Across the bridge crossing the Grey River from the carpark is where the actual bricks were made.
This is one of the areas where the bricks were made. There were 5 kilns here in total and each one was able to make 2000-3000 bricks.
About 12 men and boys worked in these buildings, the clay dust would've been unbearable with the only ventilation being through open windows in the mill building. Temperatures in Winter were below freezing - no insulation at all in winter while in summer those working in the sheds with it's underfloor heating really felt the heat. No human rights conditions in those days.
This is how the mining site would've looked back when it was in action - note the bridge on the other side shows this was taken from the hill which now has a road leading to the main highway looking behind the sheds. Photo by H. Yeadon 1880s - both mines were shut down in 1906 and 1908.
A memorial set up to remember those who died in a mass explosion on the site that ripped through the mine on 26th March 1896 killing 65 men, 53 are buried in a mass grave at nearby Stillwater Cemetery and 33 in a single grave each. Two men who were sent in to investigate were later found unconscious after inhaling black damp, a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The official enquiry afterwards found the cause was a detonation of a charge in an area of the mine where no one should've been working. Some said that methane gas produced by coal had accumulated because of an ineffective ventilation system.
Photo from Te Ara showing the first bodies being taken out of the mine from.
The mass grave as it was being filled back in 1896. Photo from West Coast History.
The memorial and mass grave surrounded by Victorian iron railings as it looks today in such a peaceful quiet place in the country.
Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.
19 comments:
Fascinating history. The old photos are a great reminder of how awful working conditions were in those days.
These images are great documentary photos despite the disaster.
Those old photos are powerful. I've heard of the Brunner mine but didn't know its history. Good that they've preserved it so you can walk and learn the miners story
For sure a tragedy but indeed very well documented.
...mining has always been a dangerous job. Risking your life to feed your family doesn't seem right.
Beautifully documented.
Beautiful blog
This is a sad history. It's hard to imagine working in those conditions.
Always interesting to be able to "revisit the past" and think about how things have changed.
Glad times have changed. It must´ve been very hard...
Fascinating. For all of our complaining about not being paid enough and needing more vacation, we are blessed.
Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2023/07/a-visit-to-sarah-p-duke-garden.html
The working conditions were terrible beyond beief. The photos illustrate the historical record well. Thanks for sharing.
Interesting post. Working conditions were apalling way back when. Mines especially are dangerous the whole world over.
The Brunner Mine is one of our worst disasters but seldom heard of these days. Thanks for sharing this information.
I enjoyed reading about the interesting history, Amy.
So glad times have changed.
Hugs and blessings
Thank you for shering with me, lovely story
Such a sad bit of history -- told so well through your words and the new and old pictures. I hear so many people these days complaining about change and wanting to go back to the old ways -- this sure points out how fortunate we are that many changes have taken place over the years.
A very sad, but unsurprising story.
The history of the West Cost seems to be a litany of such disasters.
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