This was the beginnings of unionisation of the coalfields, and a better life for colliers. Booklet generously supplied by Sean Coughlan. Click to download your copy.
I’ve had a really interesting donation this week from an unexpected source who has longstanding connections to the mining history of North Walsall – Sean Coughlan, the leader of Walsall Council!
Sean has sent images of the above publication, the Minutes of Conferences of the Cannock Chase and Pelsall District Joint Minimum Wage Board, which is a real piece of local union and working local history.
You can download a copy in PDF form here – (PDF file, 13 megabytes in size).
I believe we’re missing pages two and three, otherwise the book is complete: If Sean is tuned in and could send along the missing pages if he has them I’ll add them to the PDF.
Sean also posted this interesting Pelsall Millennium postcard – which has raised the question of what the image is bottom left? Click for a larger version. Image courtesy of Sean Coughlan.
Sean has previously donated much material relating to local mining history to the Local History Centre in Walsall, providing an invaluable contribution to the historical record of the industry locally.
Thanks to Sean for a great contribution – I know that David Evans is in conversation with him about the history of Albert Stanley MP, the Miners Champion we’ve heard about before, and I’m sure this will be of interest to Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler and others interested in the social history of mining in the area.
If you have anything to add, please do: comment here or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.