When British Coal Was King - BBC Mining Part 4

Timeshift explores the lost world of coal mining and the extraordinarily rich social and cultural lives of those who worked in what was once Britain's most important industry. It's a story told through a largely forgotten film archive that movingly documents the final years of coal's heyday from the 1940s to the 1980s. One priceless piece of footage features a ballet performance by tutu-wearing colliers.
Featuring contributions from those who worked underground, those who lived in the pit villages, those who filmed them at work and at play and those - like Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall - who have been inspired by what made coalfield culture so unique.
Narrated by Christopher Eccleston

[@Charles61284]

Correction, he says the pits were privatised in 1991 it was actually 1994.

[@rozm7607]

Thank you for posting this.

[@johnpothecary4307]

i grew up in Penrhiwceiber the pit in the clip is the Cwm Cynon which closed in 1945 this is not Aberaman ,Aberaman is about 5 miles north of Penrhiwceiber

[@andrewperkins8532]

as the grandson and great grandson of miners and a former miner myself, I mourn for our way of life and the destruction of the fabric of our communities.

[@zeddeka]

The fabric of the communities is a very valid point. The way of life really isn't. I don't think anybody in their right minds would want to go back to the absolutely brutal lives that they were forced to lead. Women forced into domestic servitude and men having their health destroyed and led to a very early grave.

[@MrConan89]

11.40 Donald Davies, former Area Director of Northumberland and my old boss. He appointed me as acting Undermanager of Fenwick Colliery in 1971 (I was 25) before I took up a postion as shift Undermanager at Bilsthorpe Colliery. Fortunately I had a lunatic for a boss there who made my life misery such that I quite the industry. He did me a favour.

[@markrainford1219]

@ Comrade Deeco. Yes, it certainly looks like it.

[@daleeasson]

9:21 to 10:05 is Cotgrave colliery, right?

[@kialaitakari9041]

Hello ModifiedMethod! I would like to use a few seconds of this video for Billy Elliot the musical in Finland. Please contact me about the license fees/rights asap. Thank you!

[@zeddeka]

I suspect the copyright actually belongs to the BBC, not modifiedmethod