Tracing Your Coalmining Ancestors - A Guide for Family Historians by Brian Elliott

Description

In the 1920's there were over a million coalminers working in over 3000 collieries across Great Britain and the industry was one of the most important and powerful in British history. It dominated the lives of generations of individuals, their families and communities, and its legacy is still with us today - many of us have a coalmining ancestor.

Yet family historians often have problems in researching their mining forebears. Locating the relevant records, finding the sites of the pits, and understanding the work involved and its historical background can be perplexing. That is why Brian Elliot's concise, authoritative and practical handbook is so useful, for it guides researchers through these obstacles and opens up the broad range of sources they can go to in order to get a vivid insight into the lives and experiences of coalminers in the past.

Brian's overview of the coalmining history and the case studies and research tips he provides make his book rewarding reading for anyone looking for a general introduction to this major aspect of Britain's industrial heritage. His directory of regional and national sources is an essential tool for family historians searching for an ancestor who was part of a mining community.

*Comprehensive introduction to researching coalminers and coalmining history
*Identifies key coalmining sources for family historians
*Insight into the working lives and experiences of coalminers

Paperback published by Pen and Sword