Workers at the Old Gang Mine. 1876
Children and women

Boys employed below ground
Boys employed above ground
Girls 13-18 above ground
Boys 13-18 below ground
Women above ground

In 1863, Francis Taylor was agent for the Old Gang Mine. In his evidence to the Kinnaird Commission he gives an insight into working conditions.

He said about 200 men and 50 boys were employed underground at the Old Gang. Boys were generally not allowed in the mine until age 11 or 12, unless a father wanted to take a younger son in with him. Entry was generally by shafts and the men climbed by stemples. 6 men were employed to keep the way-gates safe.

The boy who worked the windy king in this mine earned 8d a day.

When asked how far the miners lived from the mine, Taylor said some lived two miles away.

 

    Age Residence Date first employed Remarks
Francis Parker 12 Gunnerside 26 May 1875 Air Machine
John Cherry 12 Feetham 8 Nov 1875 Air Machine
Joseph Kearton 12 Ivelet 24 Apr 1876 With his father
Robert Whitfield 12 Calvert Hos 22 May 1876 Air Machine
George Spence 12 Feetham 24 Aug 1876 Air Machine
Geo Sunter Reynoldson 12 Gunnerside 13 Nov 1876 With his father (ore)
Jos Wm [Ibbot] 12 Gunnerside 29 Nov 1876 Air Machine
Francis Tailor 15 Low Row    
Thomas [White] 14 Feetham. Wood End    
Wm Alderson 15 Gunnerside    
Michael Pratt 15 Smarber    
John Reynoldson 15 Gunnerside    
Hannam Taylor 14 Low Row 10 May 1873  
Thomas Metcalfe 15 Gunnerside 10 Jun 1873  
Joseph Raw 14 Isles 14 Oct 1873 Left to Surrender
John Ralph Milner 14 Gunnerside 20 Oct 1873  
John [Hodgson] 15 Gunnerside 20 Oct 1873  
Joseph Spence 14 Feetham 23 Dec 1873  
Wm Place 14 Brown berry 27 Nov 1873  
Ralph Harker 15 [Pear] Ho 23 Mar 1874  
Robert Rutter 15 Thistlebout 1 Oct 1874  
Richard Raw 13 Low Row 7 Nov 1874  
Thomas Bell 13 Blades 4 Jan 1875  
Thomas Lowe 14 Low Row 26 Aug 1875  
James Lowe 13 Low Row 30 Aug 1875  
Taylor Hannam 13 Brocka Bank 30 Aug 1875  
Wm Watters 13 Gunnerside 24 Nov 1875  
Chris Dolphin 13 Blades 30 Nov 1875  
Thomas Raw 14 Low Row 11 Dec 1875  
James Alderson 13 Kisdon 22 May 1876 Air Machine
James Hugill 10 Gunnerside 18 May 1874  
Robert Thompson 9 Blades 16 Nov 1874  
Thomas Galloway 12 Blades 10 Aug 1875  
Chris Fawcett 10 Blades 7 Sep 1875  
Geo Reynoldson 11 Gunnerside 30 Dec 1875 Left only at work a few days
James Pratt 11 Smarber 28 Aug 1876 Fryer Intake [             ]
Geo Close 11 Gunnerside 12 Jan 1877  
Hannam Taylor 14 Low Row 10 May 1873  
Thomas Metcalfe 15 Gunnerside 10 Jun 1873  
Joseph Raw 14 Isles 14 Oct 1873 Left to Surrender
John Ralph Milner 14 Gunnerside 20 Oct 1873  
John [Hodgson] 15 Gunnerside 20 Oct 1873  
Joseph Spence 14 Feetham 23 Dec 1873  
Wm Place 14 Brown Berry 27 Nov 1873  
Ralph Harker 15 Pear House 23 Mar 1874  
Robert Rutter 15 Thistlebout 1 Oct 1874  
Richard Raw 13 Low Row 7 Nov 1874  
Thomas Bell 13 Blades 4 Jan 1875  
Thomas Lowe 14 Low Row 26 Aug 1875  
James Lowe 13 Low Row 30 Aug 1875  
Taylor HAnnam 13 Brocka Bank 30 Aug 1875  
Wm Watters 13 Gunnerside 24 Nov 1875  
Chris Dolphin 13 Blades 30 Nov 1875  
Thomas Raw 14 Low Row 11 Dec 1875  
James Alderson 13 Kisdon 22 May 1876 Air Machine
Eleanor Guy 13 Greensykes 24 May 1875 [to paye] 6
Sarah Mary Galloway 10 Blades 31 July 1876  
Anthony Milner 17 Gunnerside    
Edmund Dolphin 17 Blades    
John Richard Milner 15 Gunnerside    
Wm Place 15 Healaugh    
Wm Hugill 14 Gunnerside    
Thomas Thompson 14 Blades    
Joseph Close 13 Gunnerside    
Neesham George 13 Muker 24 Aug 1874  
James Simpson 13 Feetham 17 Dec 1875  
Ann Croft   Arkindale    
Elizabeth Galloway   Blades 19 Jun 1876