The honest belief is generally that miners were the salt of the earth, and all the accidents were the cause of the managers, but occasionally, the pitmen were their own worst enemies. One cannot imagine the act of opening a naked flame to get better light – but of course, many miners suffered with their eyes, so the motivation can be understood. Remember that the Grove Pit Disaster was thought to be caused by a miner striking a light down below. Taken from ‘The South Staffordshire Coalfield’ by Nigel A. Chapman.
A couple of days ago I asked for information about a local mining accident, suffered by the Grandfather of reader Gill Joesbury, but the request it was a bit of a mission impossible, as we didn’t have a name to go on – since then, Gill has now been in touch with more information.
Gill wrote:
Hi Bob
My Grandfather’s name was Solomon Fox and he was born in 1872 in Newhall, Derbyshire. In 1898 he married Elizabeth Dora Whitehouse who hailed from Pelsall.
As far as the family knows, he worked in the Brownhills area before moving to Sutton-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire (don’t know if there was a particular reason for this move or whether it was just where the mining jobs were) and we believe he lost his leg prior to the move.
Hope this is of use and thanks for your help.
Regards
Gill
So, with that extra information, can anyone help further? I know lots of you enjoy a challenge, and any help gratefully received.
Please comment here, or email: BrownhillsBob at Googlmail dot com. Thanks.
I include Gill’s original enquiry below:
Dear Bob
Do you know of any records in existence that recorded mining accidents in the Brownhills area? My Grandfather was a coalminer (loader below ground level) although I don’t know which pit he worked at, just that it was in the Brownhills area.
I believe that he lost a leg in a pit accident, probably sometime in the early 1900’s. Not much to go on I’m afraid and if there are no records then a dead end.
I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
Thank you
Mrs Gill Joesbury