Mineshaft Collection

Women climbing ladders to carry coal up a mineshaft, Scotland, in early 19th century
530410 Women climbing ladders to carry coal up a mineshaft, Scotland, in early 19th century. London, 1865 (wood engraving from L)

Coal miners, carrying their safety lamps, 1869 (engraving)
863780 Coal miners, carrying their safety lamps, 1869 (engraving); (add.info.: Coal miners, carrying their safety lamps, being lowered down the pit shaft on a chain with stirrups attached)

Mikhail Alekseevich Pavlov by the Chute of an Exploratory Mine, 1920-1929. Creator: Unknown
Mikhail Alekseevich Pavlov by the Chute of an Exploratory Mine, 1920-1929. From the family archive of prominent geologist Mikhail Alekseevich Pavlov (1884-1938)

Top of Mineshaft, c. 1815. Creator: Frederick Nash
Top of Mineshaft, c. 1815

The Shaft - Descent of the Bucket, Marston Salt-Pit, 1850. Creator:s Read
The Shaft - Descent of the Bucket, Marston Salt-Pit, 1850. Scene at Marston Mine, near Northwich, in Cheshire....every facility was shown to strangers who were desirous of seeing the wonders of

Lowering Hard Labor Convicts down a Shaft of the Savinsk Mine, Gornyi Zerentui... 1891. Creator: Aleksei Kuznetsov
Lowering Hard Labor Convicts down a Shaft of the Savinsk Mine, Gornyi Zerentui Section of the Nerchinsk Mining District, 1891

Florence Iron Mine DP223656
Florence Mine, Little Mill, St. John Beckermet, Copeland, Cumbria. General view of the disused iron mine site from the south-west, with a puddle of ochre water in the foreground

Laxey Wheel, Laxey, Isle of Man

The Coal Strike, from The Year 1912, published London, 1913 (litho)
KW280476 The Coal Strike, from The Year 1912, published London, 1913 (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: National Coal Strike, 1912;)

Descent into the Hallein Salt Mine, Austria, 18th century (handcoloured copperplate engraving)
5986490 Descent into the Hallein Salt Mine, Austria, 18th century (handcoloured copperplate engraving) by Stanghi (19th century); (add.info.: Descent into the Hallein Salt Mine, Austria)

Private Torrance pumping air into a mine under heavy fire (litho)
STC413334 Private Torrance pumping air into a mine under heavy fire (litho) by Pearse, Alfred (19th/20th Century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Private J)

Farmers of the town of Salzburg, Austria, 18th century. Contadini del Salisburgh. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Antonio Verico from Giulio Ferrarios Costumes Ancient

Mining, 1919 (oil on canvas)
FFA274077 Mining, 1919 (oil on canvas) by Segal, Arthur (1875-1944); 68.5x90.2 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Bergwerk; ); Romanian, out of copyright

Coal miner (litho)
3639174 Coal miner (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Coal miner.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection

An Overgrown Mineshaft, ca. 1824. Creator: Carl Gustav Carus
An Overgrown Mineshaft, ca. 1824

Kimberley, South Africa, circa 1888 - Mining
Kimberley, South Africa, circa 1888 (Robert Harris studio) - Mining - Central Companys mineshaft. Date: circa 1888

Coal mine showing two shafts, coal miners lift, and lift to transport coal to surface, diagram

In the Coal Mine, Illustration from A History of Coal, Coke, Coalfields
XJF294075 In the Coal Mine, Illustration from A History of Coal, Coke, Coalfields and Iron Manufacture in Northern England by W.Fordyce, published in 1860 (engraving) (b/w photo) by English School

Women at Work in a Coal Mine (engraving) (b / w photo)
XJF294074 Women at Work in a Coal Mine (engraving) (b/w photo) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

COMSTOCK LODE, 1859-79. A cutaway view of the mines of the Comstock Lode at Virginia City, Nevada, which yielded more than 500 million dollars in silver and gold ore between 1859 and 1879

COLORADO: GOLD MINERS, 1893. Miners posing outside the entrance to the Gold King Mine near Cripple Creek, Colorado. Photographed in 1893

COLORADO: MINERS, c1890. Miners with family members at the Hillside Mine near Cripple Creek, Colorado. Photographed by J.G. Wilson, c1890

An ideal mine illustrating the construction of various types of support and the arrangement of the central shaft
MINING, 18th CENTURY. An ideal mine illustrating the construction of various types of support and the arrangement of the central shaft. Copper engraving, French, 18th century

Sinking a mineshaft by Trigers method (1841) devised for use in the difficult conditions of the Basse-Loire coalfield, France. Cast iron cylinders sunk to riverbed

Coal miner descending the mineshaft standing on the edge of a tub and steadying himself by holding the chains from which the tub is suspended. A safety lamp is hanging from his belt

Miners in Chihuahua, Mexico, ascending a mineshaft by means of crude steps carrying candles attached to sticks to light their way. Descending and ascending such shafts was a daily hazard

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Exploring the Depths: A Glimpse into the World of Mineshafts Delving into history, we uncover a series of captivating images that shed light on the enigmatic realm of mineshafts. From coal strikes to colliery disasters, these snapshots offer a glimpse into the perilous yet vital industry that has shaped our past. In "The Coal Strike, " an illustration from 1912 London, we witness the turmoil and strife surrounding this pivotal moment in labor history. The lithograph captures the tension between workers and management as they fought for better working conditions and fair treatment. Moving across continents, we find ourselves at Florence Iron Mine DP223656. This intriguing photograph transports us to an era when iron mining was at its peak, showcasing miners diligently extracting precious resources from deep within the earth's core. Venturing further afield, we encounter Laxey Wheel on the Isle of Man—an impressive testament to human ingenuity. This colossal waterwheel powered by nature stands tall as a symbol of industrial progress and innovation in harnessing natural resources. Our journey takes an unexpected turn with "To The Rescue"—An Episode of a Colliery Disaster dating back to 1886. With its unknown creator, this haunting depiction portrays bravery amidst chaos as rescuers risk their lives to save trapped miners—a poignant reminder of humanity's resilience in times of crisis. Transported back in time once more, we descend into Hallein Salt Mine in Austria during the 18th century through a handcoloured copperplate engraving. This artwork showcases not only man's quest for valuable minerals but also his artistic prowess in capturing such scenes with intricate detail. Private Torrance pumping air into a mine under heavy fire—this lithograph encapsulates heroism amid adversity during wartime struggles faced by those who worked tirelessly underground while danger lurked above ground. Shifting gears slightly, we catch glimpses of farmers from Salzburg during the 18th century.