Life down a mine started very early for children in 1839. They were often send down for the first time at 5 years old. They would start early in the morning, sometimes carried there by their parents, still sleeping. They would be put ot work as ‘trappy lads and lasses’, opening and closing the doors between passages. This was an important job as otherwise a build-up of methane could (and often did) cause an explosion. Mines were dangerous places to work-accidents were very common and children and adults often died or lost a limb. Conditions down the pit were horrendous. Flooding meant that children would often work for 13 hours a day, knee deep in water. Pit propos (the wood that held up the passageway roofs) could collapse, trapping workers underneath. A glossary of mining terms as well as regional language used down the pit, can be found at the end of the book.

By Jacqueline Baxter, edited by Lauren Darby.

The second book in the series; Children of the City, follows the children to London and explores life and work in the Victorian City. It is due to be published in July 2025.