Coal and ironstone were being dug in the Stoke-On-Trent and North Staffordshire area as early as 1282, and by 1467 the Great Row Coal steam was being mined. The actual area where the coal is exposed at the surface is only 70 square miles , which is small compared to the other coal fields.

In the beginning it was only the fittest men who could stand the hard work in the pits. Ropes were tied round waists an necks to the heavy carts  which were often pulled up steep hills resulting in the withered growth of many of the workers.

Hours were long and hard and people often worked for 69 hours a week.    

If you want to find more about mining then go to www.shropshiremining.org.uk