Under the British Coal Mines Act of 1911 what age did a pit pony have to be before going underground?
Pit pony were used. Donkeys were also used in the late 19th century, and in the United States, large numbers of mules were used. Regardless of breed, typical mining ponies were low set, heavy bodied and heavy limbed with plenty of bone and substance, low-headed and sure-footed. Under the British Coal Mines Act of 1911, ponies had to be four years old and work ready (shod and vet checked) before going underground. They could work until their twenties. In shaft mines, ponies were normally stabled underground and fed on a diet with a high proportion of chopped hay and maize, coming to
Coal Mines Act 1911 1911. On 9 April 1908 an explosion at Norton Hill Collieries at Westfield approximately underground killed 10 men and boys. As there were no mine rescue teams at that time, the manager and volunteers searched for survivors for 10 days. The civil servant Malcolm Delevingne had a significant influence on safety regulations in factories and mines. He did a considerable amount of work on the Coal Mines Act, 1911. Richard Redmayne joined the Home Office as the first Chief Inspector of Mines in 1908 and worked with Delevingne to bring about the Act 1911. The Royal Commission reports led to