The Sinkers

The sinking of Blackhall colliery started in the summer of 1909, and the first shaft sunk was a small one called 'the staple'. It was sunk to provide water for the village. When the water was found it was pumped to a newly built reser voir near Blue House Farm, and as the filter beds were not yet installed, the water in the houses was salty and could only be used for cleaning purposes. Drinking water had to be carried in pails from a spring just below the farm cottages and that spring is still there today. On average it took about six pails of water each day for a house.

My father got the first workman's house, No 1 First Street in September 1909. Four officials lived in the first block in East Street - the engineer, foreman joiner, master sinker and foreman labourer. As each house was completed a sinker moved in, and soon, First Street, one side of Second Street and one block of Middle Street were occupied by sinkers.

 

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