Figure 1.--This is a sculpture in the town of Wigan, located between two of England's largest cities, Livrpool and Manchester. Wigan was a major mill town and coal mining district. A the peak of the mining era there were 1,000 pit shafts within 5 miles of the town center. The sculpture depicts a pit family. The son looks to be about 14 and dressed like dad . Wife and mother dress to work on the surface soering the coal hense the sieve. Dad and son carry a bate (food) can. Son and dad wear caps. Mum wears her uniform clothing shawl trousers and a pinafore.

The British Isles (England and Wales) have a long and important mining history. This began during the transition from the stone age meaning non-ferrous metals. Which of course was a major step in the development of civilization Britain was not an important early center in the rise of civilization. This began in the great River Valleys without metal. In fact what was important in Sumeria where civilization was born was mud. A civilization advanced metals emerged as important. This began with copper that lead to the Bronze Age. Copper was the first metal to be developed by man, because of the low smelting temperature required. But copper alone at the time had limited utility. Bronze in contrast had huge utility. During the Bronze Age, but it was a rare location that had both copper and tin--the metals needed to produce bronze. Copper was a fairly common metal, tin was much less available. Copper in the British Iles was first mined in Wales (2200–850 BC). One of the early mine was Great Orme. But it was tin that first brought what was to become England into the world economy. Bronze was developed in the Mediterranean World, but both copper and tin existed in Britain. During ancient times traders from the Mediterranean World reached the British Isles to secure the precious tin need to produce bronze. And given the limitations of naval technology, this an testimony to the drive to find tin. During the Iron Age, tin declined in importance, but other metals (including copper, iron, lead, and silver) that were a major draw for the Romans. The Romans introduced iron tools. and used local slaves to mine galena. his was one of many lead ores from which lead, tin and silver could be refined. The Romans used metals produced were locally as well as traded them throughout the Mediterranean World. Galena required advanced Roman technology as it required deep mines which were developed in what is now Wales.and Scotland. During the Medieval Era it was wool that drove the English economy. Wood was much more important than metal and the dense forests of the British Isles were a major asset. The Rise of the Royal Navy was done with wooden ships which led to the depletion of those forests. The American Revolution (1776-83) cut Britain off from a possible solution--the vast North American forests. All of this changed with the Industrial Revolution (mid-18th century). Just as Britain had the copper and tin needed for bronze, it also had th the iron and coal needed to produce iron and steel. The two were located in close proximity, vital before modern transport was developed. This was a factor explaining why it was England invented the Industrial Revolution. The other key element that that it was England along with the Dutch that invented developed capitalism. England's abundant coal resource was a major factor in its rise as a great world power. The coal was not only used to produce iron and steel which replaced wood, but with the invention of steam power to power shipping and the all important railroads. Coal would play a huge role in the English economy. Oil began replacing coal at the turn of the 20h century, but continued to be important into the 1980s. Coal was vital in the British victory and in the two world wars of the 20h century which essentially saved Western Civilization. he role of Bevan's Boys is not well understood. Metal mining is now virtually non-existent in Britain. The coal industry had declined because of low-cut foreign producers and environmental concerns.

Created: 2:33 PM 2/14/2025
Last updated: 2:33 PM 2/14/2025