Industrial Revolution Children Employment Vol 8

British Parliamentary Papers.

Industrial Revolution Children Employment Vol 8

Nottingham University Library 3rd Floor

No. 84. William Wardle

Is 40 years old; worked from 9 years of age; drove between the asses until he was 11; he then drew small waggons on a gangway to the pit mouth, between 8 and 9 cwt.; it was very hard work, and has worked at it until he could scarcely stand. He used to work half days from seven until two, whole days from seven to eight PM often an hour longer. He - had to get his meals as quick as he could, no particular time being allowed. worked bycandlelight. There were in the pit about 10 boys under 13 years of age, and 20 or more under 18. They now have asses, and the work is now not so hard; but it is still veryslavish work for children, as they are hurried on, and some have to follow: the men, thatis, they have to fetch the empty corves. The work is very irksome before a damp; but these pits have good wind ways, and are generally well ventilated. Are not allowed to come out to meals or for other purposes; indeed no time is allowed for meals; found no difficulty in eating when he could get it. When he first went into the pit he had Is. per day; he hasa boy now in the pit, between eight and nine, who has now only 8d. a-day; some get Id. or 2d. a-day more. They are seldom beat now - very seldom to what they used to be; indeed there is nothing to complain of on that account. "when he was a boy he was beaten bad enough because he could not do more work than he was able; has been beaten till he was black and blue; he was beaten with a stick the asses were beat with, or anything they first got hold of; indeed they used no ceremony on that head; he never saw anything of that kind now. There are no girls work in the pit, nor did he ever know any. Seldom known much fighting or quarrelling, indeed they have not time there. Has not known any deformity produced by stooping or other causes, excepting accidents; but when they become old they are often bent, and cannot walk straight. They have little more than a yard high to work in, perhaps four or five inches above; never less than a yard. "He reckons" they are quite as healthy as those above ground. He has two children now who work in the pit, and neither they nor himself have suffered in their health more than those above ground. They often get bruised byrubbing against the coals and clogs which support the pit. The pit he works in is wet byplaces, but seldom over the shoes; it is about the same in winter and summer. He is seldom put about by wet from the roof, unless after a very wet time indeed; these pits are considered very dry, The staver or butty pays the children as well as the men, buys the hay and corn, and is, indeed, the overlooker of the pit. Are now seldom troubled with the damp, that is the black-damp, but has known it frequently since he has worked in the pits after very windy weather; it is known to be coming on by the candles burning bad, and will put every candle out in the pit, when all are forced to go away as fast as they can; but is not so bad above once a-year, yet are often hindered by it, but not so much at these pits as at others. He does not think colliers live so long as those above ground, nor do they look so well; very few live to be 60. There are some who are asthmatical and many go double, and most are troubled with rheumatism-very few reach 40 without a touch of it;" thinks through the hardness of thelabour; they are obliged, from over fatigue, to sit down, and then they get chilled, which brings it on; he does not think it owing to the wet, indeed neither men nor boys get wet through. Sometimes it is very cold, and in a dull day very " muddling" He thinks very few can either read or write; his children can read a little, There are Sunday-schools, and in a general way most of the children attend; they may learn to read a little, but in most of the schools they are not taught to write on a Sunday; the minister has an evening-school, where they may learn to write by paying for it; he thinks very few are able to take advantage of this, indeed he thinks none. The work of the pit could not proceed without the help ofchildren; the grown-up people could not do the work they do, there would not be room.There is no doubt colliers are much harder worked than labourers; “indeed it is the hardest work under heaven." They are obliged to work naked, both boys and menthat is, to thewaist. When they are about 11, till they grow up, they are employed by drawing with the belt, and often complain of their hips hurting them, as they are fastened to the tub, with a hook, and have to work bent double; some children have to work on their hands and knees with a belt on, Some take tea, some beer down with them, and some nothing; some have meat, but very few; some have bread and cheese, but many only a little bread; has never known their victuals disagree; if they could get them they would find no difficulty in eating them. They have no regular meals, hut take what they call clocking into the mines with them,and take a bitewhen they can. He gets upon an average 14s. or 15s. a. week, but is sure that is the outside; the highest is 20s but is not now getting above 9s, the trade is so flat. His work is always sitting, and so are all the men, excepting the loaders, who are always working bent. When trade is good the children work the whole week from five in the morning until four or five in the afternoon, and are not allowed, unless an accident or serious illness arises, on any account to leave the pit. They are seldom worked at nights, unless when they are making a new pit; but in a general way very few work at nights; but sometimes he has known it to be the case that they go to work at 12 o'clock P,M., and work the time out from that hour. He always reckons a collier's life, both for man and child; a life of great danger; he is subject both to broken limbs, fire, and damp; and; he may say, is not safe after he is swung off to be let down into the pit. He has known people who have left other business and come to work in a pit, but in a few weeks were glad to getaway again.

Witness - ED. ROSSELL.

(Signed)

his WILLIAM X WARDLE. mark.

Evidence collected by J. M. Fellows, Esq.