1 gen 1648 anni - banksman

Descrizione:

In the wage rates for 1648, set out in the West Riding Quarter Sessions records, it was stipulated that <i>noe bankesman or drawer up of coales shall take for his wages by the day, without meat and drinke above viiid</i> (QS10/2). This placed him between the <i>barrower of coals</i> who earned 6d and the <i>collyer</i> with 10d. The description of the banksman simply as a drawer-up of coals partly obscures his role and significance. Elsewhere, for instance, the banksman was described more explicitly as an overlooker (OED) or a steward (Jenn314), and the historic importance of his job is that he acted between the colliers and the mine operator. He was actually in a position of trust and his decisions about how much coal may have been ‘won’ were therefore crucial. A lease drawn up in 1633 includes an agreement <i>that all Banksmen for the several places or pits shall be chosen by consent of both parties</i>, Northowram (HAS31/79). In Colsterdale the banksman was responsible not only for work on the surface but underground also and in one case a specialist was brought over from Lancashire for that purpose (BM82/33,49).

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