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  • This is a pamphlet and song relating to the dispute which broke out at the Dinorwic Quarries, Llanberis, in October 1885. During the months leading up to the lock-out, the quarrymen had become increasingly resentful of the quarry managers and allegations of discrimination and favouratism were rife. Matters came to a head on 23 October when the quarrymen were told that all those who had attended a mass meeting ten days earlier would be dismissed from the quarry. As this pamphlet and song maintain, the 2,700 quarrymen who found themselves out of work experienced great hardship during the five-month lock-out which eventually resulted in a bitter defeat for the quarrymen.
Pamphlet and songsheet re. the Dinorwig Quarry lock-out of 1885-6 [image 1 of 4]
  • An anonymous letter possibly to William Chambers concerning payment of wages. It is signed 'the night worker'. Transcription: 'Sir, Owing to a Genneral Complaint having been made by your worker slaves against your monthly payments this is to give you three dais [days] notis [notice] only, that you are to aquint [acquaint] them that you will pay them every fortnight from hence forthe and according to your own promise made to them on the first of Janury [January] last not taking it into consideration to keep a penny from each man or other waise [ways] to suffer a visit from us on the night of the 30th instant with out any further notice. Dated the 28th of Augst. ever yours &c. the nightt worker.'
An anonymous letter possibly sent to William Chambers, 28 August 1843 [page 1 of 1]
  • The text on this banner reads: 'Wernos Lodge S.W.M.F. Area No 1. An Injury To The One Is The Concern Of All.' Dimensions: 1.50 x 1.74m.
Banner of the Wernos Lodge of the South Wales Miners Federation, c. 1945
  • This wood engraving of the riot in Mold was published in 'The Illustrated London News' in June 1869. The trouble in the town began after two coal miners were sentenced to prison for attacking the manager of Leeswood Green Colliery in the nearby village of Leeswood (Coed-llai). The relationship between the colliers and John Young, the manager of the pit, had not been a happy one and had deteriorated greatly in the weeks which led to the disturbance. The miners were greatly aggrieved by the decisions and arrogant attitude of the manager: Young, an Englishman from Durham, prohibited the colliers from speaking Welsh underground and on 17 May 1869 he announced that their wages would be cut. The colliers were greatly angered by this decision and following a meeting which was held at the pit head two days later, a number of the men attacked John Young before frog-marching him unceremoniously to the police station at Pontblyddyn. Seven colliers were arrested and were ordered to stand trial at Mold Magistrates Court on 2 June 1869. They were all found guilty and the two alleged ringleaders, Ismael Jones and John Jones, were sentenced to a month's hard labour. Not unexpectedly, the court case had attracted a great deal of attention in the area and a large crowd had started to assemble to hear the verdict. Aware of the problems that could arise, the Chief Constable of Flintshire had already ensured the services of constables from all parts of the county, and had asked for the assistance of soldiers from Chester earlier that morning. However, as the authorities attempted to transport the two prisoners from the court to the railway station, where a train was waiting to take them to the gaol at Flint Castle, the crowd reacted angrily and threw stones and other missiles at the officers. The soldiers fired shots into the crowd, killing four people. Soon afterwards, the crowd began to disperse and by the following morning, the streets were empty. Although he was to strenously deny the connection, the first novel written by Daniel Owen, the Mold-born novelist and tailor, is largely based on the events which occurred in the town in the summer of 1869. The novel, 'Rhys Lewis', was first published in monthly instalments in the Calvinistic Methodist journal, 'Y Drysorfa', between 1882 and 1884. Further reading: Jenny and Mike Griffiths, 'The Mold Tragedy of 1869' (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, Llanrwst, 2001).
'The Riot at Mold, Flintshire', 1869 (wood engraving)
  • This political pamphlet was written by the miners' leader, A. J. Cook (1884-1931). Cook was a native of Somerset but came to work as a coal miner to the Rhondda Valley in 1903. He played a prominent role in the General Strike of 1926 as Secretary of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. This pamphlet was published in the aftermath of the Strike in November 1926.
A. J. Cook, 'Is it Peace?' (1926) [front cover, image 1 of 12]
  • William Lewis, from Sebastopol near Pontypool, worked as a steel smelter at the New Russia Company's works in Hughesovka, Russia, from 1880 until 1895. His wife, Mary Jane, and his family, accompanied him to Russia. This document is the articles of agreement which he signed in January 1880, agreeing to work for the Company for three years.
Articles of agreement of William Lewis for employment as a steel smelter in Hughesovka, 1880, front cover [image 1 of 4]