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Strikes

Since 1709, when Kingswood colliers marched on Bristol protesting at the price of bread, the mining communities of Kingswood and those to the east of Bristol were in the forefront of demanding justice for others, themselves and their families.

1865 Wages dispute against Brain & Co. One hundred and fifty colliers were summonsed by Company for going on strike. Samuel Cool was taken by Lawford's Gate Magistrates as a test case. The case was found in favour of the miners. Carrier Pigeons bedecked with blue ribbons to denote victory were sent flying into Kingswood.

1874 On May 1st in this year a number of summonses were taken out at Lawfords Gate Petty Sessions against a number of miners from the Kingswood mine of Deep Pit who had left work without notice. Thus started a series of local strikes in the coalfield which were part of nationwide strikes against 20% reductions in miners wages. Thousands of striking miners attended meetings at Rodway Hill, Kingswood. On May 30th Easton miners were told of a proposed 20% reduction in their pay. On June 3rd 4,000 of Bristol’s miners were on strike and three days later, with another mass meeting called at Rodway Hill, there were strikes at Easton, Whitehall and Ashton pits. Deputations were sent to Mr Leonard and his manager. The delegates from Easton were Charles Short, Henry Hulbert, Robert Birchill and John Rawlins.

On June 23rd the Bristol miners published this notice:

We the miners of the Bristol district are now struggling for what we consider is nothing but just and right. We consider that our wages are just enough to live from hand to mouth and seeing the danger we are exposed to and the risk of life and limb, the difficulties we always have to undergo to bring all their comfort, we think we are entitled to a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work. We honestly solicit your sympathy in our present struggle. All monies given for the support of the miners in the Bristol district will be paid back in due time, double.

By July 18th the miners accepted arbitration.

This was the year of the General Strike. Miners who worked in East Bristol’s pits stayed out for nearly eight months. Some of these miners lived in Easton. Local miner, Fred Moss remembers how whole communities pulled together to support the striking miners. Help came from public collections and the Co-op gave food vouchers. Some miners families survived because of money earned by wives and daughters. Other miners had small businesses to help them eke out a living. Fred recalls Mr F. Buck of Speedwell Pit who started a laundry business in Chelsea Road and a Mr Cox from Deep Pit who opened a milliners shop in his front room on Whitehall Road. Mr Cox died in an accident at Deep Pit a few years later and is buried in Greenbank Cemetery.