Bedlington - Sound

Transcription of an interview with Mr. Stephen B. Martin recorded on the 29^th October 1974

Stephen Martin was born in 1905. He worked in the coalmines in the Bedlington area until his retirement. He had a keen interest in local history and deposited many records, which he had collected, with the Northumberland Archive Service.

[Transcription]

Things had changed very seriously for the coal hewer in the Bedlington area, after the turn of the century, because the main seam, and the best production seam was the low main, which was anything from five feet to twelve feet thick in places, clean coal without any dirt band. Where the coal hewers could produce as many coals as they could fill, and therefore receive quite a good wage, they were all good cavils for men who worked in the low main. But after the 1890's the low main seam was becoming in the area worked out, and all that was left was little bits of patches of coal and pillars that wanted taken out, brokens as we call it.

 

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This tape recording comes from the large collection of oral history recordings held by the Northumberland Archive Service. Interviews were conducted by Record Office staff from the early 1970's right through until the mid 1980's. The purpose of the recordings was to capture the essence of life in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Many different subjects were covered, including coalmining, farming, fishing, domestic life, World Wars and entertainment. Over 350 recordings have been collected comprising approximately 700 hours of recollections.

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