Struggle and Strife 1855
Researched by John Lumsdon
Staffordshire Advertiser January 6th 1855a strike amongst the colliers in the northern district of the Potteries has taken place, but happily is likely to be of short duration. It is at present confined, almost if not exclusively, to Burslem and Tunstall. In 1853 an advance of 6d per day was generally conceded to the miners in the above districts by the colliery proprietors and in the course of last year, two other concessions were obtained, namely, an additional 6d per day and the deduction of one hour’s labour per day. At this period the iron and coal trades were in a flourishing state; but since that time they have suffered a serious reverse. Iron has fallen considerably in price, and the demand for coal owing to the depressed state of the potting trade is greatly diminished. Under these circumstances notice was given to the men employed at the Bycars, Hamill, Jackfield, Sneyd and Stanfield collieries and ironstone mines, Burslem and the Pinox and Clanway works, employing it is said in the aggregate about 1.500 hands of an intention to increase the time of labour by one hour per day or reduce the wage 6d per day, the men being at liberty to choose either alternative.
The men have refused to comply; some of them having ceased working at the end of last week and others had done previously, whilst in the case of one or two collieries the notice expires at the close of the present week. The men have held several meetings and on Tuesday morning a procession consisting of turn-outs, was formed on Burslem and proceeded through Hanley to Longton, one prominent object in it being an empty wagon drawn by a number of the men. In the afternoon the procession, greatly diminished in numbers, returned with the wagon loaded with coals and drawn by men and lads. Two placards called public attention to the strike, and men with boxes solicited subscription on the line of road.
The latter circumstances caused the magistrates’ to issue a placard stating that, “It having been reported to the magistrates that numerous persons did, on the 2nd inst, proceed from house to house begging, to the great annoyance to house keepers, it is ordered that after this notice, all persons so illegally acting shall be arrested and punished.”
Since Tuesday the turn-out has assumed a different aspect and numbers have returned to work accepting the alternative of a reduction of 6p per day in preference to an additional hours labour. Up to yesterday the full complement of hands had not gone in at all the collieries, but the strike is considered virtually at an end. What those will do whose notice expires this week remains to be seen; but without going into the merits of the question as between the masters and the men, it may surly be said that the present prospects of the trade, are not very encouraging to a strike.
Staffordshire Advertiser January 13th 1855the turn-out of colliers in the Potteries may be said to be terminated, work having been generally resumed. Although these pits where the notice expired at the end of last week, the men, with a few exceptions have acceded to the proposed reductions and continued to work; and it is probable at that at those works where similar notices expire this week, the same example will be followed.
Staffordshire Advertiser March 3rd 1855 the men employed in Earl Granville’s Shelton collieries continue in an unsettled state. Several meetings this week have been held by the men, the attendance, however, being small. An attempt has been made to form a society and accumulate a fund for the support of the men when on strike. At one of the meetings a deputation was appointed to write to Mr. Lancaster the Agent of Mr. Granville, to endeavour if possible and adjust the differences alleged, to be existing; - and then report the result to a meeting to be held in Hall Fields, Hanley.
Yesterday, at the appointed hour a small number of men assembled, when Mr. Hughes, the man who presided at the meeting held last week, on the Crown Bank, informed them the deputation had not been able to obtain an interview with Mr. Lancaster. He also stated that there was reason to believe the men in employ of Mr. Sparrow, at Longton, would cease work this day and attend a general meeting of the colliers’, to be held in Hanley on Monday afternoon. The men hitherto have conducted themselves in a very orderly manner. The four old furnaces at Etruria are now “blown out” and the short time system, two days per week, has commenced.
Staffordshire Advertiser March 10th 1855 Page 4 On Monday afternoon the adjourned meeting of the colliers’ of Hanley and Shelton was held in Hall Fields, Hanley. At the appointed time several thousand persons assembled, but not more than one sixth of them were colliers’. The meeting which was exceedingly peaceable and well conducted throughout, was addressed by the chairman, Mr. Hughes, Mr. John Boulton and others. It was stated that the deputation from the men from the employ of Earl Granville had an interview that morning with Mr. Lancaster and informed him that they were determined not to submit to a resolution of wages, but would accept of the short time, two days a week instead, but not to work four half days, which they considered too much against themselves.
Mr. Lancaster informed them such was not his wish, and that if they had done so it was it was without his knowledge and consent. He then suggested working one day and two half days, which the men agreed to and the meeting confirmed, consequently the matter may be considered settled for the present.
It was stated by the chairman that the Longton men had received notice of reductions of wages but they were determined to adopt a similar course to Lord Granville’s men. Resolutions were afterwards agreed to, pledging the meeting to form a union, to be called North Staffordshire United Order of Colliers and Miners’ to render assistance in case of accidents, sickness or death, and give relief to those miners who might be suffering from depression of trade or out of work.
Page 5 In consequence of the state of trade, the men employed in the collieries and ironstone mines of Mr. Sparrow, at Longton, have received notice of a reduction of wages of six pence per day. The notice expires today.
Staffordshire Advertiser March 17th 1855the notice of reduction of wages of six pence per day to the men employed at the coal and ironstone mines of Mr. Sparrow, at Longton, expired on Saturday last. The men made some slight show of resistance, and desire to compromise the question of offering to submit a reduction of three pence. The state of the coal and iron trade, however, at the present time, not of admitting of such an arrangement, some of the men resumed their employment on the Tuesday and Wednesday, on the new terms and it is expected that by the end of the week work would have generally resumed and the unpleasantness and distress consequent on a strike will thus be averted.
Staffordshire Advertiser March 24th 1855the collieries are still in an unsettled state in Hanley and Shelton, arising from a proposed reduction of one shilling a day at the Shelton collieries. A general meeting of colliers is called for today, to take the matter into consideration.
Staffordshire Advertiser March 31st 1855 Relations between some of the coal owners of North Staffordshire and the miners’ in their employ, still continue in an unsatisfactory state, the masters finding it necessary to reduce wages and the men refusing to submit to the proposed reduction. A meeting of the colliers was announced for the afternoon of Saturday last in the old Hall Fields, to take into consideration a proposition of Mr. Lancaster, the Agent of Lord Granville, to reduce the wages of the miners’ in his Lordship’s employ, one shilling per day.
Not more than two hundred persons attended the meeting and the proceedings were of a very quiet character. Mr. Robert Hughes, one of the Shelton colliers, was elected chairman and in a brief address explained the cause and object of the meeting said the authorities appear to suppose that they (the colliers) intended to a breach of the peace, but they need be under no apprehension. The colliers’ of North Staffordshire had mightily advanced in intelligence since 1842 and they well knew that all the evil results of any violence which they might be guilty would avert on themselves.
A resolution pledging the meeting to accept a reduction of six pence per day, other masters having, it was stated, proposed that reduction to their men and having been generally accepted was submitted and adopted, and the meeting was adjourned until Wednesday to receive the report of a deputation With Mr. Lancaster on the proposed reduction.
Other meetings were held in the early part of the week, the conference with Mr. Lancaster not having affected the purpose intended and another meeting is appointed to be held on Monday next.
Page 5 The men employed in the collieries and ironstone mines of Mr. Sparrow at Longton, have received notice of a further reduction of six pence per day, making with the recent drop, one shilling per day. The notice expires on Saturday next, but whether it will be acceded to, remains to be seen. The men have several meetings on the subject.
Staffordshire Advertiser April 7th 1855 A large meeting of colliers was held on Crown Bank, Hanley, on Monday evening, to take into consideration, the position of Mr. Lancaster, Lord Granville’s agent at the Shelton collieries and of Mr. Sparrow of Longton for a reduction of wages to the amount of one shilling per day.
Mr Hughes, who had occupied the chair at most of the colliers’ meetings lately in Hanley, was again called upon to preside, and deliver a temperate address, deprecatory of any attempt at violence, to assert their rights; urging that the moment other than fair and legitimate means were resorted to, their cause was lost.
A resolution was unanimously adopted for agreeing to a resolution of six pence per day as at the other collieries in the neighbourhood. In reference to Lord Granville’s collieries it was urged that the men should offer themselves in a body to Mr. Lancaster at the reduced rate of six pence per day; contending that the present price of iron, compared with what it had been on former occasions, and the rate of wages then paid, authorised them in not acceding them to the large reduction of a shilling per day. Another reason urged by the speakers why the proposed reduction should not be submitted to, was that large stock would be accumulated, and thus allow the employers to better resist an advance when the prices improved.
The proceedings were throughout very peaceable and orderly. A fact upon which the chairman congratulated the meeting, remarking in reference to the uproarious proceedings at Shelton on that day and which he had attended, that if people did not know how to conduct themselves at highway meetings, the colliers’ did at those held by them. The notice to Mr. Sparrow’s men of the proposed reduction expires today.
Staffordshire Advertiser April 14th 1855in our last meeting we eluded to the position of the men in the employ of Lord Granville, at the Shelton collieries and of Mr. Sparrow of Longton. In reference to the latter, the notice for the reduction of wages expired on Saturday and as a proof that Mr. Sparrow intended to persevere in his position, all the furnaces were “blown out” at the end of last week.
The men having declined to accede to the reduction, the various works were at a standstill on Monday and a “demonstration” of the men was attempted. A considerable number met in the market place and afterwards proceeded, with a band of music in the direction of Stoke, to meet as was said a body of the turn-outs from the Shelton collieries; but no authorised gathering took place. Since then matters have taken another turn and we understand that there are indications that the strike will not be generally persisted in as some of the pits have commenced working.
This resolution on the part of the men appears to meet with the general approval of the public. It being obvious that the present position of trade in general and the iron and coal trade in particular by no means appear to favour a turn-out. At the Shelton collieries some men have gone to work and it was rumoured that on Monday morning an attempt would be made to interfere with the men going down the pits. A strong body of the police were in the several localities, but there was not the slightest show of interference and we are happy to state that the district is in a perfect tranquil state.
Staffordshire Advertiser April 21st 1855 the strike of the men employed at the Shelton collieries and Mr. Sparrow’s collieries and ironstone mines, Longton may now be said to have terminated, most of the men having accepted the proposed reduction and gone to work.
Staffordshire Advertiser May 19th1855 Scarcely has the agitation in consequence on the strike of colliers’ in Hanley, Shelton and Longton subsided, by the men complying with the terms proposed by their employers than a similar event has occurred in another part of the Potteries. A large number of men, it is said amounting to 700 or 800 employed at the collieries at Burslem and Tunstall having turned out.
About twelve months ago, the men in these districts insisted upon a reduction of hours of labour per day. Trade being good the coal masters acceded to the demand and the rate of wages remained unaltered to about Christmas last notwithstanding the shortening of the hours of labour. The coal and iron trade having, however, suffered a serious reversion and the proprietors finding it impracticable to compete in the market with the rate of wages paid under existing arrangements with their men, the usual notice was given that, whilst there would be no actual reduction of wages as at present paid, they would be required to revert to the old terms by working one hour per day more. The notice having generally expired at the end of last week, the men in the employ of Mr. H.H. Williamson, Pinox colliery; Messrs Heath and Meir, Tunstall colliery; Messrs Child and Clive, Clanway colliery; Mr. Beswick, Chell; Messrs Cork and Ford, Burslem; and some of the men employed at other collieries in Burslem, have refused to work on the terms proposed and hence the above works are at a stand.
We are informed that according to the present proposal, the number of hours the men are required to work are will average slightly under ten per day (exclusive of course of meal times) that is Monday, nine and a half hours; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, ten and a half hours each; and Saturday, seven and a half hours, making a total of fifty nine hours per week. The wages paid to those working in the “Winghay” coal is 4s/ 6p per day, but the wages in general are 4s. This it said is 3d per day more than the colliers, recently on strike in the other part of the Potteries, and are now receiving for the same number of hours’ work per day.
Since writing the above we understand that the colliers in Burslem have generally accepted the proposed terms, and resumed work, so that the strike is now confined to Tunstall. On Wednesday, the turn-outs held a meeting at Tunstall, at which they agreed to submit to a new reduction of 3d per day, instead of an increase of time and deputations were appointed to wait upon the proprietors or agents of the Pinox, Clanway, and Tunstall collieries to explain the proposed terms.
The result is that the employers have declined to accede to the terms of the men, considering themselves justified to adhering to their original proposals for an increase of time, and particularly so as the required number of hours work per day was no more than is generally recognised and acted upon by the trade throughout the district and with the slight interval above alluded to, had been so for the last fifty years. Thus the matter remains for the present, but a speedy and amicable arrangement is confidently anticipated, a prolonged strike in the present depressed state of trade, being quite out of the question.
Staffordshire Advertiser June 9th 1855 the miners in the employ of Mr. H.H. Williamson, Messrs Clive, Meir, and others in Tunstall are still out on strike. The turn-out has now lasted a month; the grounds of the strike, as we have before stated, being on a proposal by the masters that the men should work one hour per day more, or in other words revert to the old terms as to time, which previous to the last twelve months had been the rule for many years.
Even then the men would be receiving 3d per day more (for the same number of hours) than those lately on strike, and now gone in, at Hanley and Longton while their wages would be as high as the Burslem and Cobridge men are now working at. It is therefore evident that the strike, which is inflicting much suffering on many families, cannot continue for long; the masters being willing to give the highest wages paid by their competitors in the market, and a demand for more is so unreasonable that it would be impossible to comply with it. The Tunstall men have taken a mistaken course in order to enlist sympathy on their side, by the circulation of a handbill reflecting most unjustly on their masters as tyrants etc. Such things invariably do harm to the cause they intend to serve.