Colliery Deputy (Below Ground)

[samhuzz]

Hello

What would this job actually entail? I have no idea, so any suggestions would be grateful.

Thanks

Samantha

[Jack Richards]

I suspect you will receive advice to go to a particular web site where occupations are described.

Meanwhile, here is my brief explanation of the role of a Deputy below ground in a coal mine.

He can be compared to a supervisor, he was responsible for an area of the pit underground. He would walk the roadways (tunnels to non mining folk) and crawl along the coal face where men were working. He would be supervising all aspects of health and safety and mostly stop and speak to the men on his area - often called a district. There would be a deputy on that distrct/area every shift and they would "hand over" to each other.

Although an official, he would mostly be part of the team and would most likely be part of the community above ground.

He would have a senior man higher than himself, that person being an Overman who would be responsible for a wider area/districtS.

One below the Deputy would be the shotfirers, which as it's name suggests were responsible for exploding the powder to break the coal or rock into smaller pieces.

Hope this gives you an idea of his role. Oh and he would almost certainly have started work down the pit as a miner and worked his way up to being a Deputy. i.e. Deputy to the manager etc.

Regards

[samhuzz]

Hi Jack

Thanks very much for taking the time to give such an informative answer. It was the occupation of my grandfather's biological father, so its interesting to know what he did. I should be ashamed not to know really, I am from Coalville, which is right in the middle of the coalfields in Leicestershire! Its all before my time though. I think its a shame schools don't teach more about local history really.

Thanks again

Samantha

[Ian Taylor]

Hello

What would this job actually entail? I have no idea, so any suggestions would be grateful.

Thanks

Samantha

The deputy was also responsible for testing for poisonous and explosive gases. He would carry a "deputies lamp" (a davy lamp) to assist him in this. I have my grandfathers lamp as an ornament in my house.