Hi I'm Dave Lloyd,

I am researching my family history, and find that they were miners in the Griff/Chilvers Coton area of Warwickshire.

My question is one of my great great grand fathers and uncles were listed in the census's of the day as a "Winseyman". I was wondering if you could tell me what this job was?

It was said by my father, that many years ago my family walked from the Ronda to find work in the Griff coal fields, but having gone back to 1744 and found a Thomas Lloyd (or could be spelt Loyd), who lived in Griff Village, I come to a stop.

My second question is, when did the Griff coal field first start and was it possible that they did indeed come up from the Ronda?

Thank you in anticipation.

Dave

Hi Fionn,

A Winsey or Winse is a horizontal wheel round the diameter of which is a rope which went over a pulley and down the shaft. The wheel was driven by a horse and the purpose was to raise and lower men and materials down the shaft.

From early days miners were mobile. First they came of the land to earn better wages than agricultural workers and mining was also a 12 month occupation not seasonal.

It has now been added to the Glossary and has it's own page

From: Roderick Grubb Sent: 23 January 2008

Hi Fionn
Just found your site and saw the question from Mr Lloyd asking about Griff coalfield and when it started. It is known that it dates back as far as the Romans and coal has been extracted in the area since then, first by means of Bell Pits and later the mines more or less as we know them today.

If any of your members need any lookups or specific information on the Chilvers Coton/Griff area they will find my details on http://www.hunimex.com/warwick/opc/opc.html#top

I actually found your site when doing some research for someone and I noticed the Wimseyman job on the Chilvers Coton 1836 so Googled it and your site came up. I doubt Mr Lloyd will need my help as he is already back well into the 1700s but I am always ready to help anyone.

Chilvers Coton is in the centre of a coal-mining area and I grew up seeing the miners walking home covered in pit dust before the baths were opened.

I have recently been doing some research for someone in Oz whose ancestors were miners, one of whom also took part in bare-knuckle fights watched by many thousands of people. With the money gained he eventually opened a pub, the Jolly Colliers, in the 1830s which lasted until 1973/4 when it was pulled down for a new bypass, I knew it well and actually had a pint in there not long before it finished, A good story and one I was delighted to research.

My Grandfather was a sawyer at Griff Colliery, my Maternal Grandfather was an engine-driver at the same and my wife's father was killed down Arley Pit so we have some coal dust in the family!

Regards, Rod

My great grandfather lived at 12 Coal Pit Lane Astley.
He was one of the people responsible for helping to sink the pit. His photograph is in the museum.
I do not have any other details and would be grateful if you have any knowledge you could share.
His name was William Elijah Unsworth born 1860 in Westleigh Lancs

Thanks
Arlene McDonald

Hi.

I am the daughter of George Eyre who was killed in the Markham pit disaster of 1973. I am looking for any survivors.

Thank you.

Jane

I do not have a list of those who died in the 1973 disaster and I feel they should be remembered on the site.

Thank you.
Fionn (webmaster)

I'm looking for information on my ancestor William Shaw, who was born in Cheadle in 1869. He was a coal miner maybe working at Berry Hill colliery. He was married to Annie and had 5 children, Edith, James, William, Mary (who was born in Berry Hill 1893) and Sarah Jane, my grandmother).

I think William and his family must have moved to the south Wales coalfields where my mother was born.

My daughter now lives in Cheadle, purely by coincidence and we'd love to find out a bit more about our ancestors and where they lived.

Hope you can help.

Sue

Hi,

I am trying to trace the son of the above Arthur Bernard Clifford (also named Arthur Bernard Clifford) mentioned in your website. My mother (nee Elizabeth Renee Hodson) was once engaged to him in 1940 and would like to know if he's still alive. He would be about 90 by now.

Many thanks,

GWYNNETH DEVANE (Mrs)

Hi There,

I am tracing my Grandfather David Padfield (1885-1947) born in Cwm, Monmouthshire.

I know that he worked in the Six Bells Colliery (c1920) and would like to know if any employee records may exist and if so, how do I go about obtaining them?

Thanks, Colleen

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