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Black and white film with commentary reconstructing and telling the history of coal mining in Britain from the earliest account of people collecting coal on the sea shore around 1100 AD in the north east through to mechanised extraction. (28 mins duration). Gap in film where reel changed. Topics covered: Collecting coal on surface, bell pits, drift mines, expansion in industry in 14th century; risks of ‘stale air’ and ‘choke damp’ and detection of presence through the dimming of a candle flame and dispersing the gas build-up through fanning the air with a jacket.

Transportation of coal underground and use of women and children for this, change from human power to horse power, development of horse gin.

Increased risk of firedamp explosions as mines became deeper, the role of the ‘fireman’ to ignite the gas via a candle and enable the mine to work safely.

The problem of water collecting underground and the engineers who invented machines to help with drainage: Capt Thomas Savery’s patent, Thomas Newcomen’s pump.

Development of machinery to assist with extraction and transportation of coal on surface and underground, use of first locomotive to move coal at Middleton Colliery.

Rise in coal productivity from 10 million tonnes in 1805 to 225 million tonnes in 1905 and how this rise in productivity reliant on children working underground moving the coal and operated the doors. Also reliant on women who also formed the 1 million workforce as they moved the coal and sorted it.

Increased use of blasting to extract coal caused new danger in exploding coal dust and the invention of the flame safety lamp by Sir Humphrey Davy to counter this.

Film closes with look at how use of electricity underground helped increase productivity through increased use of mechanisation.