The Life of a Miner

Using archive film and newly commissioned sound track to explore the life of a miner in the Durham coalfields. This short film is part of Film Encounters; a heritage education film project for primary school children.

[@michaelbritton5320]

A 100 years a go a Miner was someone special a 100 years on and a Miner is still someone special

[@erin19030]

My dad was a miner , down in the pots for twenty years. He died in the mines at the age of 42. Ive been down in the mine and was horrified at the conditions my dad worked in , to clothe and feed our little family.

[@neillambert8713]

A great video. I am very pleased the pit ponies got a break even if it was short.

[@neilwilliams2409]

Excellent little video. Thanks .

[@dodgeboy9052]

Yes ... I remember the miners coming home all blacked n dirty faced .. I remember in the late 40s mum doing toast at the fire-grate for me.
My brother joined Bestwood colliery in Nottingham at 15 worked on the top...was allowed on the coal face at 18 ... mum so happy a coal allowance.Happy days.
Brother was in a sanatarium at 20ish TB... never recovered ... it really killed him in the end....... I say .TO THE MINERS OF YESTER-YEAR Never forget them.

[@colvinator1611]

I was an underground electrician at Walton Colliery starting my apprenticeship in 1962. Great memories. Left to join up in 1971, too many strikes.

[@johnofypres]

Very good. Thanks for posting.

[@PaulSAUK]

The first light they showed the miner kissing was a Davy Lamp to show if there was any gas

[@marksadventures3889]

5 generations of my kin, 2 down the pits of Lancashire- Hapton & Bank Top. 2 down the pits of Doncaster and Sheffield.

[@justinbetland9792]

This was before Miners learned to code

[@craigdutton6924]

Kudos to the pony’s they didn’t get a choice

[@erin19030]

Yes, but the mules in the mine got to retire when they couldn’t work anymore while the miner suffered from black lung until his last breath.

[@freebeerfordworkers]

@@erin19030 better than in the French mines the writer Emile Zola saw large carthorses being used deep underground and asked how they got them out again. They told him they didn't they were lowered down as colts and stayed down there till they died.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Terrible working environment. Hard workers they sure were.

[@deeppurple883]

Open cast the worst kind of mining.

[@henryrollins9177]

Why?

[@COIcultist]

Awfully poor film. Please look at better mining films.