John Kell

Water supply, middens and coal house. Walled gardens. Mining techniques. Miner's day - starts at 6 am with water and bait, getting light for the day. Riding to landing in a tub. Putting tubs and driving the pony. Became a hewer at 21, hard work, laying timber and plates, shotfiring. Old miners would tin their own shot. Wet work, sometimes didn't get far. 16 tubs per man a good average. Cables, names picked from a hat. Pay. Games - marbles, cherry stones, "tally ho" with a lamp on dark nights, carlins and bowlie in cap. Lived rough and played rough; men drank and women had a poor life.

Location: Leasingthorne
County: Durham
AUD1974-41

• Add a comment