Mining Factsheets
Our collection of mining factsheets provide an accessible introduction to the history, science and culture of coal mining.
We hope you can find what you are looking for but if there is a topic not covered here or if you have any questions, please get in touch with us by email education@ncm.org.uk and we will do our best to help you.
For more in-depth research, you can contact our librarians who will be happy to direct you to a wealth of primary and secondary sources. Click here for more information.
Working Life

19th century working conditions
A description of the conditions men, women and children worked in underground.

The 1842 Royal Commission
Set up by Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper, the 1842 Children's Employment Commission collected information about the condition and treatment of children working underground.
Mining Machines & Inventions

How is Coal Mined?
An overview of the different ways coal is mined: drift mining; open cast mining and deep mining.

Mining Transport
Find out how miners and equipment were transported underground and how this changed from using pit ponies to underground trains.
Pit Ponies
Find out about the important role of horses and ponies in the coal mining industry.

Pit Ponies, A Brief History
An insight into the different ways horses and ponies have been used in the mining industry.

Pit Ponies, Care
Learn how pit ponies were cared for underground, who looked after them and how were they treated.
Rocks and Minerals
What is coal? What are sedimentary rocks? Find out about the rocks and minerals found underground.