Description

My family have a practical connection with mining in the Swansea area and I approached the project bearing in mind the various reminiscences I had heard as a child.

However, as I researched the subject, I began to focus on the role played by women in the early industry and indeed a role which is to some extent still played today as women give support as part of the mining ‘family’.

My interest began to develop as I read about the role women played underground and I decided to concentrate on this aspect for my contribution to the project.

I have endeavoured to portray the stark, trapped conditions some of these women faced each day at the coalface. I felt these women had an inner strength and I have tried to show via treatment of the subject, both the physical and mental determination of these ‘pit girls’.