Coal Mining in Britain

<p><b>An illustrated history of Britain’s coal mines and the lives of the miners who worked in them.</b><br><br>Coal heated the homes, fuelled the furnaces and powered the engines of the Industrial Revolution. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries the coalfields – distinct landscapes of colliery winding frames, slag heaps and mining villages – made up Britain’s industrial heartlands. <br><br>Coal was known as ‘black gold’ but it was only brought to the surface with skill and at considerable risk, with flooding, rock falls and gas explosions a constant danger. Coal miners became a recognised force in British political life, forming a vociferous and often militant lobby for better working conditions and a decent standard of living.<br><br>This beautifully illustrated guide to Britain’s industrial heritage covers not just the mines, but the lives of the workers away from the pits, with a focus on the cultural and religious life of mining communities.</p>