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Fifty years ago, there were over a million coal miners in Britain. A vast number of trades were employed - Mechanics, electricians, bricklayers, blacksmiths- with all their sub-divisions: fitters, joiners, horseshoers, cage smiths and tub menders, all of whom came broadly within the category of miner. This book will help you discover the world of your mining ancestors - a world that is, very likely, more complex and fascinating than you've ever imagined.

In the early 1900s there was over one million coalminers in the United Kingdom. Was your ancestor one of them? What do you know about him?'

Coal was one of the most important industries in the UK with a profound effect on transport, quality of life, industry, politics and the environment. This book begins with an introduction to the history of coal, its development and decline. It goes on to look in detail at the life of the miner quoting from contemporary accounts of life patters, work, song, the union, disaster and chapel, all of which bring the story of the coalminer to life.

The second half of the book is devoted to sources available to the family historian researching their coalminer from any of the coalfields across the UK. It has full details on each source, including websites where available.

This book is an invaluable addition to the family historian’s library, as many of us have someone connected to the coal industry in our past.

‘If your ancestor was a coalminer – male or female – then this book will help you understand them, whose work was indeed the ‘hardest under heaven’’.

A5, 188 pages

David Tonks