The best Christmas present I have had for a long while was a copy of "the Elliotts of Birtley" by Pete Wood. Herron Publishing Wellington Road Todmorden Yorkshire Ol14 5DY (ISBN 978-195406-823-3). Some cracking songs and a lot of background. I served my singing apprenticeship at the Elliots Cub in Birtley, Co Durham in the late 60's and will never forget it. My other major reference is Come all you Bold Miners by A. L Lloyd but that's been mentioned before. Gan canny.