I was fascinated and appalled to hear of the conditions of slate miners. Working in damp, cold conditions for long hours, they manually “drilled” holes in the rock using a large metal rod and brute force, repeatedly bashing the rock with the rod whilst suspended from the ceiling with metal chains wrapped around their legs. After which, they put gunpowder in the hole and hoped they did not die of the explosion! We talked to people in other towns, who told us of fathers who had lost fingers and limbs.
As if the gruelling conditions weren’t enough, the invisible dust released from explosions caused silicosis, a lung disease. They were lucky if they lived beyond 50.
Where the miners ate
