[19th and 20th Century Mining] [History of Wigan] [Index]

Conditions in the Mines 1841

You are a drawer, I believe, when at work? - Yes, I am.
Where do you work? - At Mr. Morris's. I used at work at Blundell's.
What age were you when you first began to work in the pits? - I was about 11, I think.

Do you work at night in Morris's pits? - Yes, when I was able to work.   I worked one week in the day time and the next at night, the same as the drawers did.

Are there any children in the pit where you work? - Oh, yes, both little and big, some not older or bigger than him [pointing to a little boy of six or seven years old]; they put them to tenting air-doors.

What hours do you work? - I go down between three and four in the morning and sometimes I have done by five o'clock in the afternoon, and sometimes sooner.

Have you any fixed hour for dinner? - Yes, we have an hour for dinner in the day-time, but we don't stop at night.

When you are working the night turn, what hours do you work? - I go at two o'clock in the afternoon, and sometimes three.  I come up it will be about three o'clock in the morning, and sometimes before.

You have no regular times for meals at night? - No we never stop at night.

Do you find the work very hard? - Yes, it is very hard work for a woman.  I have been so tired many a time that I could scarcely wash myself.  I was obliged to leave Mr. Blundell's pit, it was so hot, and my work was a deal harder; I could scarcely ever wash myself at night, I was so tired; and I felt very dull and stiff when I set off in the morning.

What distance did you draw? - 23 score yards in length.

That is 460 yards each way, or 920 yards? - Yes

How many times had you to draw this distance? - 16 and sometimes 18 times [Taking 16 times, she would have to draw 14,720 yards daily.]

Have you ever had many accidents besides the one you are now suffering from? - Yes, I had once a great big hole in my other leg.  I thought it was the water that did it, for I was working in a wet place then.
Are Mr. Morris's pits dry? - Yes, very dry.

How did the accident happen you are now suffering from? - I was sitting on the edge of a tub at the bottom, and a great stone fell from the roof on my foot and ankle, and crushed it to pieces, and I was obliged to be taken off.

Have you ever seen the drawers beaten? - Yes, some gets beaten.   Mary Tuity gets beaten nearly every day.

What do they beat her with? - A pick-arm.

What do they beat her for? - I suppose it is for 'sauce'; she has a very saucy tongue.
What age is she? - She is 23 years old.

What is your father? - He was a collier, but he was killed in a coal-pit.  I go past the place where he was killed many a time when I am working, and sometimes I think I see something.

Article by Adrian Morris

[19th and 20th Century Mining] [History of Wigan] [Index]