Saturday, February 21, 2009

Highs and lows

The highest point in Nottinghamshire can be seen from where I am sitting. It is now a hill covered in trees and has a monument on the top. This area in the past provided work for many but the work was hard. The work was down the pits, mining for coal. These days the unemployment is high, but people no longer have to work under the ground.
For those of you who haven't seen this picture before here is the monument at the highest point. It is called testing for gas, the man is holding his Davey Lamp. In the far background is Hardwick Hall, this is Lady Chatterley country too.
Testing for gas

Link to Wikipedia D. H. Lawrence.


The French word for coal is houille and also charbon.

The French word for slag heap is crassier.

7 comments:

Carol said...

What a wonderful way of commemorating all the hard work done by the miners.

I agree that it's good that no-one is having to work underground now but I think it's a shame that there was nothing to replace the work and that whole communities suffered and are indeed still suffering!!

C x

DAB said...

Great words and I love the picture TFx

Anonymous said...

Love the picture. My grandfather was a coal miner in Nottingham - lived for it and eventually died of all the hard work too.

French Fancy... said...

No, not Humphrey Davy - I can't get away from the man

(runs out screaming)

claire p said...

Some comunities in Cornwall were simiarly hit by the death of tin mining, but one is re-opening.

It's good that times have moved on, but a shame that so many lives have to be hit in the proces.

I've never been to Nottinghamshire. Must make the effort.

J Cosmo Newbery said...

Davy Lamps were quite a thing in their day!

Carol said...

There is an award for you over at mine :-)

C x