suehutton

By suehutton

Reminders of the Leicestershire Coalfield

I can recall learning about the Leicestershire coalfield in Geography classes in 1964. That was at a time when several collieries were closing, such as New Lount close to where I live now. This was a time when I thought of Leicestershire being 'up north.'

At a meeting with the physiotherapist this morning, I passed through this corridor which is lined not only with the work of the Thringstone Art Group but also more than 30 memorial plates of the collieries in the coalfield. That must have been a huge impact. So many men worked in them. How did they and their families cope after the closures which culminated in the 1980s. Factory work for some. Women employed in the hosiery business probably kept society going, but today even that has disappeared. I knowof one business in Shepshed that knits surgical stockings undoubtedly employing the skills of a female workforce. When I first came to Shepshed, there were several factories, all closed now.

This is the first of several backblips. I have fallen behind.

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