The Colliers of the United Association of Durham and Northumberland 1825

The story of the first legal miners’ union. Forged in the great Northern Coalfield upon the repeal of the Combination Acts 1825. We explore the nature of pit work, the unequal stages of coalfield development which operated at the same time . The question of pre-teen labour, of female employment, methods of work and technical and scientific impacts. Seasonal employment, the Yearly Bond’ The illegal forerunner in the shape of the heroic Brotherhood of Colliers of Tyne and Wear. The rise and fall of this great human endeavour, the pioneer of two centuries of the mineworkers unions. We display the remarkable replica of a Miners Union Banner of the period and the immortalised hero’s and heroines whose faces appear on it.

David J Douglass served 42 years in the coalfields of Durham and Doncaster in rock headings and developments, on coalface caunches, in conventional, advancing and retreat operations. He served 25 years as a branch official of the NUM both as Delegate and Secretary at Hatfield Main Colliery, Doncaster [ the 2nd last mine in the country, closing in 2014]. An Executive Member and Vice Chair of South Yorkshire NUM Panel. Author of several histories of the miners and their unions, culture, dialects, technical operations and plans. He is a graduate of Ruskin College Oxford, Strathclyde University Glasgow, and Keele University. He is a member of NEIMME, as also serves on the Institute's Council.

17:30-18:00 - Tea and Coffee

18:00-18:50 - In-person only Lecture Starts

18:50 to 19:00 - Q & A

Welcome to our NEIMME Lecture. NEIMME is the Royal Chartered membership organisation for Engineering, Science and Technology in the North.
For more information about our events and the benefits of NEIMME membership see: https://mininginstitute.org.uk/membership/
For information on IOM3 membership see: https://www.iom3.org/

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Host or Publisher North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers