South Medomsley Colliery Strike

A Tale Of South Medomsley Colliery

In late 1885 at South Medomsley Colliery, also known as PontoSouth Medomsley Colliery In Dipton County Durhamp Hall Pit, the masters and men clashed over pay and conditions, something that happened all to often in those days, the miners notices having expired on the 4th December.

It was a hard time of year and the masters of the pit decided in their wisdom to force the men round to their way of thinking. So in a cold hard winter, they closed the pit and enforced a Lock-out until the men would agree to all their demands.

With no money and only themselves to rely on they banded together to ride out the winter. Things became hard and the men still hung on.

By January 1886 the masters of the South Medomsley Colliery decided enough was enough and demanded the men return on the second Saturday of the month, but the men refused as their demands for pay and conditions had still not been met.

At this point Mr Tyzack, the Manager intimated that if they did not return that steps would be taken to eject them from their lodgings.

Saturday came and went and the men waited for eviction notices to arrive normally a 4-week notice. However, a secret plan had been hatched by the masters, who without notice had arranged for the men and families to be evicted.

The Arrival Of The Candymen

High Stables, this is where the miner's were evicted from.Like clockwork in the early morning of Tuesday 12th January, the Police arrived in force with about 32 men from Consett. They were under the command of Supt. Oliver. He ordered them to take up a position around the pit houses at High Stables. This position was about one mile from Leadgate.

At almost the exact same time 20 to 30 “candymen”, these were the Bailiff’s henchmen, hired in for their ability to use force if need be. Their usual job was as, rag and bone men or scrap metal merchants. They used to give sweets or candy to children in exchange for rags or scrap, hence the name candymen. They arrived directly off the train from Newcastle. The miners tried to explain that they had not been given enough notice or time which was granted them by law, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.

A ring was formed around the two small rows of houses by the Police. The Police then demanded the candymen to do their job and evict the South Medomsley Colliery miners and their families. However, something strange then happened, they resolutely refused to carry out any action. The police asked a second time and once again the request was refused. The miners looked on in amazement.

The candymen themselves had been deceived. Many believing they were there to shovel snow. They were to be paid 5 shillings a day plus food and lodgings. Others had been told that they would be moving furniture. All stated that the idea of throwing families out on the streets in winter was the last thing they would ever want to do.

Cheers Went Up From The Entire Village

This is the Black Bull Inn which was used as the Miners Lodge meeting place.The termination of the eviction’s brought the union men and miners the greatest of satisfaction. When the news carried, cheers went up from the entire village.

An almost carnival atmosphere took hold of the miners and candymen. They then paraded through the village. The parade made their way to the Black Bull Inn in Dipton. This was the headquarters of the Miners Lodge of the South Medomsley Colliery.

It snowed throughout the day with slight showers here and there but it did not stop the merriment. The celebration lasted throughout the morning and well into the afternoon. The candymen were then escorted to Lintz Green Station by the Villagers and the South Medomsley Colliery Band. From here they bordered the 4 pm train, back to Newcastle.

The police left a small contingent of men and returned to Consett. A happy reprieve for the miners and their families.

 

The Great Snow Storm And Miners Strike.

The Great Miners Strike 1984-85

A major weather front hit the following day known as “The Great Snow Storm”. The storm lasted from January 13th to February 12th without a break. This added to the hardships of the striking miners and their family’s.

Although the first set of evictions didn’t happen it was on “Stormy Tuesday” 2nd March that the 2nd attempt at evictions began.

Miners on strike being evicted from their homes
Police evicting striking South Medomsley Pit miners

This day, saw 60 South Medomsley Colliery miners and their families losing their homes.

Almost exactly 100 years later the great Miners Strike took place. History repeating itself, with similar events taking place throughout, not only in this area but the whole country, sharing echoes to the past.

If you ask most children now, what coal is, most won’t even know.

Coal, the backbone of our area for hundreds of years. This ceased in 1990, with the exception of one small going concern. Countrywide, less than a handful of deep pits remain. A proud tradition blinked out by the change.

For more information on South Medomsley Colliery visit: Pont Valley

2 thoughts on “South Medomsley Colliery Strike

  1. In 1981 I wrote part of my undergraduate dissertation on the 1885 lockout. I still have a typed copy and I am happy to somehow share this with the group.

    1. Hi, Tom, I’m sorry for the long delay in answering your kind offer of sharing a copy of your undergraduate dissertation on the
      Medomsley Colliery Strike of 1885 with us. We are very happy for you to share this and any other memories and photos with us.
      If you want to be involved with our “Bill Stockdale Leadgate and District Historial Society”, just drop me an email at martinboyle137@gmail.com.
      Let me know where you are living now. You can also give me a bell on 07803048522, whichever you prefer.
      Kindest regards,
      Martin Boyle.

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