Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
The Industrial Revolution in Great Britain
The Coal Mining Industry
Royal Commission on Employment of Children, First report
Note that the person depicted in Fig. 4 is a "naked
face-worker": a "hewer". Although the Royal Commission
on Employment of Children, First report identifies
this as being of a man, this would be an example of
censorship. Women and children performed all kinds of
work functions in the coal collieries. Just as it
could be very hot in a mine, it could also be frigidly
cold. Note the forked piece of wood to keep the prone
woman's head propped into position. Hewers often had to
lie down upon a board.
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