A colliery is a coal mine. A coal face is the place where the mining of coal actually took place. There were two types of coal face. One was called "longwall mining" this was formed by driving two roadways varying between 100 to 200 yards between them, at a suitable distance from the main ventilation roads a narrow heading, some 8 feet wide and the height varying with the thickness of the coal seam. when this operation was completed, installation of roof supports, coal cutters and chain conveyers took place. The coal cutter consisted of a huge machine very like a massive chain saw would cut into the coal, the coal was then drilled using huge hand drills some 4 to 6 feet deep. These holes were drilled to a set pattern and primed with explosives with a shot wire attached, clay was then inserted. and in due course the shotfirer coupled his shotfiring battery to the wires and all men would have to retreat to a safe distance and the shots were exploded bringing down the coal. The coal was then loaded onto the chain conveyor by men working with shovels. as the coal was removed new roof supports would have to be put in place. In the area left from working the coal packs would be built by hand. The packs varied in width according to the conditions of the particular seam of coal. the space in between the walls was filled by hand shovelling the "dirt" as it was called into the space thus formed.the shale roof over the coal being brought down by hand or by shotfiring according to the method of working. These were formed by building narrow walls Prior to the mechanization of mines the under cutting of the coal was done by means of a hand held pick and then Then brought down by means of the same pick and loaded by hand held shovels. A very much older method of working was by "pillar and stall" this consisted of narrow "headings" being driven by hand, in a kind of chess board pattern leaving large blocks of coal behind to support the roof. How were the Mines lit? In the early days before the introduction of the Davy Safety lamp by candles which was highly dangerous because of the risk of explosion of the resulting methane gas which was produced from working the coal. In addition to this the resulting fine coal dust would add considerably to the resultant explosion. Later, after the introduction of electricity into mining, strategic places were lighted by specially made safety lights. The miners would have a Davy Safety lamp issued to them to light their place of work, one lamp to each man. Thus working condition were very dark, Later, Electric Cap Lamps were introduced consisting of a heavy battery worn ion the trouser belt and with a cable up to the lamp itself which was worn on the front of the Safety Helmet, or "hard hat". How often was there bad air, simply put always. This bad air was dispelled by a carefully designed system of ventilation. A test for then presence of gas was always conducted prior to the shotfiring and the Overman for the district would have to make tests for gas a set intervals during the day. Additionally. the areas left between the packs formed after removal of the coal were sampled weekly by means of inflating a "balloon" and the resultant balloon tested in the laboratory for the amount of methane and other gases such as carbon monoxide. The majority of what I have written above applied after the introduction of the 1911 Coal Mines Act and its consequent Safety Regulations. Hope I have managed to convey some idea of the "b--dy" awful conditions under modern mining. Before this era conditions were much, much worse. Children as young as 8 years of age being employed underground to open and close ventilation doors. I have seen conditions when even wearing a cap lamp, one could hold ones hand directly in front of ones face and not be able to see it. If you so wish I will reserve further explanation for another time. Hope this helps. John Roberts In The Staffordshire Potteries Where The Mugs Come From -------------------------------------------------- From: "Marilyn L. Arnold" <marilyn.arnold1@verizon.net> Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2012 11:43 PM To: <staffordshire@rootsweb.com> Subject: [STAFFORDSHIRE] COAL MINING QUESTIONS > Thank you ALL for this very interesting discussion and experiences with > coal > minig! This has raised some questions and terminology with which I (and > perhaps others) am unfamiliar. Can someone help? > > 1. Brian said .... "we went ...on a school trip, all the way to the coal > faces, at a unused face the guide had everybody turn off there helmet > lights. I can still remember the total darkness." WOW. ... gave me > goosebumps. I'm sure the silence was stunning as well. > > Question1: What are "coal faces" and "unused coal faces"? The edge of > where coal becomes a different type of rock? > > 2. John. Roberts -- VERY interesting email about coal mining. THANKS! > > Question2: What is a "colliery?" You worked a cage? What is a "cage?" > and > you refer to decks as if things were stacked. Coal to be hauled out? > > 3. Q3: How were the mines lit in the 1800s? Candles? Lanterns? > > 4. Q4: How often was there "bad air" as described in the story shared > by > Derek of the personal story of the poor 11-year old girl? > > And thanks to Derek, Dawn as well for their very graphic descriptions of > life ... rather sobering. And, interesting about the ponies. Life > certainly wasn't easy, was it? > > Now this makes me wonder if my GG GF somehow worked in the coal mines > w/the > ponies and that's how he got the scar on his lip. Interesting ..... > hmmmm..... Well, since he was b. 1865 and died before I was born, I guess > I'll never really know! (Although 4 of his grandchildren are still > living). > > Thanks again, > Marilyn > DC > > ****************************** > ATTENTION TO ALL:- When replying please remove the details that do not > apply to your mail and change the SUBJECT LINE for best useage of ARCHIVED > MATERIALS. > ------------------------------- > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > STAFFORDSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2114/4848 - Release Date: 03/03/12 >