The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a time for big changes all around the
globe. In 1750 most people were farmers working the land with
homemade tools. They had their belongings made by hand and their
food grown by themselves. In the next one hundred years, country
villages transformed into industrial towns and cities. The people within
these towns and cities were now able to buy clothing and food instead of
having to produce it themselves. The Industrial-age was spreading far
and wide moving rapidly between countries and continents by trains
and ships. Along with many inventions and the improvement of home
life, there were many strides in the medical and science fields. There
were a few positive effects of this new era.but they of course came
with negatives. To begin with the many reasons the Industrial Revolution
both damaged and helped society, well be visiting with the conditions in
the coal mines.
On the one hand, during

the period of the industrial revolution, as demand for coal soared

thanks to iron and steam, as the technology to produce coal improved and the ability to
move it increased, coal experienced a massive escalation.
This demand for coal was both domestic for heating supplies as well as industry which
required the conversion of coal to coke; a process similar to the traditional conversion
of wood to charcoal. This demand for fuel sparked the industrialisation of the coal
mines across Britain over the space of 200 years.

From 1700 to 1750 production increased by 50% and nearly another 100% by
1800. During the later years of the first revolution, as steam power really took
a firm grip, this rate of increase soared after 500% by 1850.
Steam had also an obvious impact on the coal industry in generating vast
demand: steam engines needed coal. Coal mining used steam engines to go
deeper than before, so they could get more coal and increase production.
These engines could be powered by poor quality coal, so mines used their
waste in engines and they sold prime material.
There are also close links between coal and transport, as the former needs a
strong transport network able to move bulky goods. The roads in Britain before
1750 were very poor but once transport improved, coal could reach greater
markets and expand, and this came first in the form of canals, which could be
purpose built and move large quantities of heavy material.

By 1900 coal was producing six per cent of the national income despite having
a small workforce with only limited benefits from technology.

On the other hand, living conditions, coal mining conditions were very
poor and it caused healthy issues to the people. As I said, The Industrial
Revolution had drastically increased our need for iron and coal, so this
forced people (specifically children and women) to start working in the
mines. Miners were paid by the amount and quality of the coal mined, and they could be
fined if there was too much slack, the smaller pieces, but If they had a high standard of
living, they had a low standard of work: they worked with a higher risk of injury
and the working conditions were far harsher: There was no light in the
mines, giving the miners no visuals for what they were doing other than
maybe the light of a candle. The coal dust in the air was destroying their
lungs every time they inhaled it and there was always a danger of
explosions, flooding and collapsing tunnels. Sometimes miners worked in
seams no higher than 75cms and would struggle day to day with posture due to these
working conditions. There was no rest up for children neither. Those as young as five
worked as trappers. This job involved the opening and closing of airtight trap doors to
make sure fresh air circulated around the mine. Women & children were expected to
carry heavy baskets of coal on their backs, dealing with the conditions within the mines
including surface water and confined spaces.

Deaths in Coal Mines:

Unfortunately the dangers of the mine environments sometimes resulted in deaths for
those workers. The sheer demand and the fact the mines were hundreds of feet deep
meant accidents did happen and this usually resulted in the loss of lives of workers
throughout the country.