Women of the Durham Coalfield in the 20th Century

Life in the early 20th-century coalmining communities changed very little for the women who dedicated their lives to their coal miner husbands. Their working hours continued to be longer than the eight-hour days spent down the pit by the miners. Living conditions continued to deteriorate and further challenges to their home-making skills were presented by lack of investment by the coal owners in failing to provide the basics of clean water and sewerage systems which still evaded many mining communities. Health services were slow to develop and women's health was just beginning to be of some importance to the medical profession. The women also had to cope with demands put upon their families by the First World War which highlighted the importance of solidarity, a feature of mining communities which had proved itself to be the at the heart of colliery village life.