Huskar Memorial

On 4 July 1838, 26 children drowned in a coal mining disaster when a torrential storm flooded the coal pit where they were working. The water rushing down the shafts meant there was no way for them to escape. The loss of so many young lives shocked the nation and resulted in legislation eventually being passed that made the employment of children in mines illegal. It was some years later before the Factory Acts made the employment of young children in dangerous factories of the time also illegal. We passed the memorial on our afternoon walk. The sun was shining but the strong NE wind meant it felt quite cold although the trees gave some shelter. A frustrating morning getting my printer to work which meant that the photo and notes for the Photographic Portfolio took me twice as long to prepare than expected.