Mining in the Ironbridge area of North Shropshire

A thematic and narrative analysis of oral histories from the Ironbridge Gorge reveals that coal mining was deeply embedded in the local landscape, with overlapping industrial processes as the norm. Male miners exhibited a striking lack of self-reflection on risk despite their empathy for women and pit ponies, highlighting a complex interplay between work culture and societal norms. The study, based on interviews conducted in the 1970s and 1980s, provides unique insights into the lived experiences of miners and the broader industrial dynamics of North Shropshire.

Asprey, E., & Galasińska, A. (2025). Mining in the Ironbridge area of North Shropshire. Embodied Labour, 79–95. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003639879-6