Another grinding condition that can be proven from Shepherd Wheel is that the workshop was cluttered and untidy. From my visit I could see tools and materials on the floor, not organised. Also on the walls there were lots of tools and objects.
I can also use Source A to see that the grinding room was untidy.
Another working condition was the environment. From my visit to Shepherd Wheel I could tell that the air was damp and cold. There were no signs of proper heating and the building was made of stone with no insulation. There was no glass in the windows to provide insulation. The room would have also been very dark because there was evidence of shutters that would provide light when open. Source C also tells us that the working conditions were damp and cold, especially in the winter, with evidence from Source D. From my own knowledge I know that only rarely was the wheels cleaned out or the wall white washed.
Another working condition was the atmosphere and what was in it that affected the workers. I can tell form Shepherd Wheel that the atmosphere was damp and dusty. I can tell that the conditions in the workshop were bad form Source E. However, I cannot actually tell what was in the atmosphere that made it this way. I can use my own knowledge to explain this condition. I know that the air was very dusty from the grindstones when in motion. Also when dry grinding was in place, there was an additional effect from dust and also form motes. Motes were red hot particles of metal which flew off the grindstones. They were a constant nuisance to the grinders’ eyes and unless special equipment was used, they could have lead to serious eye injury and even loss of sight.
Another condition that faced the grinders was that of their grindstones. I know from Shepherd Wheel that grindstones broke as evidence of one in pieces on the floor
By Sarah Birchall
outside. I also know that these hazards lead to loss of life due to a newspaper article in the building. From the sources, such as Source C I can tell that grinders had to run the
risk of a grindstone breaking with consequent injury and sometimes loss of life. From my own knowledge I know that it was dangerous because grindstone could explode.
This is because the force of the stone breaking when they were in motion could have been fatal and could kill more than one grinder.
Another condition was the health of the grinders. However, I could not tell this from my visit to Shepherd Wheel. I can use the sources, such as Source E. this source explain that grinders had a short life expectancy because, one, they started at a young age, and two, they had to endure hard physical labour for hours on end as well as another job. In Source A I can see the positions in which the grinders worked, which explains why grinders ended up with hunchback and deformed spines. From Source E, it explains that the complexion of the workers assumes a dirty, muddy appearance. The grinders complained of a sense of tightness across the chest, their voice rough and hoarse, and their cough loud and as if the air was driven through wooden tubes. I can tell from Source F that from the particular atmosphere that grinders had a short life expectancy and that it was because usually from a fatal blow from a grindstone explosion. In Source B it tells us that in the most dangerous branch of grinding, when grinders ground dry the life expectancy was 28 – 32 years. From my own knowledge I know there are the symptoms for “phthisis” or “Grinders Asthma”. I also know the grinders were affected with arthritis due to the cold conditions which made their hands and feet cold in addition to the long hours. Grinders were affected with a variety of diseases due to their working position, the cold, damp environment and the dangerous atmosphere.
Another condition was the lack of safety equipment used. From Shepherd Wheel I can tell that there is no fixed safety equipment such as a fan, or protective shielding. All that is provided are the leather belts attached to the chairs. These were used to hold the worked in pace while grinding to offer support, but in its own way could prove hazardous and obstructive when trying to get away from an explosion. From the sources, such as Source A, I cannot see any safety equipment such as a fan, or any safety clothing on the grinders, such as goggles or protective clothing. From my own knowledge I know that safety equipment was used but it was not accepted easily. Goggles were invented to protect the workers from motes, but they were a nuisance and were not used. A fan was also invented but it was also classed as an annoyance and slowed the workers down thus cutting down their pay, so that as well was not accepted.
To conclude I will state the main disadvantages and the advantages of using Shepherd Wheel s a source of information. The advantages were I could tell most about hazards with physical evidence. I could also tell about the environment being cold and damp. I could tell about the layout of the place being cramped and untidy. However, the disadvantage of Shepherd Wheel was that I could not tell about the health of the workers which explained the short life expectancy. I could also not tell about the environment being dusty and hazardous. On the whole, the best information came
By Sarah Birchall
from the sources and my own knowledge. However, Shepherd Wheel was a reliable source when it came to physical evidence.
