Many thanks to John Gwatkin for his painstaking research from the Mexborough Times STRIKES, DISPUTES AND EVICTIONS.
For almost all of the life of the village of Denaby Main there has, especially in the early days, been much strife and hardship caused through the many disputes between men and mine owners at the two collieries ( Denaby Main and Cadeby Main ). The village which was built to house the miners by the Colliery Company and was therefore a village of `tied´ housing and subject to the will of the mine owners and managers in the event of any disputes. The following are extracts and reports from the Mexborough and Swinton Times from about these conflicts.
Years of Conflict
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1878 – 27% Reduction in Pay
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04 – April 19th – Miners Meeting – 200 Men Present
05 – May 10th – Meeting at Denaby – Mr Rymer’s Accident
08 – August 30th – Great Meeting at Mexborough – Men given Notice
09 – September 6th – Dispute Settled
10 – October 11th – Mass Meeting – Lock Out at Denaby
10 – October 25th – Denaby Dispute – State of Families and Businesses Sad
11 – November 1st – Workmen’s Circular
11 – November 8th – Whisky Jug Discussions
12 – December 13th – Dispute Settled for 5% – Another Dispute
12 – December 20th – Dispute continues – Policemen at Pit
1879 – Dispute Settled – Another 5% Reduction
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01 – Jan 3rd – Tommy Tickets
01 – Jan 17th – Dispute Settled 5% Reduction
03 – March 21st – Forcible Ejections – Pigs turned Out
05 – May 16th – Miners Association 500 Attend Public Tea
07 – July 18th – Proposed Reduction – Mechanics Quit
1880 – Request for the return of the 5% and 1000 Out of Work
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01 – Jan 30th – Excellent Repast – Request for 5%
02 – Feb 6th – The Five Percent Question – The Sliding Scale
10 – Oct 15th & 22nd – Wages Reduction – Banksmen Strike
12 – Dec 10th – 800 men given notice
12 – Dec 17th – 1000 Hands out of Work
12 – Dec 24th – Indignation – What is the Cause?
1881 Black Sheep, Sliding Scales & Pony Drivers Strike
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01 – Jan 07th – Appeal for Support
01 – Jan 14th – Letter from Buckingham Pope
01 – Jan 21st – The 5% , Packing Pay and 3 Meetings
01 – Jan 21st – The Railway’s Response
01 – Jan 28th – The Crisis at Denaby – Chuck ’em into t’Cut !
02 – Feb 04th – Decision of the Council
02 – Feb 04th – How Matters now Stand
02 – Feb 11th – A ‘Scene’ at the Colliery
02 – Feb 11th – Manager’s Desire to Settle Matters
02 – Feb 11th – Miners to Return to Work
02 – Feb 18th – ‘Scene’ with Visitors
03 – March 18th – Sliding Scale
03 – March 25th – Sliding Scale
04 – April 15th – Proposed Reduction In Wages At Denaby Main Colliery.
04 – April 22nd – Meeting with Manager
07 – July 1st – Pony Drivers Walk Out
07 – July 29th – Return to Work