Pithead Collection (#2)

Work girls at the Wigan Collieries, late 19th century. From Cassells Illustrated History of England, Vol IX

Pithead at Hebburn Colliery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne area, 1860. The engine house (left) provides power for the winding gear (centre) which is raising baskets (corves)

Sketch of the Harrington Mill Pitt Colliery, County Durham, early 19th century. Artist: Middlemist
Sketch of the Harrington Mill Pitt Colliery, County Durham, early 19th century. View of the pit head, showing the steam engine house

Section of a Coal Mine, 1860. Artist: Thomas Dick
Section of a Coal Mine, 1860. A general pit head scene showing an engine house for a steam engine, the pit head winding gear and the underground areas of the mine in cross section

G Stephenson - West Moor
George Stephenson (1781 - 1848) Engineers cottage at West Moor

Pithead Scene
10th November 1970: The pithead at Glamorgan, which was affected by a massive unofficial strike in 1970. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

WW1 - Loos - Tower Bridge - pithead gear towers
WW1, Loos Tower Bridge - the name given to a pair of pithead gear towers here (also sometimes known as Crystal Palace ). Men from the Black Watch

Pithead at Hebburn Colliery, Newcastle area, showing engine house (left) providing power for the winding gear (centre) which is raising baskets (corves)

Rail mounted coal cutting machine powered by compressed air produced by a steam engine at the pithead. Wood engraving 1864

Coal cutting machine on rails, powered by compressed air produced by a steam engine at the pithead. From The Practical Dictionary of Mechanics by Edward H Knight (New York and London, c1880)

Pithead scene showing men and boys coming up from an underground shift. Note the female and child pithead workers. South Durham Coalfield, England

Man-engine or movable ladder adopted in Cornish mines. The movable ladder was powered by the steam engine at the pithead and moved with the regular stroke of the engine

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"Pithead: A Glimpse into the Coal Mining Era" Step back in time to Lea Hall Colliery and Rugeley A Power Station in Staffordshire, 1963. Witness the bustling pithead as miners toil away, fueling the nation's energy needs. Travel further north to Markham Main Colliery near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, 1961. The air is thick with determination as miners descend into the depths of the earth, their faces etched with resilience. In Wath upon Dearne, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, 1956, an artist captures the essence of Wath Main Colliery through his brushstrokes. The painting immortalizes a way of life that would soon fade into history. Even royalty couldn't resist exploring Wales' coal mines. In 1935, Queen Mary graced a Welsh colliery with her presence - a testament to the importance of this industry in shaping communities across Britain. A lithograph transports us deep underground into a Welsh coal mine - its dark tunnels and tireless workers reminding us of their immense contribution to our industrial heritage. Nottinghamshire Miners stand united against adversity - their unwavering solidarity echoing through time as they fight for better working conditions and fair treatment. Pickets at Snowdown Colliery symbolize resistance and defiance amidst turbulent times. These brave men refuse to be silenced as they defend their rights on picket lines filled with conviction. The St Just Tin Miners come alive through Harold Harvey's artistry (1874-1941). His masterful strokes capture both grit and grace as these Cornish miners navigate treacherous conditions beneath Cornwall's rugged landscape. Michael Walters takes us on a visual journey to Frickley Colliery in West Yorkshire during 1965. His artwork reveals not only the physical labor but also glimpses of camaraderie among those who toil together.