The Memoirs of Mr Wilf Adams

Mr.Adams started to work underground at the Leycett Colliery when he was 17 or 18 (1932).Before that he worked at the Brick Yard.His first job at Leycett was working 'on the haulage' at the bottom of the 'dip' (Heading).this involved taking the wagons (pit tubs) to the colliers and collacting the loaded wagons from them.

After working on various haulage jobs ,Mr.Adams progressed to 'Engine Driver'.This involved him operating a 'Rope' haulage system which was powered by compressed air.

In time Mr.Adams got a job on the coal face working as a 'Loader' for two colliers,a Mr.Joe Smith of Madeley,and his son.

Mr.Adams rode his push bike to Leycett from his home in Occupation Street,Newcastle.He had to take his pit clothes with him every day as there were no changing facilities at the pit.He would also take his 'Snappin Tin' and water bottle.his clothes consisted of a pair of Miners 'Pit Drawers' (rather like long underwear).These 'Drawers' were often the only thing worn at the coal face because of the very warm working conditions at Leycett.

Tradition has it that mice (and Cockroaches) entered the mine in the pit horses food which was delivered in large sacks.It was assumed that the mice entered the sacks and were so carried down the mine.Once established they were very difficult to get rid of.There were no rats underground at Leycett.

Mr.Adams reported anothre interesting creature which on rare occasions,visited the mine,namely the Scorpion - "Well the odd one or two now and then".these were thought to have come in the timber used for 'Pit props',usually pine.They would be seen crawling over the props.They got in as the timber was imported from warmer climates and eventually ended up six hundred or so feet below at Leycett.

Mr.Adams was involved in the rescue after Mr.Deakin of Silverdale recived very serious back injuries in a 'roof fall' at the coal face."He was in a mess,I'd never seen anything like it before".Noah was the husband of the famous Fanny Deakin.

Mr .Adams worked two hours over his shift whilst involved in the rescue.He was entitled to two hours over pay but never received it.Because he had volunteered to help in the rescue.Other men involved in the rescue were :

Bill & Howard Parson,Jack deakin ,brother to Noah,Joey Williams,Arthur Morrel,Ernie Malkin and Sammy Walklake.

Mr.Adams recalls one christmas Day when one of the overmen was getting desparate to find someone to accompany him on his Christmas day inspection.He'd asked the usual f=group of relatives ,friends and favourites ,in fact he's tried everybody but nobody wanted to work.After several refusals,he asked Mr.Adams if he'd work on Christmas day,saying he'd make it worth his while.Mr.Adams agreed to work and got 10 shillings (50p) for teh day.


Mr.Adams was lucky becasue the colliers he worked for Joe Smith and his son had a very enlightened attitude in paying the 'loader',for they paid him the same of money less stoppages as they gave themselves.Stoppages included expenses for explosives,fuses etc....

When the War started Mr.Adams joined the 'Terriers',because he wanted to do his bit.there was no need for him to go as he was in an exempt occupation but he wanted to go .The management at Leycett wrote to Mr.Adams family to ask his whereabouts because they wanted him back in the pit..Mr.Adams reply to his father was "If Leycett Colliery want my address they can ask the War Office,I'm out of the pit now and I'm stopping out".

Mr.Adams was captured and spent fours years as a prisoner of war.During that time he learned how to drive a steam Loco.When he was released he returned to civilian life and because of his experience with steam he got a job at the City General,shovelling coal into the boilers.


The full copy of Mr.Adams's memoirs will be sent out with the first Leycett Online newsletter/update of 2008.