From the acclaimed author of Britain's Lost Cricket Grounds and Britain's Lost Breweries, comes a journey underground to the mines that built the nation and defined a century.
Twenty minutes from the Regency elegance of Bath and half an hour from the Glastonbury Festival, you might notice looming over the Somerset village of Paulton what appears to be a dormant volcano. In reality it is a colliery spoil tip, and one of the few reminders that until the 1970s men worked here far beneath the green fields of England - digging for coal. Walk the clifftop path hugging the Cornish coast: those gaunt brick chimneys and wind-ravelled winding-houses are the ruins of a once vast tin-mining industry.
Until very recent times hundreds of thousands of men dug deep underground - sometimes miles out under the sea - for all kinds of minerals and ores, from slate in North Wales to gold in Dorset. Their labour was the most backbreaking of all, amidst swirling dust and sweltering temperatures, and the mines they descended scarred and re-made the landscape. But the closure of Daw Mill colliery in Warwickshire in 2013 confirmed the almost total demise of this once-ubiquitous and proud industry, whose pithead baths and winding-wheels have since disappeared under retail parks, football stadia or at best become part of the heritage industry.
Now, in Britain's Lost Mines, Chris Arnot seeks out thirty lost mines within Britain's shores, from Scotland to Kent, where men mined anything from fluorspar to salt, iron ore to copper, and re-discovers the unique culture that spawned brass bands and male voice choirs, terrifying fast bowlers and rock-hard rugby league players. Illustrated throughout with a stunning array of photographs, and filled with the reminiscences of the ex-miners he meets, he evokes a vanished and truly remarkable way of life for men who did not just work together, but played, sang and drank together as brothers under dust-encrusted skin, looking out for one another as they risked their lives daily. Within a generation, most of our miners will no longer be with us; this mesmerising book will help ensure their history is in no danger of being buried forever.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Chris Arnot is a national freelance feature writer who has written on specialist subjects including arts and education, property, pubs, food and travel. A regular contributor to the Guardian, he has also written for the Daily Telegraph, the Independent and the Observer. He co-wrote The Archers Archives for BBC Books and his book, Britain's Lost Cricket Grounds, was long-listed for the MCC's cricket book of the year in 2011. He is also the author of Britain's Lost Breweries and Beers, published by Aurum.
'A gorgeous tribute to a whole world which has vanished. It's hard not to be moved by the scale and importance of what has disappeared - an extraordinary gallery of lives and landscape'
'A portrait of life in mining communities in all its aspects, both work and leisure.'
'One of those social histories that forcefully remind you of two almost contradictory things. On the one hand, the world that the book conjures up has now disappeared so utterly as to be virtually unimaginable - especially for younger readers. On the other, it was there comfortably within living memory - which is why Chris Arnot is able to get such terrific oral testimony from the people who lived it all... Even so, this is not a sentimental book; it leaves us in no doubt about either the harshness of the work or how tough miners could be with one another.'ÿ
`At least there are books like this ÿto remember their struggle by.'
'A gorgeous tribute to a whole world which has vanished. It's hard not to be moved by the scale and importance of what has disappeared - an extraordinary gallery of lives and landscape'
‘At least there are books like this to remember their struggle by.’
'One of those social histories that forcefully remind you of two almost contradictory things. On the one hand, the world that the book conjures up has now disappeared so utterly as to be virtually unimaginable - especially for younger readers. On the other, it was there comfortably within living memory - which is why Chris Arnot is able to get such terrific oral testimony from the people who lived it all... Even so, this is not a sentimental book; it leaves us in no doubt about either the harshness of the work or how tough miners could be with one another.'
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 7.07
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Shipping:
US$ 3.99
Within U.S.A.
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR006991652
Quantity: 11 available
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Britain's Lost Mines: The Vanished Kingdom of the Men who Carved out the Nation's Wealth This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9781781310700
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9781781310700
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Condition: Good. Ships from the UK. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 17954981-20
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Condition: Very Good. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # GRP83715463
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: TextbookRush, Grandview Heights, OH, U.S.A.
Condition: Brand New. Expedited orders RECEIVED in 1-5 business days within the United States. Orders ship SAME or NEXT business day. We proudly ship to APO/FPO addresses. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!. Seller Inventory # 42794570
Quantity: 4 available
Seller: HALCYON BOOKS, LONDON, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. ALL ITEMS ARE DISPATCHED FROM THE UK WITHIN 48 HOURS ( BOOKS ORDERED OVER THE WEEKEND DISPATCHED ON MONDAY) ALL OVERSEAS ORDERS SENT BY TRACKABLE AIR MAIL. IF YOU ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE UK PLEASE ASK US FOR A POSTAGE QUOTE FOR MULTI VOLUME SETS BEFORE ORDERING. Seller Inventory # mon0000882035
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: George Longden, Macclesfield, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. A little rubbed at head and tail of spine. In a price-clipped jacket. 285 x 220 mm. 192 pp. A survey of 30 vanished British mines, lavishly illustrated with b&w and colour photographs and filled with the reminiscences of ex-miners. Book. Seller Inventory # 76101
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Maynard & Bradley, Leicester, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 2013. An excellent copy, clean and unmarked throughout, seemingly barely read with no notable creases or signs of wear. Dust jacket also complete and well-presented with just some minor bumps at the corners from normal handling and shelving. Why on Amazon do most sellers not describe their actual book? Buy with confidence and support a genuine Independent Bricks & Mortar Real Bookshop. We are Maynard & Bradley CAMBO & PBFA(now lapsed) members here in Leicester City Centre Size: 225 x 295 mm. 312. Item Type: Book. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Engineering, Industrial, Trade; Britain/UK; Modern; ISBN: 178131070x. ISBN/EAN: 9781781310700. Inventory No: 38855. Seller Inventory # 38855
Quantity: 1 available