Saturday, October 15, 2005

Farmers, Potatoes, Shotguns, A Pattern forms

Shropshire County Council has an excellent website on coal mining in Shropshire

It has clear explanations of mining in general: techniques, machinery, dangers and some great audio archives.

Listen especially to Reuben Cope talk about mining in the twenties in a soft potteries accent, and the intake of breath that marks pneumoconiosis.I startled to hear that his first mine was alongside a potato field- he liked his baked.

Also a story about a farmer shooting a government man which I didnt quite follow. I thought for a moment that Reuben must have gone to Aylesham looking for work- but these were shropshire stories.

No comments: