There have been many books published about the coal mining industry of
Britain but relatively few about the miners themselves. This book is
unique in that it concentrates on the miner, his family and his work
through a careful selection of illustrations. Although most of the
images are photographic, and therefore relate to the latter part of the
nineteenth to the closing years of twentieth century, use is also made
of much earlier sources, from woodcuts and engravings to illustrations
in contemporary journals and magazines.
A good deal of the material has come from the author's own collection,
accumulated over many years of research; and also from archive sources.
The selection is wide ranging, covering the traditional coal mining
regions of Britain, from Scotland and northern England, through the
midland coalfields and to Wales, as well as images from smaller
coalfields such as Cumbria and Somerset.
Today, coal mining is a virtually a lost industry and the men, women and
children involved in what was once Britain's most important economic but
most dangerous activity deserve both recognition and celebration.