages. Descendants of Huskar families, local history fans, former colliers and kids will all be especially welcome. Copies of the revised paperback edition book will be also available at the museum’s bookshop.
For those who care to tune in, I will also be talking about the Huskar Pit disaster on BBC Radio Sheffield at 2.30pm on Thursday July 1st and Penistone FM on Monday July 5 at 10.00am.
You will also be able to find me in/around Silkstone Parish Church during the annual flower festival on July 2-4 somewhere among other displays also on show.
Looking forward to meeting some of you in person. Come and find me and say hello.
Best regards,
Alan Gallop
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Victoria’s Children of the Dark - Free Talk & Book Signing by author, Alan Gallop.
When? Saturday 3 July, 2.00pm
Where? National Coal Mining Museum for England
What's It All About? Children of the Dark, by Alan Gallop has been revised, updated and will appear under the name of Victoria’s Children of the Dark, published by The History Press. It tells the story of Queen Victoria’s invisible subjects; women, children and men who laboured beneath her ‘green and pleasant land’ harvesting the coal to fuel the furnaces of the industrial revolution.
This powerful and dramatic account exposes the real lives and working conditions of 19th century miners. A gripping human story, Victoria’s Children of the Dark brings history, particularly the history of childhood, vividly to life.
Victoria’s Children of the Dark is fully illustrated and will be available to buy in the Museum shop.
For more details of this FREE event, contact the Museum on 01924 848806 www.ncm.org.uk
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Ebch mentioned in March that a new stained glass window was being
made and would be fitted in the Church at Silkstone. The window has been
completed and fitted. Rather than me trying to tell you what a brilliant job has
been made, I will instead direct you to a very good website that details its creation.
The website is "The Rachel Poole Glass and Willow Artist". The website itself is very
interesting, but you will find that out for yourselves. The menu on the left will take
you through the creation of the window. If you click on the "Husker window gallery"
you will see thumbnails of all the photo's. Left click (once) on the 1st thumbnail and
a new window should open. Use the direction arrows at the top right hand corner to
scroll through the photographs. I'm sure you will find them very intertesting.
Click on this link to take you to the website.
http://www.rachelpoole.com/index.htm
Tomkin
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Thank you Tomkin for the link.
mab
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Hi Alan
This is Doris from Green Moor here. I have tried sending you an e mail and it has bounced back twice. i came across this site when searching for info. to enable me to contact you. Please would you e mail me with the recent information you sent me. I have somehow lost your phone number too! I was in Oberammergau when I received your last e mail and only skimmed it expecting to be able to read it when I returned home. Can't make the talk on Sat pm -rehearsing for a play based on the History of Stocksbridge - but would like to meet up at some other time over the weekend.
Regards to you both
Doris
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The new "Huskar Window" from inside the Church.
Tomkin
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That is really beautiful Tk ... How well the modern design fits in too , the fluidity complementing the solid stone ... just fabulous ... Thanks for that ...
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Hi Polldoll,
I was so disappointed with my photo's that I'm going back
next week to take some more. As I know that you like photo's have a quick
look at the " Sunny Pictures" topic to see a couple of the church roof bosses.
I don't know if you missed this link but if you want to see some proper photo's
have a look at this.
Regards, Tomkin
The website is "The Rachel Poole Glass and Willow Artist". The website itself is very
interesting, but you will find that out for yourselves. The menu on the left will take
you through the creation of the window. If you click on the "Husker window gallery"
you will see thumbnails of all the photo's. Left click (once) on the 1st thumbnail and
a new window should open. Use the direction arrows at the top right hand corner to
scroll through the photographs. I'm sure you will find them very intertesting.
Click on this link to take you to the website.
http://www.rachelpoole.com/index.htm
Tomkin
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I did look at that site first time round Tk ... thank you for the note on the thumbnail bit though as I didn't notice the rest of the pics showing the installation of the window bit by bit .. I've started collecting pics of beautiful windows .... maybe to add to the collection I have of doors !!! :-[ ;D( shhhhh :-X)
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I noticed that they have altered the format since I gave
the instructions ::) ::) ::)
Tomkin ;D ;D ;D
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I thought that I had posted these ::) ::) ::)
The Chapel with the Huskar window,
Tomkin
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And the Huskar window from outside.
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It really is a gorgeous window Tk... AND ...you seem to have organised some gorgeous sunny weather to go with it !
Poll
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This disater is also on
http://www.dmm-pitwork.org.uk/html/daz.htm
Daz Beattie was kind enough to submit the information.
Regards,
Bill.
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have just picked up on this thread - in case anyone is in the area , in the graveyard( to the left as you go in) at the church in Holmbridge, near Holmfirth, West Yorks, there is a large memorial stone to those workers who lost their lives during the construction of the reservoirs higher up the valley- they include a number of youngsters, if memory serves me correctly.
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I am a descendant of William Lamb the father of George Lamb who drowned in the pit aged 8. George was my great great Uncle and his father William Lamb my great great great granddad. It saddens me that my family went through this. You can read more in a book called Children of the dark.
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Hi EcoMel,
The book is mentioned several times in this topic.
Even today, children all over the world are working and living
in the most horrendous conditions. I think that our Politicians
should be more proactive in these matters.
Tomkin
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Hi
I am also connected to the Elizabeth Hollings who died in the pit disaster and would be pleased to make contact with anyone else who has her in their family tree.
Valerie
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If I find any connection on ancestry I will let you know. A lot of my ancestors came from Silkstone. I am also descended from Cooper, Clegg, Mellor, Padgetts and more.