Men and boys working underground in the Hurst lead mines February 1863
Discussing the conditions in the Hurst mines for the Kinnard Commission in 1863, Robert Daykin, the agent, said there were about 67 pickmen employed underground and that both blasting and picking were used.
There were a few women employed on the surface, none underground. The men entered the mine by the level. The longest level was Queens Level, at 700 fathoms (1,400 yds). Night shifts were also employed, with 8-10 men working 6 hr night shifts.
Men had to provide their own tools and candles. Candles could be bought from the ownership at 8s/doz - a profit of 2/6 to the company.
Fresh air was provided by a windy king, driven by a boy (this carried air forward by means of wooden boxes), and by natural fissures. Carbonic acid was present in the mine and the men would have to retreat when its presence was found either by candles not burning, or by it causing, "a drowsiness and lassitude". Better air circulation was not provided because the mine was poor and would not support great expense.
Copperthwaite Level |
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Marrick Moor |
Queen Level |
Names of Men | Ages | Where from | |||
Robt Spence | 49 | Reeth | |||
John Spence | 16 | Reeth | |||
Mark Blenkiron | 36 | Reeth | |||
Bartholomew Blenkiron | 21 | Reeth | |||
Hammond Hall | 29 | Reeth | |||
William Fawcett | 45 | Reeth | |||
John Fawcett | 20 | Reeth | |||
James Close | 23 | Reeth | |||
Thos Fawcett | 19 | Reeth | |||
Robt Hammond | 53 | Reeth | |||
John Alderson | 21 | Reeth | |||
Thos Coates | 39 | Stelling, Marrick | |||
John Dunn | 54 | Grinton | |||
David Hodgson, Jr | 20 | Grinton | |||
John Langstaff | 25 | Marrick | |||
William Ibbottson, | 38 | manager | Marrick | ||
James Ibbotson | 17 | Marrick | |||
John Dolphin | 22 | Hurst Village | |||
Geo Dolphin | 19 | Hurst Village | |||
Elias Brown | 43 | Hurst Village | |||
Edward Hodgson Sen. | 50 | Hurst Village | |||
Nicholas Hawkin | 25 | Hurst Village | |||
John Hawkin | 13 | Hurst Village | |||
Geo Siddle | 23 | Hurst Village | |||
Geo Hillary | 43 | Hurst Village | |||
William Garthwaite Jr | 24 | Hurst Village | |||
Geo Garthwaite | 15 | Hurst Village | |||
Thos Garthwaite, Sen | 48 | Hurst Village | |||
Thos Hillary Jane's Son | 21 | Hurst Village | |||
Thos Hillary George's Son | 29 | Hurst Village | |||
Robt Robinson | 30 | Hurst Village | |||
William White | 58 | Hurst Village | |||
John Franke & Thomas's Son | 18 | Hurst Village | |||
Robt Hillary | 35 | Hurst Village | |||
John Brown | 29 | Hurst Village | |||
John Hillary, Senior | 46 | Hurst Village | |||
John Hillary | 19 | Hurst Village | |||
Edward Brown | 34 | Hurst Village | |||
Nicholas Alsop | 36 | Hurst Village | |||
James Robinson | 45 | Hurst Village | |||
Christopher Robinson | 11 | Hurst Village | |||
John March, Pudley Beck | 40 | Hurst Village | |||
William Hird, Junior | 14 | Hurst Village | |||
Francis Alsop | 37 | Castle, Fremington | |||
Thos Garthwaite Jr | 21 | Hurst | |||
John Garthwaite | 18 | ||||
James Hodgson Jr | 31 | ||||
William Hodgson | 29 | ||||
Thos Hodgson, James's son | 26 | ||||
Geo Alderson | 18 | Castle Fremington | |||
Geo Frankland | 37 | ||||
Thos Frankland, Johnny | 32 | ||||
Thos Alsop | 30 | ||||
John Frankland, Sen | 40 | ||||
William Garthwaite Sen | 41 | Halgate | |||
Jas Siddle | 30 | Halgate | |||
Edward Hodgson, Jr | 25 | ||||
Thos Hodgson, Ed's son | 21 | ||||
Edward Alsop | 20 | ||||
John Hodgson, Eds son | 15 | ||||
James March | 39 | ||||
James Hodgson, Ed's son | 15 | ||||
John Siddle | 35 | ||||
Henry Frankland | 14 | ||||
John March, Eliz's son | 32 | ||||
Moses March | 26 | ||||
Geo March | 63 | timekeeper | |||
James Cleminson | 29 | ||||
John Frankland, Thomas's son | 25 | ||||
James Frankland | 14 | ||||
Blenkiron Hawkin | 17 | ||||
William Frankland | 16 | ||||
Jas Siddle | 21 | ||||
Charles Hillary | 34 | ||||
Edward Hillary | 19 |