A Miner’s Candlestick
This candlestick belonged to Robert King 1837-1918, a Kingswood coalminer who first went down the mine aged seven “in a bucket, sitting on a miner’s lap”. Because of the narrowness of the Kingswood seams,...
Killed in a Coalpit – Lives of the Kingswood Colliers. JUST WHEN YOU THINK THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO ADD…………
At the “Book Launch” at Kingswood Heritage Museum on 29 November 2016 Mr Roger Curtis who was at the event, sent me this picture (above) believed to be at Hanham Pit, showing his grandfather,...
Killed in a Coalpit Volume III: The Bedminster Mines
Killed in a Coalpit, Bedminster’ is the second of my ‘Coalpit’ trilogy. It was compiled slightly ‘pot luck fashion’ before old newspapers were on line and therefore I am aware that there are many...
The ‘Noble North’ and other Heroes: A Spectacular Rescue at Bedminster in 1851. A communal effort.
At 6 a.m. on Friday, the 20th June 1851, ‘a double turn’ (twice as many men as usual) descended Northside Pit, (Goulstone, Garrett & Co.) at Bedminster. The pit was 135 fathoms deep and...
A visit to Apedale
On the way to Ireland in October 2018, I was given the option of choosing somewhere to stop on our way to the ferry. The “lads” my husband George and our son Kevin, had...
Killed in a Coalpit II – Lives of the Somerset Miners
This book has been written as a companion volume to ‘Killed in a Coalpit – Lives of the Kingswood Miners’. It was scheduled for publication in 2020 but became a victim of Covid 19...
Alas, poor Pretty One
In the summer of 1788 Henry Watts sued William Luton in respect of Rights of Common on Rodway Hill, Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire. The court heard that in 1754 the estate was let to Luton’s father...
KILLED IN A COALPIT: Lives of the Kingswood Colliers
Though the main theme of this hardback book concerns the accidents, fatal (and otherwise) which befell the coalminers who worked in the historic Kingswood (South Gloucestershire) Coalfield it is hoped that through these tragic...
About Me
I have been researching the social history of the West Country for 45 years. During this time I have collated information on a wide range of people living and working in the West Country including miners, ethnic minorities, petty criminals, sailors, tommies, benefactors, brassmakers and many more. The thing that I find amazing is that ordinary people always lived extraordinary lives. I hope you like my blog that brings together my lifetime of research.
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