Heroic 'broo-wenches' who scandalised Victorian Britain by
working NAKED to help them cope in the intense heat of the collieries
and wearing trousers are pictured in newly-unearthed black and white
portraits.
Fascinating images have revealed the
heroic actions of Britain's 'broo-wenches' who scandalised Victorian
society by working in trousers and even naked while mining underground.
When a Victorian newspaper ran a front page picture of a Wigan colliery girl in her uniform, it sent shockwaves through Britain.
This
had followed a report containing sketches of half-naked women working
underground alongside men, a report that resulted in calls for women to
be kicked out of the searing hot coal pits.
The 'unladylike' image disgusted many, but the Northern working-class women had their supporters too.
One such man was Arthur Munby, whose fascinating collection of images of the Pit Brow Women have recently been unearthed.
The
striking pictures show the heroic women in their working gear. A
uniform that consisted of a headscarf to shield their hair from dirt, a
long ankle-length skirt and most shockingly of all, trousers underneath.
Munby,
an enthusiastic supporter of working women in the 19th century Britain,
would make frequent trips to Wigan and other industrial towns to
document his heroines.
However, as photography was a new invention in the mid 19th-century, it wasn't straight forward.
He
would have to convince the labouring women into a nearby photographer's
studio where they would have to pose very still for up to several
seconds whilst the exposure was made.
This
makes for interesting pictures that show rugged, weather-worn women
posing in front of a back drop that was intended to be used for the
middle-classes posing in their Sunday best.
The women, also known as broo-wenches, pose with giant spades and other working equipment such as lanterns, baskets and flasks.
In
1842, there had been outrage when it had been discovered that women
around the country had been working underground in coal pits half-naked.
This of course, being due to the extreme temperature in the pit.
They were eventually banned from underground work, but continued to work on the surface.
This
led to a further inquisition in 1865, when the miners of Northumberland
and Durham petitioned Parliament on a variety of matters including
surface labour by women.
They asserted 'that
the practice of employing females on or about the pit banks of mines and
collieries is degrading to the sex, leads to gross immorality, and
stands as a foul blot on the civilisation and humanity of the kingdom.'
Pit brow women or pit brow lasses were women who worked on the surface at British collieries.
They
worked on the pit bank (or brow) at the shaft top, where they were
tasked with picking stones from the coal after it was hauled to the
surface.
Women and boys under the age of 10
were banned from working underground following the passing of the Mines
and Collieries Act 1842.
Hecklers unleash on confused President Biden during Pennsylvania visit
This
had followed a report containing sketches of half-naked women working
underground alongside men, a report that resulted in calls for women to
be kicked out of the searing hot coal pits.
The 'unladylike' image disgusted many, but the Northern working-class women had their supporters too.
One such man was Arthur Munby, whose fascinating collection of images of the Pit Brow Women have recently been unearthed.
A trio of women are shown in their traditional uniform with a sieve
A
drawing of a half-naked girl dragging a loaded corf along a low mine
passage near Halifax in Yorkshire, sometime in 1842. The engraving was
used to illustrate a report on the employment of women in mines, that
saw them banned from working underground that same year. Many expressed
disgust at the idea of women working while partially clothes
A
drawing of a half-naked girl dragging a loaded corf along a low mine
passage near Halifax in Yorkshire, sometime in 1842. The engraving was
used to illustrate a report on the employment of women in mines, that
saw them banned from working underground that same year. Many expressed
disgust at the idea of women working while partially clothes
Sketches
of half-naked women (including a man, second image) working underground
alongside men resulted in calls for women to be kicked out of the
searing hot coal pit, with Victorian Britain taking a dim view on women
working in such close proximity with men while in a state of undress
Sketches
of half-naked women (including a man, second image) working underground
alongside men resulted in calls for women to be kicked out of the
searing hot coal pit, with Victorian Britain taking a dim view on women
working in such close proximity with men while in a state of undress
Young
looking pit brow girls just before starting work, Wigan, 1893. Several
decades before, women and boys under under 10 years old were banned from
working underground, meaning all the little girls became broo lasses,
working on the surface above the mines
Young
looking pit brow girls just before starting work, Wigan, 1893. Several
decades before, women and boys under under 10 years old were banned from
working underground, meaning all the little girls became broo lasses,
working on the surface above the mines
Ellen Grounds, 22, a Pit Brow girl at Pearson and Knowles's Pits, Wigan, 11th September, 1873
A particularly tall female collier from Rose Bridge Pits in Wigan, who measured 5ft 9 in, is pictured left on August 10, 1869
A particularly tall female collier from Rose Bridge Pits in Wigan, who measured 5ft 9 in, is pictured left on August 10, 1869
Meanwhile,
a similarly dressed lass is shown resting on her shovel. Notice the
outfit, which featured both trousers and a skirt over the top
Meanwhile,
a similarly dressed lass is shown resting on her shovel. Notice the
outfit, which featured both trousers and a skirt over the top
Shevington
Colliery near Wigan, photographed in 1863. Pictured are a group of
women working at the surface. They worked on the pit bank (pictured) at
the shaft top, where they were tasked with picking stones from the coal
after it was hauled to the surface
Shevington
Colliery near Wigan, photographed in 1863. Pictured are a group of women
working at the surface. They worked on the pit bank (pictured) at the
shaft top, where they were tasked with picking stones from the coal
after it was hauled to the surface
Mr Wright, landlord of the Three Crowns and two Pit Brow Women in Wigan on some date in 1865
Mr Wright, landlord of the Three Crowns and two Pit Brow Women in Wigan on some date in 1865
An unknown pit brow woman in Wigan, circa 1867 to 1888
An unknown pit brow woman in Wigan, circa 1867 to 1888
The
striking pictures show the heroic women in their working gear. A
uniform that consisted of a headscarf to shield their hair from dirt, a
long ankle-length skirt and most shockingly of all, trousers underneath.
Munby,
an enthusiastic supporter of working women in the 19th century Britain,
would make frequent trips to Wigan and other industrial towns to
document his heroines.
However, as photography was a new invention in the mid 19th-century, it wasn't straight forward.
He
would have to convince the labouring women into a nearby photographer's
studio where they would have to pose very still for up to several
seconds whilst the exposure was made.
This
makes for interesting pictures that show rugged, weather-worn women
posing in front of a back drop that was intended to be used for the
middle-classes posing in their Sunday best.
The women, also known as broo-wenches, pose with giant spades and other working equipment such as lanterns, baskets and flasks.
In
1842, there had been outrage when it had been discovered that women
around the country had been working underground in coal pits half-naked.
This of course, being due to the extreme temperature in the pit.
They were eventually banned from underground work, but continued to work on the surface.
This
led to a further inquisition in 1865, when the miners of Northumberland
and Durham petitioned Parliament on a variety of matters including
surface labour by women.
The House of Commons
set up a Select Committee to look into the matters raised and questions
were asked about the morality of women employed on the pit banks
The
House of Commons set up a Select Committee to look into the matters
raised and questions were asked about the morality of women employed on
the pit banks
The Committee had difficulty to stand up the
charges of 'degradation' and 'immorality,' and great interest was shown
in the 'peculiarity' of females wearing trousers
The
Committee had difficulty to stand up the charges of 'degradation' and
'immorality,' and great interest was shown in the 'peculiarity' of
females wearing trousers
Shown are yet more unidentified broo wenches in 1868
Shown are yet more unidentified broo wenches in 1868
The
striking pictures show the heroic women in their working gear. A
uniform that consisted of a headscarf to shield their hair from dirt, a
long ankle-length skirt and most shockingly of all, trousers underneath
The
striking pictures show the heroic women in their working gear. A
uniform that consisted of a headscarf to shield their hair from dirt, a
long ankle-length skirt and most shockingly of all, trousers underneath
Women
worked underground alongside men until 1842, as did children as young
as eight years old. However this was stopped by Queen Victoria, who
decided to put an end to such working following a disaster at Huskar
Colliery in Silkstone Common, in which 26 children were killed after a
mine flooded
Women worked underground alongside
men until 1842, as did children as young as eight years old. However
this was stopped by Queen Victoria, who decided to put an end to such
working following a disaster at Huskar Colliery in Silkstone Common, in
which 26 children were killed after a mine flooded
Interesting
pictures that show rugged, weather-worn women posing in front of a back
drop that was intended to be used for the middle-classes posing in
their Sunday best
Interesting pictures that
show rugged, weather-worn women posing in front of a back drop that was
intended to be used for the middle-classes posing in their Sunday best
The women, also known as broo-wenches, pose with giant spades and other working equipment such as lanterns, baskets and flasks
The women, also known as broo-wenches, pose with giant spades and other working equipment such as lanterns, baskets and flasks
After
women were banned from going underground, they took to carrying out
work on the surface. Here they would load carts, sort coal from stone
and haul materials from the pit face. This pit brow women are pictured
alongside a man at Rode Bridge Pits, Wigan in 1865
After
women were banned from going underground, they took to carrying out
work on the surface. Here they would load carts, sort coal from stone
and haul materials from the pit face. This pit brow women are pictured
alongside a man at Rode Bridge Pits, Wigan in 1865
They
asserted 'that the practice of employing females on or about the pit
banks of mines and collieries is degrading to the sex, leads to gross
immorality, and stands as a foul blot on the civilisation and humanity
of the kingdom.'
Why were they called 'broo-wenches'?
Pit brow women or pit brow lasses were women who worked on the surface at British collieries.
They
worked on the pit bank (or brow) at the shaft top, where they were
tasked with picking stones from the coal after it was hauled to the
surface.
Women and boys under the age of 10
were banned from working underground following the passing of the Mines
and Collieries Act 1842.
The
House of Commons set up a Select Committee to look into the matters
raised and questions were asked about the morality of women employed on
the pit banks.
The Committee had difficulty to
stand up the charges of 'degradation' and 'immorality,' and great
interest was shown in the 'peculiarity' of females wearing trousers.
Peter
Dickinson, a male miner from Wigan, was questioned specifically on his
colleagues' dress. He said: 'The entire person of the woman is covered
and there nothing indecent in the dress.'
He
then boldly undermined the Committee by adding: 'Though you spoke of the
dress as being one of the leading features of the degrading character
of the employment?'
In 1867 the Select
Committee on Mines presented its final report. Concerning the employment
of women at the pit's mouth, they concluded 'that the allegations of
either indecency or immorality were not established by the evidence.'
Therefore,
they concluded that no government legislation or interference was
required, a great victory was struck for the working girls of collieries
across the nation.
.jpg)
%20(26).jpeg)
No comments:
Post a Comment