Underwood Colliery 1842
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UNDERWOOD COLLIERY owned by Messrs. Barber and
Walker was included in the 1842 Children's Employment Commission. The pit
at Underwood was 140 yards deep. Workers were let down and up, four at a
time by a flat rope. They had no Davy Lamp but fortunately no accidents had been
recorded at the pit for two years. At that time Barber and Walker owned 12
shafts employing a total of 101 children under the age of 13. The following were
interviewed at Underwood :-
Thomas Brown - Staver
Thomas Brown - Engine Man
John Hawkins - Aged 10
Richard Clarke - Aged 12
Matthew Wilson - Aged 11
Ann Wilson - Mother
Thanks also go to Ian, Picks Publishing
and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre for giving permission to reproduce
the following true accounts.
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Ann Wilson
(extract)
She is
mother to Richard Clarke and mother in law to Matthew Wilson. She
has heard what they said and believes it to be true. She has known
when they work whole days that they have come home so tired and dirty that
they could scarcely be prevented lying down on the ashes by the fireside
and could not take their clothes off. She has had to do it for them
and taken them to the brook to wash them and she has sat up most of the
night to get their clothes dry. The next morning they have gone to
the pit like bears at the stake. . . . . . . . .
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Back to 1842 Local Colliery Report