Thomas Thompson's Memories of Marton

The photos and reminiscences below were provided by Beryl Proctor of Marton. The reminiscences of Thomas Thompson are transcribed from a letter, which is a continuation of an earlier letter which unfortunately is not available. Many thanks to Roy Mason for his help with this article.

TIP: Please click on each photo to see a larger version.

Reminiscences of Beryl Proctor’s Father, Thomas Thompson

Lindal Moor Mining Co. (continued)

My last note was Pennington Pit, the only one left this was true. Now I will give you my working history from leaving school at Lindal of which J C Parkinson was Headmaster.

I left school when I was 13 years, if you had your attendance in you were obliged to leave. I started work driving a horse near Marton. This was a Gin Shaft, tubs lifted up the shaft by horse power. My wage was 1 shilling per day of 8 hours. My memory is so good I can tell you of every move I made after as regards to my work. I started at 16 working at one of the main pits B30, this was below Belle Hill. My wage was 3 shillings per day. I was very keen to go below but after approaching the Mine Captain I was told to wait until I was 17. The day came and I don’t regret it although I was a frightened youth on the the cage for the first time 110 yards to the Shaft Foot. This was 1913 my wage was 4 shillings per day of 8 hours.

Not very long after we heard rumours of war which eventually started in 1914, this was a cruel war mostly in trenches. As I mentioned in my last notes the Power station closed, the result of which allowed the water to drive us out to the only pit which had its own pumps. I passed A1 for the Army 1916 but was sent back to the pit classed ‘Exempt’. I worked in Pennington Pit until 1918, then I was sent back around Whinfield Area. We could only work above the water level and the ore was of poor quality. I got married in 1920 and worked at the mines until they closed down 1923. I had various jobs after including 5 years with the LMS Railway Co, and 24 years in a Steel Foundry which resulted in my chest complaint which cannot be cured. I do hope I have not bored you with this scribble.

Yours TT.

(TT was therefore born in 1896?)

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