Access History

The Coal Industry

Agenda

The Coal Industry

History Repeating

Coal Mining

Socio Economic Consequences

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Source Analysis

And Finally

History Repeating

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Today the UK, indeed the world, faces a similar problem to the C18th & C19th Industrialists. We must find a new source of power.

C19th C21st

C19th Power Supply Issues

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Water powered technology relied upon a constant and relatively fast flow of water.

Wind power also relied upon the same basic weather related conditions.

Wood had been used to fuel the furnaces for centuries but deforestation had taken its toll on the UK and along with the environmental impact Britain now had to depend upon the supply from its imperial holdings leading to transportation issues.

Coal Mining

5

Coal was clearly the best solution to these energy issues.

Technological innovation in terms of steam power early in the C18th created a demand and it replaced wood as the primary fuel in iron foundries.

But how to get at it?

Socio-Economic Consequences

6

• Itinerant coal mining communities & ironworks

• Hauling large shipments of heavy coal required transport innovation (Link)

• Vertical shaft mining required improvement in pump technology

• Dramatic effect on working conditions and life expectancy (Link)

• Coal was essential to the development of Iron and Steel works facilitating the 2nd phase of the IR

Source Analysis

7

Read through the handout detailing the accounts of mines inspectors reporting back to the Royal Commission established in 1842 to investigate the conditions of mines in the UK.

What do the sources tell you about the people working in the C19th mines and their working conditions?

Is there any reason to doubt the validity of this source?

And finally…

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Coal was the driving force behind progression from iron as the main metallurgical industry to Steel.

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