Wrenthorpe Colliery 3: miners’ gift to pit owner – affection or fear?

Here’s a strange piece of news. Is this a one-off example of miners giving their boss a gift as an act of genuine affection? Or are they really motivated by fear for their futures?

Yorkshire Evening Post
Thursday 20 April 1893

PRESENTATION TO A WAKEFIELD COAL OWNER

The miners employed at Wrenthorpe Colliery, near Wakefield, were thrown out of work for a considerable period during the latter half of 1892 by the stoppage the pit for repairs. Mr W T Marriott, of Sandal Grange, owner of the colliery, behaved in a particularly generous manner towards the men during the time they were unable to work, and the latter have determined to acknowledge in a tangible manner the kindness of their employer. A subscription list was opened, and as a result a handsomely-chased solid silver waiter [tray] and an illuminated address will shortly be presented to Mr Marriott.

Little did the miners know but they were about to get kicked in the teeth, and by that summer they’d be on strike.

 

UPDATE

The following article’s come to light about a meeting of the Yorkshire miners’ union in June 1892. It seems that Marriott, far from making the first benevolent move, only reacted in response to calls from the miners’ union. And, judging by the grievances behind the 1893 strike, he sat by when working practices were introduced at the colliery which drastically reduced the typical miner’s pay.

Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Saturday 18 June1892

YORKSHIRE MINERS’ ASSOCIATION
THE MINERS AND THE NORTHERN DIVISION

A meeting of the council of the Association was held at Barnsley, on Monday, and Mr E Cowey presided. The Miners’ Federation of Great Britain having decided that, the strike being over, no further levy need be paid on behalf of Durham, it was shown that there were still many men out of work…

Seventy or eighty men have been thrown out of work owing to necessary repairs to the fan shaft at Wrenthorpe Colliery. They are not entitled to relief from the funds, and as the repairs will take a month the men’s case was ordered to be laid before the district.