Women of the Durham Coalfield in the 19th Century: Hannah's Story

by Margaret Hedley, John Grundy (Foreword)

The success of the Durham Coalfield and its important role in the Industrial Revolution is attributed to men of influence who owned the land and the pits, and men who worked in the coal-mining industry during the Victorian period. There has been very little written about the importance of the home life that supported the miners - their wives who, through heroic efforts, did their best to provide attractive, healthy, happy home for their husbands, often in appalling social conditions. To provide a welcoming atmosphere at home demanded tremendous resources and commitment from the miners' wives. Despite their many hardships these women selflessly put everyone in the family before themselves. They operated on less rest, less food at times of necessity and under the huge physical burden of work and the emotional burden of worry concerning the safety of their family. Women of the Durham Coalfield in the 19th Hannah's Story addresses the lack of information about the role of women in the Durham Coalfield, engagingly explored through one woman's experience.

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2019

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting tale and it shows what a lot of information you can find out about people through online research. It referred to quite a few historical facts and events but usually in vague terms. Footnotes would have been helpful.

This is a promising start for a first book but perhaps the author needs to decide whether she wants to be Catherine Cookson or Lucy Worsley. At the moment she is falling somewhere between the two.

[Joanne Lidford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, found it a little confusing at times when it switched from actual facts to the bits that the author had made up to tie things together, but once I got my head around it I was fine! I’m now reading Hannah’s Daughter, enjoying that too. Both books are very interesting and are helping me piece together my own family’s story - who were part of the Durham Coalfield too.

[Susan Mcguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Family History with added value

I read this in the wake of my own research and writing about my Northeast mining family. I found it utterly compelling and admirable in its detail of daily life highs, lows and hardships for women in mining communities. Breathtaking.

[The Shopping Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read

I am researching my own ancestry and with quite a bit of it taking part in Dutham mining towns, have found this a particularly interesting read

[Kate Mull · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simply told story, but nevertheless gives an insight into what Hannah endured and how she had the strength to cope. You couldn’t help but admire her fortitude. What sad lives this community lived.

[Debbie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really struggled to get into this book as it moved quickly (often within a paragraph or sentence) between historical facts/information and the storyline of the characters.
I stuck with it and enjoyed following Hannah's story.