Photograph courtesy of National Museum of Wales
Two Colliers working the coal in one of the stalls. A stall was an area off the heading between pillars of coal which were left to support the roof. It was quite common for miners to be on their knees this way, spending much of their time undercutting the coal with his mandrel. It is understandable how miners working in these conditions with sometimes poor ventilation, while inhaling dust in this way became ill in later years. They would end their lives with their lungs filled with dust and gasping for air. These conditions were known as Pneumoconiosis and silicosis. Yet very little if any compensation was paid for their illnesses. Dust related diseases were hardly recognised in those days.
