In 1870 the British coalmining industry produced 110 million tons of coal and, of this, 25 million tons were exported. Some 296,000 men and boys were employed.

By 1900 output had increased to 240 million tons, of which 50 million tons were exported, making a major contribution to our economy. The coal industry reached its peak in 1913, when 280 million tons were produced, of which 90 million were exported. The industry employed 1 million men and boys; the death rate in mining was disastrous, 1,753 were killed in 1913.

Since 1913 output, exports and the number of men employed have constantly declined. Industrial relations within the coalmining industry have never been good; at the outset of the industry women and children were employed underground in the most appalling conditions.

Working conditions were grim and dangerous, wages were extremely poor, and there was an urgent need for some regulation in wages and working conditions within the mining industry.

On the 4th July 1838, at Husker Pit, Silkstone (about 8 miles from Darfield) there was a tragic accident.

26 children were drowned; 11 girls aged between 8 and 16 years old and 15 boys, aged between 9 and 12 years of age.

Queen Victoria demanded that a Public Inquiry be held. The Inquiry sat for 3 years. Their report lead to the passing of the Coal Mines Act 1842. This Act prohibited Women and boys under the age of 10 from working underground.

In 1866 a most violent underground explosion took place at the Oaks Colliery killing 360 men and boys. This was one of Britains biggest peacetime disasters since the fire of London.

In 1909 the Government became directly involved in Industrial relations. They were especially concerned about wages and workings conditions in "Sweated labour industries" and Wages Councils were set up to regulate wages and conditions in these industries. Wages Councils operated in British industry for over 80 years.

In the 1970's it was estimated that the total labour force was 23 millions (15 mill men and 8 mill women. There were some 60 Wages Councils regulating wages and working conditions for over 4 million workers; the major industries being, Agriculture and Catering. But in the 1990’s the Government abolished the WAGES Councils. Over the past decade there have been major changes in the labour force.

The Coal Mining Industry received special attention, in 1911 a very detailed and complexed Act of Parliament, which laid down guidelines affecting working conditions in the industry.

The Coal Mines Act 1911 operated in British mines for over 40 years.

In 1912 the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Act was passed. It had been previously put to a ballot of the members of the Miners Federation of Great Britain.

        Result of Ballot;

FOR 445,801     AGAINST 115,721

The awards were implemented on an Area basis (In Yorkshire there were two areas South and West). Negotiating machinery was set up on an Area basis.

Darfield provided a pool of labour for surrounding pits there were no pits within its boundaries, but there were 4 pits on its immediate borders. There were 10 pits employing 12.000 men and boys within easy travelling distance of Darfield The population of Darfield at this time was over 5,000, of this number 65% of men and boys worked in the mining industry.

In 1923-

    Darfield Main 850 men on books

    Mitchell's Main 2,478 men on books

    Houghton Main 2,374 men on books

    Dearne Valley 556 men on books

Darfield and Mitchells

Between 1860 and 1865 each of these pits sunk shafts to Barnsley Bed seam of coal, 7' 6" thick. This seam was continually worked until exhaustion in1912. For economic reason the two pits amalgamated; it was decided that Mitchell's work the lower seams leaving Darfield to work the seams above the Barnsley seam. During 1899 Mitchell's sunk shafts to the Parkgate seam, some 280 yards below the Barnsley seam. During 1913, at Darfield, a 21' 0" diameter shaft was sunk to the Thorncliffe seam some 300 yards to the Barnsley seam that linked up with the lower seams of Mitchell's. Mitchell's officially closed in 1956, all the men being transferred to Darfield. New Pit head baths were built. Darfield Main closed 1984/85.

Dearne Valley

Dearne Valley Colliery was a surface drift mine sunk in1901. It was a "wet" pit and much of its water was pumped to the Dearne Valley Water Board were it was treated and became part of the domestic water supply for Darfield and District.

As soon as the Pit was closed in 1991, bulldozer's moved in and outcropped a seam of coal some eighty yards below the surface

After outcropping was completed the area was landscaped. The only visual sight of the former pit is the entrance, which has been left in the middle of the site.

There was a marked decline in the demand for coal after 1918; this decline increased the conflict within the industry. There was mass unemployment, wages were poor, and short time working regularly occurred.

Coalowners imposed an output quota on each Pit, but the problem was that such quotas could be produced in 3 working days. It became common practice for men to work 3 days and sign on the dole for the other 3 days resulting in starvation incomes. In addition major strikes took place, Darfield miners were on strike in 1921, 1924 and then the General strike of 1926. Poverty and squalor were rife.

The combination of these factors had serious consequences; and a system of communal feeding was set up, these were commonly called "The Soup Kitchens ", there were four "Soup Kitchens" in Darfield, these were located at:

Working Men's Club, Providence St, Low Valley.

Norton Harrison's yard; at the junction of School St and Church St.

Butcher Whites, Snape Hill.

Nobles Yards Bridge Inn, Darfield.

Following the Second World War the coalmining industry was nationalised. "Vesting Day" was the 1st of January 1947 when the pits were taken into public ownership. On that day each pit hoisted a flag bearing the letters NCB (National Coal Board) and the entrance to each pit a notice was posted which read; MANAGED BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE.

For many Trade Union and Labour Party members this was a dream come true, it had been their policy since 1918. The coalfield's were divided into areas with an Area Director in charge. Yorkshire was divided into eight areas (this was reduced as the industry contracted).

Industrial relations improved, fairer wages were paid, there was more job security and better working conditions were achieved.

This was the first time mining communities enjoyed economic growth and expansion, COAL was KING, it was in great demand and coal mining had a monopoly of the fuel market, but it was not long lasting. By 1965 the economy had moved from a 'one fuel' capital to a 'four fuel' economy.

Nuclear Energy, Natural Gas and Oil became established fuels that competed with coal for a share of the energy market.

In the 1960's many pits were closed and many jobs were lost. The miners and their trade unions reacted very strongly to such losses, many strikes took place and as things got worse the fight moved into the political arena.

At one stage the action of the miners reduced the economy to a three-day working week and eventually to the downfall of the Heath Government. For a short time there was some stability but after a short time pits closed and jobs were lost. In 1984 things came to a head the coal board threatened to close Cortonwood. This they did and so far as the miners were concerned this was a closure too far, a 'NATIONAL STRIKE' was called.

This time the government took a strong stand, they appointed a tough American as Chairman and police forces from all over the country were moved into mining areas to prevent any industrial action (i.e. picketing).

After some twelve months the miners returned to work. The government called for the privatisation of all coalmines and they encouraged development of alternative fuels, the mining industry was decimated!

Whatever the rights or wrongs of the argument the facts are there are NO PITS in the DARFIELD or BARNSLEY area.