Working Conditions in the Mines
The early nineteenth century had a dramatic rise of activity in mining of the coalfields. This was due to the increased demand for fuel to power the new machinery that would revolutionise the world. Thousands of people were drawn off the land into the mines and as the need grew, more jobs were created. Coalmining technology had evolved from simple bell pits to huge shafts and tunnels. The mines were now so large that the conditions in them became worse. They were probably as bad as the conditions of the cotton mills. Miners had to work long hours in the dark and wet with many hazards to deal with which were not found in other work places.
The early nineteenth century had a dramatic rise of activity in mining of the coalfields. This was due to the increased demand for fuel to power the new machinery that would revolutionise the world. Thousands of people were drawn off the land into the mines and as the need grew, more jobs were created. Coalmining technology had evolved from simple bell pits to huge shafts and tunnels. The mines were now so large that the conditions in them became worse. They were probably as bad as the conditions of the cotton mills. Miners had to work long hours in the dark and wet with many hazards to deal with which were not found in other work places.
