Coal Division, Early Correspondence and Papers

POWE 16

1896-1953

Files selected from a number of defunct registered series and certain groups of unregistered papers to illustrate various aspects of coal mining. They contain papers and correspondence relating to production, marketing, manpower, subsidence, drainage and war emergency measures; also included are a few files dealing with metalliferous mining.

The records are mainly of the Mines Department, with some earlier files of the Board of Trade (BT) Coal Mines Department and the Ministry of Munitions and some later ones of the Ministry of Fuel and Power and the National Coal Board (1942 to 1945). Also included are a number of earlier papers inherited from other departments.

For 1917-1920, Printed orders and memoranda of J.L. Groom, Inspector, Board of Trade Coal Mines Dept, for papers relating to the coal transport re-organisation scheme and for L. and N.W.R. notices to passengers during the coal strike of 1920 see PRO 30/26/167 PRO 30/26/168

Public Record(s)

English

• Board of Trade, Mines Department, 1920-1942
• Home Office, Industrial and Parliamentary Department, 1896-1913
• Home Office, Mines Inspectorate, 1843-1920
• Ministry of Fuel and Power, 1942-1957
• Ministry of Munitions, 1915-1921
• National Coal Board, 1946-1986

539 files and volumes

Topics

Labour

Trade and commerce

Weapons

Coal

Mining and quarrying

The Home Office Industrial and Parliamentary Department was responsible forissues such as employee rights, training, absenteeism, wages, workingconditions etc for people working in the mining sector, among others. The MinesInspectorate was a division of the Home Office. Inspectors of mines were, until1920, appointed by the Home Office and post 1850 had the power to inspect theconstruction and safety of mines. In December 1920 the Mines Inspectorate, theMining Records Office, and the Board for Mining Examinations were absorbed intothe new Mines Department (part of the Board of Trade) who took overresponsibility for ensuring that basic statutory regulations were being met.Prior to WW1, munitions supply was largely a matter for the individual militaryservices, but by 1915 the need for reliable/consistent munitions supply becameimperative so the Ministry of Munitions was set up on the 9th June 1915. Fromits establishment, the ministry furnished the War Office with light and heavyarms, ammunitions and explosives. They also began to supply other things suchas aeroplanes, engines etc as the war progressed. After the war, the ministry’svarious responsibilities were transferred to other departments, like the AirMinistry and Board of Trade, until it eventually became defunct on the 31stMarch 1921. In 1920, the Mines Department was set up within the Board of Trade.The department was set up in order to ensure ‘the most effective developmentand utilisation of the mineral resources of the United Kingdom and the safetyand welfare of those engaged in the mining industry’. During WW2, the MinesDepartment was also responsible for researching methods by which coalconsumption could be constricted in order to help the war effort. In 1942 theMinistry of Fuel and Power was established. This new ministry took on the Boardof Trade duties relating to coal, gas, electricity, petroleum, mines, andquarries. Due to this the Mines Department was dissolved. The National CoalBoard was established in 1946 with the remit of running the UK’s nationalisedcoal mining industry. Coal reserves were initially nationalised during WW2 andthe Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946 enabled 958 Collieries to beacquired by the NCB, with compensation being given to the original owners.