Photograph courtesy of National Museum of Wales
This is another of Mr. Jones' wonderful photographs, this one taken at the Plas-y-Coed level, in the district of Pontypool in around 1905. Here a collier can be seen 'Holing Out' beneath the coal seam. This cut was made to a depth of around three feet, making it easier for breaking down and removing the coal. Imagine having to do this job, crouched in this position with one's leg bent double under one, and cutting away with a mandrel (small pick) hour after hour. Note the lighted candle close to his left arm. The amount of light in this picture was provided by the photographer rather than the collier. Using just the candle for light, his man would have been working in semi-darkness. The reason for 'Holing Out' was to make it easier to break down and obtain large lump coal, as colliers would not have been paid for any small coal they produced. But, even though they were not paid for it, this small coal was still sold and used in the colliery boilers!
