1940s Mining Life
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Living history interpreter as Mrs Lockwood in the miner's kitchen
© National Coal Mining Museum for England (Photo: Phil Butcher)
© National Coal Mining Museum for England (Photo: Phil Butcher)
The kitchen was the most used room in a mining house. Houses were very small, so a lot of the everyday business of family life was carried out in the kitchen.
One thing about a miner's house was that it was never cold. Miners had coal as part of their payment from the pit, and it was usual to see it piled up all down the street outside the houses when delivered. The miner would shovel it into his coal house or coal cellar when he got back from work.
The typical type of house was known as two up and two down, two rooms on each floor. The front room was often only used for best, such as Christmas or for a child's birthday party. Bedrooms were upstairs, one for the miner and his wife and one for the children.
One thing about a miner's house was that it was never cold. Miners had coal as part of their payment from the pit, and it was usual to see it piled up all down the street outside the houses when delivered. The miner would shovel it into his coal house or coal cellar when he got back from work.
The typical type of house was known as two up and two down, two rooms on each floor. The front room was often only used for best, such as Christmas or for a child's birthday party. Bedrooms were upstairs, one for the miner and his wife and one for the children.