A colliery viewer or coal viewer was the manager of a

coal mine Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...

colliery Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...

. The term was mostly used in the late eighteenth to nineteenth centuries, in the UK. In modern use, the viewer would be the senior and responsible

mining engineer Mining in the engineering discipline is the extraction of minerals from underneath, open pit, above or on the ground. Mining engineering is associated with many other disciplines, such as mineral processing, exploration, excavation, geology, and ...

at a site.

Origins

The role began as a person to represent the owner of the land, often an aristocrat, who had leased the rights to mine there to another who would 'work' the mine. One of the first formally recorded arrangements for such was at the Ironbridge Gorge in 1608, where Jesse Whittingham leased four

adit An adit (from Latin ''aditus'', entrance) is an entrance to an underground mine which is horizontal or nearly horizontal, by which the mine can be entered, drained of water, ventilated, and minerals extracted at the lowest convenient level. Adit ...

s from James Clifford, at a rent of £200 a year for five years. Clifford had acquired the lands of

Wenlock Priory Wenlock Priory, or St Milburga's Priory, is a ruined 12th-century monastery, located in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, at . Roger de Montgomery re-founded the Priory as a Cluniac house between 1079 and 1082, on the site of an earlier 7th-century mon ...

Broseley Broseley is a market town in Shropshire, England, with a population of 4,929 at the 2011 Census and an estimate of 5,022 in 2019. The River Severn flows to its north and east. The first The Iron Bridge, iron bridge in the world was built in 17 ...

in 1560, after the priory's dissolution in 1540. Several such monastic lands moved from traditional tenant farming to entrepreneurial mineral exploitation at this time, spurring the early industrial revolution, particularly around the Gorge. Land at this time was rarely sold, the aristocratic estates were intent on preserving themselves intact, and so mining rights would usually be in terms of a long-term

lease A lease is a contractual arrangement calling for the user (referred to as the ''lessee'') to pay the owner (referred to as the ''lessor'') for the use of an asset. Property, buildings and vehicles are common assets that are leased. Industrial ...

. As both of these gentlemen were affluent, if not titled, they would not be familiar with mining themselves and would not generally wish to become so. As mines grew larger and more complex into the nineteenth century, the role of the viewer shifted to representing the safe technical management of the mine, on behalf of the owner. Later, as mine safety laws were passed, the viewer had a duty to represent the interests of the miners as well. The viewer was usually employed by the owner, but in some cases was also the owner, or part-owner, themselves. The New Hartley Pit, of the Hartley Colliery disaster, was owned by the Carr brothers, where one brother acted as viewer. An experienced viewer, known for their good judgement, was recognised as a skilled profession and in the North East they often became an independent contractor or consultant who would advise a number of mines on particular issues, such as sinking a new shaft, or making a new investment. This represented the shift from the viewer as manager or agent, to the development of the modern mining engineer. Even at the time, the distinction between managers, or 'agents', for the day-to-day operation of collieries, and consultant viewers, who advised on the development of new aspects, was never a clear one. The viewer would be responsible for deciding major expenditures, such as the purchase of a

pumping engine Pumping may refer to: * The operation of a pump, for moving a liquid from one location to another **The use of a breast pump for extraction of milk * Pumping (audio), a creative misuse of dynamic range compression * Pumping (computer systems), ...

or construction of a

tramroad A plateway is an early kind of railway, tramway or wagonway, where the rails are made from cast iron. They were mainly used for about 50 years up to 1830, though some continued later. Plateways consisted of "L"-shaped rails, where the flange ...

or railway. These new technical innovations were described in advisory guide books such as

John Curr John Curr (c. 1756 – 27 January 1823) was the manager or viewer of the Duke of Norfolk's collieries in Sheffield, England from 1781 to 1801. During this time he made a number of innovations that contributed significantly to the development of t ...

's ''The Coal Viewer and Engine Builder's Practical Companion'' (1797).

Other roles

Overman

The overman is a deputy to the viewer and involved more directly with the daily work of the pit. When a colliery has a number of pits under a viewer, there is an overman to each pit. The overman has responsibilities for daily and hands-on tasks, such as inspecting the pit's safety each day and recording the work performed for

piece work Piece work (or piecework) is any type of employment in which a worker is paid a fixed piece rate for each unit produced or action performed, regardless of time. Context When paying a worker, employers can use various methods and combinations of ...

systems. An overman would be an experienced miner who has been promoted on the basis of experience. A viewer in the early years, in contrast, would often be a 'gentleman' from a social class comparable to that of the bourgeois owner. In later years, from the mid-19th century, it became more common for viewers to be skilled miners who had risen through the ranks. Wages in 1849 for an overman were 26 shillings to 28s. per week. This was twice that of other skilled trades, such as blacksmiths, indicative of the responsibility. As for most jobs, down to the lowliest colliers, a house and free small coal were also provided. There was a distinction in a colliery between 'day wagemen', those such as overmen and engine drivers, who were paid a daily or weekly wage and 'oncostmen', those such as coal cutters and loaders, who were paid according to a 'bargain', a form of

piecework Piece work (or piecework) is any type of employment in which a worker is paid a fixed piece rate for each unit produced or action performed, regardless of time. Context When paying a worker, employers can use various methods and combinations of ...

. The overman would keep the records of work done underground, so that on the Wednesday before a Friday payday he could 'reckon' with the men and agree the totals of work done. The overman would also have regular roles underground, whereas the viewer would spend most of their time on the surface.

Back-overman

Pits in the 19th century worked a two shift system, with a morning or 'fore' shift (6am-2pm) and an afternoon or 'back' shift (2-10pm). Having an overman permanently on site was considered so important that a second deputy or 'back-overman' would work the second shift. Depending on pit conditions, the fore shift might concentrate on winning coal and the back shift on the 'dead work' of timbering and propping roadways etc.

Under-viewer

The viewer's role, particularly with the development of parliamentary mining regulations in the mid-nineteenth century, was ultimately that of responsibility. Although not necessarily owning the mine or being the engineer engaged to direct it technically, the viewer would be held responsible for any accident. The under-viewer, under-looker or steward, was a deputy to the viewer. As well as being an assistant to them, their main role was to act as a

locum A locum, or locum tenens, is a person who temporarily fulfills the duties of another; the term is especially used for physicians or clergy. For example, a ''locum tenens physician'' is a physician who works in the place of the regular physician. ...

if the viewer is away from the colliery, and to ensure that the responsible person was always present.

Check-viewer

A viewer employed by the

lessor Lessor may refer to: * Lessor (leasing), the owner of leased property or the agent authorized on the owner's behalf * Lessor, Wisconsin, a town in U.S.A. * Lessor Township, Minnesota, U.S.A. See also * Lesser {{disambig, geo ...

to see that the provisions of the

are duly observed. These provisions would include that the area being mined did not exceed the boundaries contracted for in the lease, that the amount of support left by stall and pillar working would be sufficient to avoid surface collapse, and sometimes also that surface waters were not polluted by run-off from mine drainage.

Notable viewers

* William Brown (1717–1782) *

William Hedley William Hedley (13 July 1779 – 9 January 1843) was born in Newburn, near Newcastle upon Tyne. He was one of the leading industrial engineers of the early 19th century, and was instrumental in several major innovations in early railway devel ...

(1779–1843)

Wylam Colliery Wylam is a village and civil parish in the county of Northumberland. It is located about west of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is famous for the being the birthplace of George Stephenson, one of the early railway pioneers. George Stephenson's Birth ...

, constructed '' Puffing Billy'', one of the first steam locomotives. * John Buddle (1773–1843), and his father, were both viewers at

Wallsend Colliery Wallsend is a town in North Tyneside, England, at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 43,842 and lies east of Newcastle upon Tyne. History Roman Wallsend In Roman times, this was the site of the fort of Segedunum. This fo ...

. Buddle became a successful businessman and the owner of several collieries. As a technical innovator he introduced the Davy safety lamp to pits in the North East and the '' Steam Elephant'' locomotive for the

Wallsend Waggonway Wallsend is a town in North Tyneside, England, at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 43,842 and lies east of Newcastle upon Tyne. History Roman Wallsend In Roman times, this was the site of the fort of Segedunum. This f ...

. * Father of Dr William Hutton, geologist (1797–1860) * Ralph Dodds, (1792–1874) viewer at High Pit, who first employed

George Stephenson George Stephenson (9 June 1781 – 12 August 1848) was a British civil engineer and mechanical engineer. Renowned as the "Father of Railways", Stephenson was considered by the Victorians In the history of the United Kingdom and the ...

as an engineer * Thomas Emerson Forster C.E. (1802-1875) "the well-known mining engineer", but also in the same newspaper obituary "the most successful viewer since the days of Mr Buddle. He has done more real work, and seen more seams of coal with his own eyes, than any other living follower of the art of mining engineering""The duties of a colliery viewer, in which Mr. Forster was so largely engaged, were such as none but the most vigorous and laborious men could execute. Sometimes at midnight, or at the early hours of two or three o'clock, he was subject to be called upon to travel many miles, to descend deep pits, to traverse underground works, and, not unfrequently, to penetrate into parts of a mine where nothing but the most careful judgment could preserve him from extreme risk of explosion or other accident. The commander, as it were, of many thousands of miners, he not only directed their labours, but gained their friendly confidence. In the mine he was thoroughly at home. He affected only such habits and modes of speech as were perfectly understood by the pitman ; and to this peculiar tact his usefulness and success were in a great measure owing. In dealing with those of elevated rank, a respectful deference was never allowed to interfere with the most plain and freely spoken expression of opinion; and thus he maintained at all times a consistency of character, and a large amount of influence with all parties he met, or for whom he was concerned in professional business."

References

{{Reflist, refs= {{Cite book , title=Ironbridge Gorge , author=Catherine Clark , publisher=

B T Batsford HarperCollins Publishers LLC is one of the Big Five English-language publishing companies, alongside Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan. The company is headquartered in New York City and is a subsidiary of News Co ...

, year=1993 , isbn=0-7134-6737-1 , ref={{harvid, Clark, 1993 , page
26–27
, quote=all coal and ironstone 'digged within ffower insetts or pitts alreadie begunne by the saied James Clifford' , url-access=registration , url=https://archive.org/details/englishheritageb00clar/page/26 {{Cite book , author1=A P Baggs , author2=G C Baugh , author3=D C Cox , author4=Jessie McFall , author5=P A Stamper , title=Broseley , work=A History of the County of Shropshire , volume=10, Munslow Hundred (Part), the Liberty and Borough of Wenlock , editor=G C Baugh , location=London , year=1998 , pages=257–293 , url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/salop/vol10/pp257-293 {{Cite book , title=The Coal Viewer and Engine Builder's Practical Companion , author=John Curr , authorlink=John Curr , origyear=1797 , year=1970 , ref={{harvid, Curr, 1797 , oclc=637327681 {{Cite web , title=Mining Occupations , website=Durham Mining Museum , url=http://www.dmm.org.uk/educate/mineocc.htm#viewer {{Cite book , title=Overman , series=A brief enumeration of the employments, and a few technical terms peculiar to coal-miners of the Northumberland coal mines , author=E. Mackenzie , year=1825 , quote=One who inspects the state of the mine every morning before the men go to work. He also keeps a daily account of the men's labour {{Cite book , title=Overman , series=A Glossary of Terms used in the Coal Trade of Northumberland and Durham , author=G. C. Greenwell, F.G.S., M.Inst.C.E., Colliery Viewer, Past President of the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers ; Past President of the Manchester Geological Society ; Author of "A Practical Treatise on Mine Engineering," , origyear=1849 , edition=Third , year=1888 Greenwell (1849) Overman: The person who, beneath the viewer, has the charge of the workings of a colliery where there is no under-viewer. He sets the pit to work each morning, and attends to all the detail of arranging the work, and getting the coals each man works to the shaft bottom. It is also his duty to see that each working place is properly ventilated and in a safe state. He also keeps a daily account of the work wrought, and of the whole of the underground expenses and wages, and gives the colliery office a fortnightly account of the same, the bill containing the amount earned by each man, or set of men if in partnership, and boy during that time. There is one overman to a pit, so that if there are two or three pits at a colliery, there are two or three overmen. An overman is almost invariably a man who has passed through all the graduations of pit work, from the trapper upwards, and who has been raised to his situation on account of his ability and steadiness. His wages in 1849 were 26s. to 28s. per week, with house, garden, and coals gratis. {{Cite book , title=History of the County of Durham , author=J. R. Boyle, F.S.A. , year=1892 , quote=Overman: The duties of the overman consist in visiting the workings every morning, receiving the reports from the deputies, making observations on the air currents, and general management of the underground work. To his office is sent an account of all the work done in the pit, and on the Wednesday before the "pay" he "reckons" with the men - i.e., he compares the account received of their work with that kept by themselves. {{Cite book , year=1894 , title=Mines Inspectors Annual Report - appendix {{Cite book , title=The History of the British Coal Industry , volume=2: 1700-1830 , author=Michael W Flinn , year=1984 , publisher=OUP , isbn=0198282834 {{Cite book , title=Thrift , chapter=V: Examples of Thrift , year=1875 , author=Samuel Smiles , authorlink=Samuel Smiles , url=http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/14418/pg14418-images.html {{Cite book , title=Lives of the Engineers: George and Robert Stephenson , year=1862 , volume=5: The Locomotive – George and Robert Stephenson , chapter=Chapter III: Engineman at Willington Quay and Killingworth. , author=Samuel Smiles , authorlink=Samuel Smiles , url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27710/27710-h/27710-h.htm , page=43 {{cite news , title = The Hartley Pit Disaster , newspaper=

The Illustrated London News ''The Illustrated London News'' appeared first on Saturday 14 May 1842, as the world's first illustrated weekly news magazine. Founded by Herbert Ingram, it appeared weekly until 1971, then less frequently thereafter, and ceased publication i ...

, date=25 January 1862 , issue=1129 , page=81 , url = http://iln.org.uk/iln_years/year/1862a.htm {{Cite book , title=Colliery viewer , series=

The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia ''The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia'' is one of the largest encyclopedic dictionaries of the English language. In its day it was compared favorably with the ''Oxford English Dictionary,'' and frequently consulted for more factual informati ...

, year=1891 , quote=In mining, a person employed to attend to the interests of the one to whom the royalty is payable, or of the person who works the mine. {{Cite book , title=Viewer or Coal Viewer , work=A Glossary of Terms used in Coal Mining , author=William Stukelby Gresley , publisher=Spon , year=1883 , quote=The general manager or mining engineer of one or more collieries, who has control of the whole of the underground works, and also generally of those upon the surface. Underground surveys and plans are generally made and kept up by him, and the Manager acts under his authority and directions. A word not much used now, and is giving place to Mining Engineer and Agent. Coal mining Industrial occupations