The Somerset and Lothian miners, 1919-c.1947 : changing attitudes to pit work in the twentieth century
The somewhat neglected topic of attitudes to mining, as an influence on labour supply in the coal industry, is the subject of this thesis. By the 1940s antagonism to mining was a nationwide phenomenon, although the regional experiences of miners and their families varied considerably between the wars. The study therefore starts at regional level before moving on to consider from a broader perspective the topic of changing attitudes to pit work. The first part of the thesis comprises a comparative study of the Somerset and Lothian (Mid and East Lothian) coalfields, two districts which have attracted little attention from historians. An overview of the industry in both areas is given in the opening chapter, where the regional characteristics of ownership and management are also discussed. The following three chapters focus respectively on change and continuity in the work place; life in the mining communities; the relationship between the miners' unions and the wider labour movement. The perspective shifts to national level in chapter five but the theme of regional influence on attitudes to pit work is carried forward by extensive reference to a Social Survey inquiry carried out in Scottish mining communities
Bonsall, Penny
DA Great Britain
The Somerset and Lothian miners, 1919-c.1947 : changing attitudes to pit work in the twentieth century. The somewhat neglected topic of attitudes to mining, as an influence on labour supply in the coal industry, is the subject of this thesis. By the 1940s antagonism to mining was a nationwide phenomenon, although the regional experiences of miners and their families varied considerably between the wars. The study therefore starts at regional level before moving on to consider from a broader perspective the topic of changing attitudes to pit work. The first part of the thesis comprises a comparative study of the Somerset and Lothian (Mid and East Lothian) coalfields, two districts which have attracted little attention from historians. An overview of the industry in both areas is given in the opening chapter, where the regional characteristics of ownership and management are also discussed. The following three chapters focus respectively on change and continuity in the work place; life in the mining communities; the relationship between the miners' unions and the wider labour movement. The perspective shifts to national level in chapter five but the theme of regional influence on attitudes to pit work is carried forward by extensive reference to a Social Survey inquiry carried out in Scottish mining communities
somerset miner change_attitude pit work somewhat neglected topic attitude mining influence labour supply coal_industry subject thesis antagonism mining nationwide phenomenon although regional experience miner family vary_considerably war study_therefore start regional_level move consider broad_perspective topic_change attitude pit work first_part comprise comparative_study somerset mid east coalfield district attract little_attention historian overview industry area give opening regional characteristic ownership management also_discuss follow_three focus respectively change_continuity work place life mining_community relationship miner union wider labour_movement perspective shift national_level theme regional influence_attitude pit work_carry forward extensive reference social survey inquiry carry scottish mining_community