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Children in the mines

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eamonncorry30

Victorian coal mines relied heavily on child labor to perform dangerous jobs. Children as young as 2 worked long hours underground, often 18 hours a day, performing tasks like pushing coal trucks along dark, dirty tunnels or opening and closing ventilation doors in isolation. While underground conditions were difficult, children working above ground sorting coal at least had access to daylight and fresh air. Miners would take simple meals like bread and cheese or tea down into the mines to sustain their long work.

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Children in the Coalmines By Bryan Ruane
Why was coal so important In Victorian times, energy came from water-power, from horses and above all from burning coal. Coal was as important to Victorians as oil is to us today.
What were coal mines like Most coal was dug from deep mines. A long vertical shaft was dug down from the surface. Leading off from it were side tunnels. Coal mines were dark, dirty and dangerous. The only light came from candles and oil lamps.
What jobs did children do in the mines Some children pushed trucks of coal along mine tunnels. They were called putters. Trappers opened and shut wooden doors to let air through the tunnels. A trapper boy sat in the dark, with just a candle and no-one to talk to.
Some children started work at 2 in the morning and stayed below ground for 18 hours. Children working on the surface, sorting coal, at least saw daylight and breathed fresh air. Miners took their dinner down the mine perhaps bread and cheese, or bread with a bit of bacon and drank a tin of cold tea. Thank you for listening the end.

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Children in the mines

  • 1. Children in the Coalmines By Bryan Ruane
  • 2. Why was coal so important In Victorian times, energy came from water-power, from horses and above all from burning coal. Coal was as important to Victorians as oil is to us today.
  • 3. What were coal mines like Most coal was dug from deep mines. A long vertical shaft was dug down from the surface. Leading off from it were side tunnels. Coal mines were dark, dirty and dangerous. The only light came from candles and oil lamps.
  • 4. What jobs did children do in the mines Some children pushed trucks of coal along mine tunnels. They were called putters. Trappers opened and shut wooden doors to let air through the tunnels. A trapper boy sat in the dark, with just a candle and no-one to talk to.
  • 5. Some children started work at 2 in the morning and stayed below ground for 18 hours. Children working on the surface, sorting coal, at least saw daylight and breathed fresh air. Miners took their dinner down the mine perhaps bread and cheese, or bread with a bit of bacon and drank a tin of cold tea. Thank you for listening the end.