10 August On this day in 1842, the Mines Act was passed by the British Parliament, forbidding women and children to work underground.

I praise your good intentions, Sir, I love your kind and gentle heart
But now it's 1842, and you and me, we're miles apart
A hundred years and more will pass before we're walking side by side
But please accept my grateful thanks. God bless you Sir, at least you tried

In August 1842 the Children's Employment Commission drew up an act of Parliament which gave a minimum working age for boys in mines, though the age varied between districts and even between mines. The Mines and Collieries Act 1842 also outlawed the employment of women and girls in mines. In 1870 it became compulsory for all children aged between five and thirteen to go to school, ending much of the hurrying. It was still a common profession for school leavers well into the 1920s.

The 1969 song THE TESTIMONY OF PATIENCE KERSHAW by Frank Higgins (recorded by Roy Bailey and The Unthanks) is based on the testimony of Patience Kershaw (aged 17) when she spoke to the Children's Employment Commission. Her testimony includes: "The bald place upon my head is made by thrusting the corves ... I hurry the corves a mile and more underground and back; they weigh 3 cwt ... The getters that I work for are naked except for their caps ... Sometimes they beat me if I am not quick enough". It was published in My Song Is My Own (compiled by Kathy Henderson, Pluto Press, 1979). Wikipedia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmhACB1ZPQM&t=7s Unthanks

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Many other recordings of “ The Testimony of Patience Kershaw” on YouTube     https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=The+Testimony+of+Patience+Kershaw
Mudcat DT, Lyrics: The Testimony of Patience Kershaw /mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=5724
Hurrying from Wikipedia     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurrying
Whatever Happened to Patience Kershaw? From Live Journal of Nicholas Whyte    https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3620489.html