tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post396118857578382337..comments2024-03-25T22:00:50.265+00:00Comments on *An English Travel Writer*: Killhope, Spar Boxes and A Bit of SpookinessJenny Woolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16881781466502273314noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-50422603570908245392012-09-09T18:29:19.380+01:002012-09-09T18:29:19.380+01:00I've not been down the lead mine but I've ...I've not been down the lead mine but I've been in other mines. I cannot even conceive of the life. My area of interest used to be (still is I suppose) Nelsonia and that era of the Royal Navy. I have a feeling that there would be little to choose between sailing in the tropics or the seas off Copenhagen in the winter in a man-of-war and a lead mine. We have become soft to a degree where we could not even begin to tolerate those lives now.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-86088306217901659072012-09-04T04:13:59.329+01:002012-09-04T04:13:59.329+01:00What amazing adventures you've been having.What amazing adventures you've been having. Relyn Lawsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01389583730002062714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-81252923134619518252012-09-02T15:53:47.871+01:002012-09-02T15:53:47.871+01:00There is always a heartbreaking story behind mines...There is always a heartbreaking story behind mines. Sometimes I don't even want to imagine how people could work in such conditions. But life is tough and somebody has to do that. The garden of crystals though doesn't show the real atmosphere as you said, looks impressive.psychelynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13481182811314917401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-14786565993688332722012-09-01T15:33:01.300+01:002012-09-01T15:33:01.300+01:00Your description on how the lofe of the lead miner...Your description on how the lofe of the lead miners are so vivid... I can picture them clearly in my head... not exactly a nice sight.<br /><br />What a life, jsut to gain a few $$$ to support themselves and their families. :(linahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17273605189937933589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-13180325812296438392012-08-31T23:52:51.882+01:002012-08-31T23:52:51.882+01:00Thank Goodness for Trade Unions. They may not be a...Thank Goodness for Trade Unions. They may not be as necessary now as they were then but without them to insist on proper working conditions for miners (coal as well) things would have remained intolerable for a lot longer.<br /><br />I hate crawling into holes in the ground, you are certainly a lot braver than I would be. I can't even go into nice big caves without being pushed and led by the hand.<br /><br />I love Durham too, town and cathedral are very special places to visit.Frikohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04277167831642088694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-48006283060711623822012-08-31T03:15:58.950+01:002012-08-31T03:15:58.950+01:00The mine seems aptly named, sadly. And since I ha...The mine seems aptly named, sadly. And since I have an overactive imagination myself, I saw all your spectres! Very spooky but probably just the coolest things for young boys! I'm curious, knowing what we know now about lead and how toxic it can be, was there any discussion about how long visitors could stay down there or what they could and couldn't touch?The Foolish Aesthetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17115423516641338460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-16605643158926624802012-08-30T20:18:57.242+01:002012-08-30T20:18:57.242+01:00That is sad to think that those men worked, ate, s...That is sad to think that those men worked, ate, slept all in the same place, not seeing their families for weeks, months, years. Sad indeed. Here we have caves that one can take tours through. One of the tours, turns out all the lights so that you can experience total darkness. It was so weird not being able to see your hands in front of your face.mamahasspokenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18049292242708654609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-3550255882446834822012-08-30T18:28:18.272+01:002012-08-30T18:28:18.272+01:00My goodness - I think I actually learned something...My goodness - I think I actually learned something! You're dangerous. My particular charm as a writer is built upon my abysmal ignorance of most things. You'll have me out of work.<br /><br />I wonder how the offspring of the lead miners fared, what with lead being such a poisonous thing to mental development.Suldoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07778845367184916684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-53386458517316320052012-08-29T19:08:59.721+01:002012-08-29T19:08:59.721+01:00That is fascinating! And creepy. What horrible thi...That is fascinating! And creepy. What horrible things they had to endure in there!Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-42486284247840130552012-08-29T14:32:44.779+01:002012-08-29T14:32:44.779+01:00Working in a lead mine must have been hell on eart...Working in a lead mine must have been hell on earth, however much time you had had to "get used to it". How exactly do you get used to hours of hard physical labour standing in freezing water, then getting foot rot and TB? While the mine-owner was no doubt living like a lord in his opulent mansion a few miles away.nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10472673041193755894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-79297211041166159542012-08-29T13:55:05.624+01:002012-08-29T13:55:05.624+01:00Thanks to everyone for the comments. COnsidering ...Thanks to everyone for the comments. COnsidering coal miners, the only thing in favour of lead mining (or 2 things) are that you're not too deep underground, and the air is not potentially inflammable like it is with coal, which gives off gas. As for being better than coal mining, though, I doubt it. I don't know what Victorian coal miners lived like but George Orwell wrote about miners' lives in the 1920s and it sounds like hell. I don't know what claustrophobic people would have done either. Got a job doing something else, I guess, at lower pay. There must have been shops and pubs and services even in a mining community, that didn't involve going down the mine. My great grandfarther worked in a mine office in Northumberland, and by all accounts he was a mighty tough man, I don't know if he worked his way up but I don't think there was much of a career route out of the mine. <br />No, Pixel Peeper, it is not me in the photo. I sometimes think it's a good idea to record parents' memories of life doing hard jobs like this, I wonder what stories your dad's passed on to you Annemarie?Jenny Woolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16881781466502273314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-90019227731338668232012-08-29T11:11:42.714+01:002012-08-29T11:11:42.714+01:00An interesting experience but like you I would hav...An interesting experience but like you I would have been greatly relieved to get outside again!LindyLouMachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-81014150884581603132012-08-29T03:21:42.353+01:002012-08-29T03:21:42.353+01:00One aspect of harsh working conditions of miners w...One aspect of harsh working conditions of miners who must have suffered the slings and arrows of living came to the surface thanks to your experience. It's so poignant. There may be this kind of conditions still now. It may be just that I try to avoid looking at it... <br />Thank you for sharing an unusual experience.cosmoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411297580664818094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-18425904698522285572012-08-29T03:12:51.402+01:002012-08-29T03:12:51.402+01:00wow...gave me a shiver a bit...went down into a co...wow...gave me a shiver a bit...went down into a coal mine in kentucky once...and was a very overpowering experience for me....we have old railroad tunnels nearby as well with the dates carved in the wall....pretty crazy....Brian Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722940075884718007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-84066718481555160802012-08-29T01:01:26.712+01:002012-08-29T01:01:26.712+01:00Thank you for this interesting and informative pos...Thank you for this interesting and informative post.<br />It was a sad way to make a living, but some had no other choice of survival.<br />It took me back to a few years ago when I was riveted to the tv watching to see if all the miners that were trapped in the Chilean mine would make it out safely....and I was overjoyed when they did.VirginiaChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17282569773671179047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-14951131512360892942012-08-28T23:22:17.630+01:002012-08-28T23:22:17.630+01:00Very interesting read. Mining in the US is often ...Very interesting read. Mining in the US is often a family affair with grandfathers, fathers, and sons all following in the profession. In my humble opinion, these men do not get paid well enough for what they endure even in modern times.Craftymoose Craftshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02791008130982382299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-37602594387270899542012-08-28T23:15:19.400+01:002012-08-28T23:15:19.400+01:00What a great place to explore! I have traveled aro...What a great place to explore! I have traveled around the UK many times, but I never even heard of this place. It has now earned a spot on my <i>To Do</i> list.JJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14692103477055483000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-60905260014570728902012-08-28T19:23:42.221+01:002012-08-28T19:23:42.221+01:00A really interesting post, thanks Jenny. If the m...A really interesting post, thanks Jenny. If the miners survibed the effect on their feet and lungs they sometimes developed nervous disorders from handling the lead. It lost them them feeling in their limbs and damaged the motor nerves. As you said, a hard and sad life.Scriptor Senexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17795521284516432520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-60008293346527054202012-08-28T18:30:31.128+01:002012-08-28T18:30:31.128+01:00Fascinating. I don't think I could have braved...Fascinating. I don't think I could have braved going in there, so thank you for sharing your experiences :-) xTeresa Ashbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350697922935549188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-47094288711797129972012-08-28T17:48:43.703+01:002012-08-28T17:48:43.703+01:00fascinating although very sad--wonderful pics fascinating although very sad--wonderful pics Lynn Proctorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349867270815243053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-53632712875491547412012-08-28T14:28:45.510+01:002012-08-28T14:28:45.510+01:00It is sobering to see how some before us lived and...It is sobering to see how some before us lived and died. It makes me sad and so very grateful. Thank you for sharing.<br />And I just learned what wellies are last year. We call them rain-boots. ;)Sonya Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01985227040902078422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-14973962632126816692012-08-28T13:28:30.327+01:002012-08-28T13:28:30.327+01:00You have such interesting adventures. I can't...You have such interesting adventures. I can't imagine going into a mine myself but I sure enjoyed your photo's. Life for the workers must have been so miserable tho.<br /><br />DarlaDarlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02729017606957829830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-46071366105094472042012-08-28T11:14:00.895+01:002012-08-28T11:14:00.895+01:00Fascinating places for us today - I love to explor...Fascinating places for us today - I love to explore caves, go pot-holing, whatever. But difficult to imagine the hardships for the poor soles who had to work them. Thanks for a really gripping and informing post.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-29212313891836322722012-08-28T10:36:09.944+01:002012-08-28T10:36:09.944+01:00Co. Durham is an amazing place and the village nam...Co. Durham is an amazing place and the village names are very revealing: there's a Wideopen, and a Pity Me, which I always think is deeply depressing. It must have been a really tough place to live back in the day. MorningAJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04719744167307369768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7937298116504825290.post-58285627325832018912012-08-28T10:33:17.193+01:002012-08-28T10:33:17.193+01:00A fascinating blog Jenny. Thanks for sharing this ...A fascinating blog Jenny. Thanks for sharing this tour. As I am claustrophobic I wouldn't like to go into that mine! Very interesting though - DaveDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851174879441602754noreply@blogger.com