Social and cultural constructions of communities in South Yorkshire colliery settlements : the mining households of the Darfield and Wombwell district, c.1851-1900
Much of the literature relating to the history of miners has been written from a union orientated perspective. In this study a broader understanding of the lives of miners and their families is sought. Notions of community and communal belonging are central throughout the investigation. The extent of migration is considered. Clear evidence of residential clustering of migrants is uncovered. This had a significant impact upon community development within the settlements. The study acknowledges the centrality of the workplace in mining communities. Primary evidence suggests, though, that the mining workplace was not a cohesive social unit. Divisions within the workplace were as significant as those bet ween capital and labour. Longstanding, rigid divisions between grades of mining employees were uncovered which impacted upon their lives outside work. An examination of women's lives within the settlements questions the general assertion that they played an economically passive role within mining settlements. Women participated actively in the public life of the settlements through their involvement in mining disputes and other communal expressions of approbation, such as rough music. Religious and leisure activities
Walker, Andrew Guyon
Miners; Families; Migration
Social and cultural constructions of communities in South Yorkshire colliery settlements : the mining households of the Darfield and Wombwell district, c.1851-1900. Much of the literature relating to the history of miners has been written from a union orientated perspective. In this study a broader understanding of the lives of miners and their families is sought. Notions of community and communal belonging are central throughout the investigation. The extent of migration is considered. Clear evidence of residential clustering of migrants is uncovered. This had a significant impact upon community development within the settlements. The study acknowledges the centrality of the workplace in mining communities. Primary evidence suggests, though, that the mining workplace was not a cohesive social unit. Divisions within the workplace were as significant as those bet ween capital and labour. Longstanding, rigid divisions between grades of mining employees were uncovered which impacted upon their lives outside work. An examination of women's lives within the settlements questions the general assertion that they played an economically passive role within mining settlements. Women participated actively in the public life of the settlements through their involvement in mining disputes and other communal expressions of approbation, such as rough music. Religious and leisure activities
social_cultural construction community south_yorkshire colliery settlement mining household district much_literature relate history miner write union orientate perspective study broad live miner family seek community communal belonging central throughout investigation extent migration consider clear evidence residential clustering migrant uncover significant_impact upon community development within settlement study acknowledge centrality workplace mining_community primary evidence_suggest though mine workplace cohesive social unit divisions within workplace significant capital labour longstanding rigid division grade mine employee uncover impacted upon life outside work examination woman_live within settlement question general assertion play economically passive role_within mine settlement women participate actively public_life settlement involvement mining dispute communal expression rough music religious leisure_activity