Coal Mining terms. Definition of Hewer, hewing
A hewer is a man who cuts coal, removing it from the coal face. His was normally one of the most dangerous jobs in coal mines because in addition to the usual dangers, coal would fall from the face and sometimes the roof would fall in. Normal procedure for hewers was to cut a slot in the base of the coal seam so that coal would drop, or be coerced into dropping down under gravity. The roof immediately above the coal was also liable to fall. Hewers, being in the vicinity of this activity were often killed by accidental falls of coal or stone. Hewers death certificates frequently record this as the cause of death. In fact it became such a commonplace accident that the Inspector of mines in Britain generally recorded it with little investigation, since there was little they could do about it.
Hewing was hard work, and mining culture in many places records the strength and bravery of the hewer.
The terms hewer and hewing are recorded in the mining glossaries as being primarily used in Newcastle, England.
Definitions
A glossary of Terms used in the Coal Trade of Northumberland and Durham, W. E. Nicholson, 1888:
Hewer
A man who works or gets coals.
Hewing-double
Two hewers working together in a board or wall.
English and Foreign Mining Glossary, Mining Journal 1871.
Hewer
Newcastle term: A man who cuts or works the coal
Hewing
Newcastle term: Working the coal
A Glossary of Mining and Metallurgiacal Terms, R. W. Raymond, 1881 (America)
Hewer
(Newcastle). The man who cuts the coal.
Quotes concerning Hewers
The hewers are divided into “fore-shift" men and "back-shift" men. The former work from one till nine, and the latter from nine till five.
The hewer sits on a low stool (four inches in height), and grasping his pick with both hands, makes successive horizontal blows. . . . The hewer fills his tubs, and continues thus alternately hewing and filling.
Contrary to what we might expect, from the violent muscular exertions necessary in hewing, and from working frequently in wet and damp places, and always more or less exposed to currents of air, rheumatism and rheumatic fever do not often affect the coal hewer.
- ROBERT WILSON, M.D. 1864. Read the article
here
The master is recommended to agree with his
hewers of coal or miners, to pay them
by the score of corves, by chance for 10d. or 12d. for each score, according to the tenderness or hardness of the coal, or according to what the mine will afford, and not by the day or shift work.
The banksman takes strict notice of the filling of the corves; otherwise both the hewers and barrow-men will confederate under-ground . . . to set those coals so hollow at the corfe bottom, and cover them with small coals at the top, and make it look like a full corfe, when in reality it is not more than half full.
The hewer is the actual coal-digger. Whether the seam be so thin that he can hardly creep into it on hands and knees, or whether it be thick enough for him to stand upright, he is the responsible workman who loosens the coal from the bed.
Comprehensive Guide to the County of Durham, by J. R. Boyle, F. S. A. Read the article
here
Search for references to Bank and Banksmen in the library here.
Search for references to Bank and Banksmen in the Colliery Guardian and Mining Journal on-line index.
Search the Institute on-line catalogue for Bank and Banksmen here
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