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Coal mining pit boys and girls
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Coal mining pit boys and girls
The girls and boys who worked in the mines. Children covered in coal who had been working in the mines all day. The maidens (girls) who would sift the coal. The boys who would have been in charge of the horses that went down into the mines. Date: 1912
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Media ID 32251580
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Coal Conditions Maidens Mine Mines Mining Poor Sifting Tables Youths
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph, taken in 1912, captures a poignant moment in the harsh reality of coal mining's past. The image shows a group of young girls and boys, their faces smeared with coal dust, taking a brief respite from their arduous labor in the mines. The girls, referred to as 'maidens,' are seen carefully sifting through piles of coal on makeshift tables, separating the impurities from the valuable mineral. The boys, some no older than ten, are likely responsible for tending to the horses that were used to transport coal and supplies in and out of the mines. The working conditions in coal mines during this era were notoriously poor and dangerous. Long hours, low wages, and hazardous environments took a heavy toll on the health and well-being of the miners, both children and adults alike. The use of child labor in coal mining was a common practice during this period, with children as young as five years old working long hours in the dark, cramped mines. Despite the difficult circumstances, these young boys and girls were an essential part of the coal mining industry. Their labor was crucial to the economic prosperity of their communities, which were often impoverished and reliant on the coal industry for survival. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by the children of the coal mining communities during this era, and the harsh realities of the working class during the early 20th century.
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