Coal-Mining in the Seventeenth Century

Asta Moller

doi:10.2307/3678317

Coal-Mining in the Seventeenth Century

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 February 2009

Asta Moller

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The history of coal-mining in the seventeenth century covers what may be termed the first chapter in the great story of English coal. In less than a century a seemingly insignificant and experimental industry developed into one of considerable importance. Coal had been used locally before this period; but an industry, as such, did not arise till a decline in the country's supply of wood stimulated new activities. It is possible that the introduction of coal might have been indefinitely postponed, had not years of ruthless felling of timber and neglect of forest lands, coincident with an increasing demand for wood for other than domestic purposes, caused a shortage of fuel. To the Elizabethan the decay of woods had an even wider significance. The demands of the Navy, the extension of the Empire and the discovery of new countries all laid a claim on timber. Its preservation became a matter of national concern. That the individual consumer should have possessed this degree of circumspection, and acted accordingly, was hardly to be expected; but the national needs were brought home to him through an increase in the price of wood. The use of coal became a matter of necessity rather than of choice.

Type: Research Article
Information: Transactions of the Royal Historical Society , Volume 8 , December 1925 , pp. 79 - 97

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3678317 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1925

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^{page 79 note 1} Since this paper was read, the Literary Director of the Royal Historical Society has suggested the omission of certain portions in view both of the exigencies of space, and also of the fact (noted in Reports of the Royal Commission on Public Records) that detailed colliery accounts will probably be found among the Chancery Master's Documents when these are made accessible to students. It may be possible therefore for the author to supplement her researches from this source and from other local records in private custody.

^{page 80 note 1} Pettus, , Fodina Regales (1670), p. 9Google Scholar.

^{page 81 note 1} Gent, S. P., City and Country (1667)Google Scholar.

^{page 82 note 1} Grey's Chorographia (1649, reprint Harleian Miscellany, 1809, III, pp. 279–80.)

^{page 82 note 2} Craster, , Hist. of Northumberland, IX, p. 229Google Scholar.

^{page 83 note 1} Ibid.

^{page 83 note 2} Ibid., p. 227.

^{page 83 note 3} Hist. MSS. Comm. Middleton MSS., p. 176.

^{page 83 note 4} Ibid., p. 183.

^{page 83 note 5} Ibid., p. 177.

^{page 83 note 6} S. P. Dom. Jas. I, cxxxiv, 32.

^{page 83 note 7} S. P. Dom. Chas. I, cciv, 83.

^{page 84 note 1} The Compleat Collier [reprint, Richardson], p. 24.

^{page 84 note 2} Cal. S.P. Dom. Addenda, 1580–1625, p. 327.

^{page 85 note 1} Brit. Mus. Lansdowne MSS. 169, fo. 46, also Records of the Comp. of Hostmen (Surtees Soc. Pub.), Vol. 105, p. 58.

^{page 85 note 2} S.P. Dom. Chas. I, cciv, 83.

^{page 85 note 3} Houghton, , Collection for the Improvement of Husbandry and Trade (1727), I, p. 105Google Scholar.

^{page 85 note 4} The Compleat Collier, p. 23.

^{page 85 note 5} Cal. S.P. Dom. 1619–23, p. 459; see also Scott, W. R., Joint Stock Companies, II, p. 460. “In 1653 an important company with a large membership (including Oliver Cromwell) was formed to mine coal and smelt iron in the Forest of Dean.”

^{page 85 note 6} Nottingham Borough Records, V, p. 144.

^{page 86 note 1} Nottingham Borough Records, V, p. 272.

^{page 86 note 2} Chancery Proc. 293/3.

^{page 86 note 3} Trans. Lanes. and Cheshire Antiq. Soc., VII, p. 60.

^{page 87 note 1} Records of Company of Hostmen, pp. xl and 151.

^{page 87 note 2} Dudley, Dud, Metallum Martis, p. 35Google Scholar.

^{page 88 note 1} The Compleat Collier, p. 32.

^{page 88 note 2} Viet. Count. Hist. Cumberland, II, p. 361.

^{page 88 note 3} Cambrian Register, II, p. 107.

^{page 88 note 4} Hist. MSS. Comm. Middleton MSS., pp. 522–3.

^{page 88 note 5} From the Survey of Kingswood Forest ordered by the king in 1615, cited Braine, , History of Kingswood Forest, p. 60Google Scholar.

^{page 88 note 6} Hist. MSS. Comm. Cowper MSS. I, p. 71.

^{page 88 note 7} Excheq. Dep., 4 Jas. II, Easter, No. 21.

^{page 89 note 1} Bell Collection, Vol. XVI, Institute of Mining, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

^{page 89 note 2} Gent, S. P., City and Country (1667)Google Scholar.

^{page 89 note 3} Cal. S.P. Dom. 1667–8, p. 336, and S. P. Dom. 1666–7, p. 567.

^{page 90 note 1} Defoe, , Tour Through Great Britain (edit. 1724), II, p. 83Google Scholar.

^{page 91 note 1} “That place (Newcastle) is worth more to the King in customs and coals than all the revenue of Scotland by far.” Cal. S. P. Dom. 1640–1, p. 50.

^{page 91 note 2} Records of Company of Hostmen (Surtees Soc. Pub.), Vol. 105.

^{page 91 note 3} Ibid., p. xxxi.

^{page 91 note 4} 21 Jas. I, c. 3, xii.

^{page 92 note 1} Brand, Hist. of Newcastle, II, p. 268; and Welford, , Hist. of Newcastle, II, p. 501Google Scholar, and III, p. 18.

^{page 92 note 2} Records of Company of Hostmen, p. 2 n.

^{page 92 note 3} Ibid.

^{page 92 note 4} In a petition to the King in 1637, the Mayor, Sheriff and Inhabitants of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, state that their principal means and estates are their collieries in the counties of Durham and Northumberland. Cal. S.P. Dom. 1637, p. 505.

^{page 92 note 5} Records of Company of Hostmen, p. 8.

^{page 92 note 6} Ibid., p. 23.

^{page 93 note 1} Ibid., pp. 63, 67, and 72.

^{page 93 note 2} Records of Company of Hostmen, p. 3.

^{page 93 note 3} From a copy of the original in the Bell Collection, Vol. VII.

^{page 94 note 1} Star Chamber Proc., Jas. I, 28/18.

^{page 94 note 2} S.P. Dom. Chas. I, cclxxxix, 109, “cheap coles and not fitt for any other thing than making of Salt.”

^{page 94 note 3} Star Chamber Proc., Jas. I, 28/18.

^{page 94 note 4} Cal. S.P. Dom. 1666–7, p. 523.

^{page 95 note 1} Cited title page Bell Collection.

^{page 95 note 2} 9 Henrici V, c. x.

^{page 95 note 3} Records of Company of Hostmen, p. xxxii.

^{page 96 note 1} Cal. S.P. Dom. 1644–5, pp. 98, 99.

^{page 96 note 2} Gardiner, , England's Grievance Discovered in Relation to the Coal Trade (1655), reprint 1796, p. 55Google Scholar.

^{page 96 note 3} Cal. S.P. Dom. 1635–6, p. 292.

^{page 96 note 4} Ibid., 1664–5, pp. 182, 328.

^{page 96 note 5} 19 Car. II, c. 3, xxxvi, and 22 Car. II, c. ii, xxxviii.

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