Re earlier posts about coal.

BBC Radio 4Extra recently repeated the 5 part series

Worked Out

Episode 3 Kent

"Ian McMillan explores the marginal and forgotten coalfields of England.

Most British pits closed long ago and memories are fading whilst away from the major coalfields many people don't even remember that coal was recently mined in Somerset, Kent, Shropshire, Cumbria and The Forest of Dean.

Are we doomed to forget our industrial past?

How do the ex-miners in the Garden of England remember it?

Ian is in Kent to chat to Mike Sole, Fred Thompson, Bill Gilham, Sam Robinson and Jim Davies.

With music from The Betteshanger Welfare Brass Band.

Producer: Tim Dee"

It was an interesting programme which covered the history of miners coming from other parts of the country to work here and the reception they got from some of the locals.


A couple of years ago, people from The Aylesham Heritage Centre, opened a pop up shop in Dover devoted to the history of the Kent mines. A very friendly bunch they were too. Within a couple of minutes after entering, 2 of the volunteers engaged me in conversation. I am old enough and local enough to have been at school with miners children, so already knew some of the history.