#Pitmen

[kanskje-kaffe]

I have... NO idea who would benefit from these thoughts aside from you, so... here goes nothing! I hope this is at least interesting! Thinking without cease about the relevance of Concordia being a MINING PLANET prior to the Mandalorian Civil War schism... like... that in conjunction with the CLEAR inspiration the narrative takes from South Wales pitmen culture... there's so much potential... I'm really really fond of the idea that the Armorer's family worked the mines, that they defaulted to the ideals she presently holds in order to help rebuild... that they amassed a sense of collective force and discipline, all in the name of reforging the shattered Mandalorians. I imagine the conditions were also very grueling... they were STRIP MINING a PLANET in order to rebuild an entire society... there must have been many accidents. Did her family suffer from that? Did she? Did she claw her way through generations of laborers to Great Forge, only to be turned from it when she was told she was not a true Mandalorian? The narrative significance of that... And the subsequent banishment of those who follow the "warrior ways" after that period of rebuilding... it's a slap in the face. A burial. I JUST... I find the Armorer's drive to sustain the covert so interesting. She withholds information, yes, but with great discretion and caution, and little personal motivation. She DOES want to pass down her culture. That IS a significant part of her character motivation. It's not just about survival! It's just entwined alongside that ideal by necessity! I respect your mind and thoughts on her so much, so I'd love to hear what you think!!! VERY sorry for the insane rambling in your inbox regardless aeghahegae

I LOVE ALL OF THIS HELLO!!!!!

First of all you're god damn right that I would benefit from this, I am exactly the person who benefits from this, I am benefiting!!! And secondly thank you so much for your sweet comment, I am so touched and honored -- the Armorer is SO special to me and it really means so much that you value my opinion <3!!!!!!!

I know very little of South Wales pitmen, I've lived in the North East for a few years now but I've never even been to Wales! Tell me about the parallels, I'd love to know more about this!

I ADORE this headcanon, seriously. I'd love to know more about Concordian culture and I think this is such a fantastic interpretation, she's so dedicated and immersed in the significance of her work and I get such a sense of love and respect from her.

And yes you're so right, she's so committed to sustaining the covert! I don't really agree with what people say, that she 'withholds information' -- like, she doesn't? She volunteers information freely the minute it becomes relevant? My impression is that she values and prioritizes different things about their culture than other Mandalorians do. Like yeah she doesn't seem to have told them quite a lot about Star Wars lore lmao, but if she personally doesn't value the Darksaber - and she doesn't seem to believe in its significance at all - why would she tell everyone about it like it's a big deal? People don't usually promote things that they don't themselves believe in. I thought part of the point of the story was that if you have six Mandalorians in a room you'll have seven different opinions on what it means to be Mandalorians. Shouldn't they have different takes? And just like you say, survival IS a Mandalorian ideal amongst many others and I think she takes her ideals seriously and wisely.

The 'Concordia miners' culture' take has AWESOME crossover potential with Andor. I'd love to see this version of the Armorer hiding her covert in Ferrix and encountering their culture!

Thank you SO much for this! I'd love to hear more of your thoughts on the Armorer, I literally never ever get tired of talking about her! <3

[northern-punk-lad]

The Pitmen Poets by Jez Lowe, Close the Coalhouse Door by Alex Glasgow, Why Aye Man by Mark Knopfler

You agree like and reblog. Tbh tho it's legit a good couple'a songs for the northern spirit and fer the spirit of leftism as it relates to northern communities specifically

I might have to give it a listen

[pacifymebby]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashington

Read this!

Am actually deeply obsessed with this stuff about the pitmen painters !!!!

[thesportish]

Celtic and Shakhtar did not reveal the winner

Celtic and Shakhtar did not reveal the winner

Celtic and Shakhtar played a draw in the match of the 5th round of the group stage of the Champions League (1: 1). Giorgos Yakoumakis in the 34th minute he gave the hosts the lead, but with the ball Michele Mudrik 58 reported parity on the scoreboard. The Scots are in last place in Group F (2 points), the Pitmen are in 3rd place (6 points). Source: Soccer Ru

[minerspensionfight]

The Home of National Mineworkers pension Campaign

[sarahchapman2013]

Hair for "Pitmen Painters" 1930s

[ukdamo]

Today’s Flickr photo with the most hits is one of a painting by the Ashington Group. It was painted by Harry Wilson, in 1950: Xmas Tree.

The Ashington Group’s point of origin was art appreciation class, run by the Worker’s Educational Association (funded from member’s subs) and led by Robert Lyon from Armstrong College in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which commenced in 1934. 

It soon developed into something else entirely. 

The story unfolds here: 

http://www.ashingtongroup.co.uk/about1.html

The Group’s paintings can be seen at the Woodhorn Museum. You’ll get some insight in to the lives of the local pitmen and the Miners Strike,1984-85. 

Visit. 

[joeinct]

Pitmen's Houses in Essen, Stoppenberg, Photo by Albert Renger-Patzsch, 1929

[nem0c]

One of the young men who had come from another county, to earn a bare living among this ugliness, in order that he might take part in the adult educational movement here, was my companion and guide during a short exploration of the district.  We went by car. On the way he told me that the local miners have a curious lingo of their own, which they call "pitmatik." It is, you might say, a dialect within a dialect, for it is only used by the pitmen when they are talking among themselves. The women do not talk it. When the pitmen are exchanging stories of colliery life, usually very grim stories, they do it in "pit-matik," which is Scandinavian in origin, far nearer to the Norse than the ordinary Durham dialect. It should be an excellent medium for grim tales of accidents far underground, the sagas of the deep pits. One characteristic of the local life that astonished this young lecturer was the people's passion for jazz bands, their own bands and not merely those heard on the wireless. Even the children have rudimentary jazz bands of their own, and they have parades in fancy costume. This I take to be a desperate attempt to bring some colour into the life of the place. After a week or two there, I think I should be blowing through a paper-covered comb with the noisiest of them. You must make something happen in that dreary landscape.

J. B. Priestley, English Journey

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Thursday 8 January 1835

9 35

11 35

No kiss fine frosty morning F39° at 10 20 at which hour breakfast - Had 3 men (1 of them Hansons Mrs Sutherland’s tenant to recommend a relation and another man from Mr Hirds’ shelf-works also to  recommend Hanson’s relation)  about the Stumps Cross Inn – said I could only say it was to be let by ticket on the 16th when the conditions would be made known – I heard people objected to the sort of yearly lease I let upon – I thought it right to say, I thought no reasonable objection could be made (then explained the nature of the lease) and that I knew as well as anybody how to keep a good tenant – the place to be taken as it stands but put into good tenantable repair - for all new buildings (and I would do what was necessary or really wanted for a good tenant) I should want a percentage – they all agreed this was very fair – then had George taking all the boxes etc out of the north parlour passage ready for having the wainscot put up and arranged them in the hall chamber – then had Charles H- he wanted something to drink for himself and others 11 or 12 (John Bottomely and workmen and pitmen) in honour of Mr Wortley’s election – then with my father and Marian and with my aunt and got ninety from the two former and fifty pounds from the latter to make up for Staups and be repaid on Monday   A- furnished five hundred and I myself three hundred and ten of the nine hundred and fifty I took to Mr Parker Off to Halifax at 12 40 down the old bank at the bottom a yellow mob of women and boys – asked if I was yellow – they looked capable of petting me – ‘Nay!’ said I ‘I am black – I am in mourning for all the damage they have done’ - this seemed to amuse them and I walked quietly and quickly past - At Mr Parker’s office before 11 – he hardly expected me – thought I might not like to venture out – wondered I had not got his note to fix 1 ½ instead of 2 – glad I happened to be in such good time had gone so early because I could only raise 950 instead of eleven hundred pounds as I had told him so he had to draw on Rawson’s bank for the deficit  Mr P- not in on my arrival – had just written him a note for his clerk to take to Stead and Dyson’ s when Mr P- returned and I therefore burnt the note – paid him towards the purchase money £500 in bank of England - £200 in country notes £55 in country notes + £25 in bank of England and 170 sovereigns  =£950 + £1000 for which I signed a bond to Mr. Wainhouse at 4 ¼ p.c. + £1000 furnished for a few days till A-‘s administration-thousand is ready + £70 furnished for a few days by the above Mr. Wainhouse and by Messieurs Parker and Adam for a few days £198.7.7 = £3218.7.7 being the sum paid today for me by Mr. Parker at the office of Messrs. Stead and Dyson for the Staups estate bought by auction at £3500 - of which £330 deposit was paid at the time

.:. principal remaining to be paid = £3170 + Interest at 4p.c. on principle since day of sale (16 April)

£55.5.3 that is 3170.0.0

                              55.5.3

                          3225.5.3

                              6.17.6   last ½ year rent received from the tenants Moore and Oates

                        3118.7.11 but made £3218.7.7 by Mr. Parker who paid exactly this last sum

Messrs. P- and A- also advanced me £100 to be paid to Washington on Saturday which hundred I told Mr. P- I would repay him on Monday or Tuesday

By the conditions of sale the sellers had the power of taking the rents, or interest at 4 p.c. on the purchase money till the conclusion of the bargain, and they chose the latter that the rents, except those of Moore and Oates (£6.17.6) are now due to me and I desired Mr P- to receive them on my account - waited at Mr Parker’s till 2 ¼ then came a message to say the parties were at Messrs. Stead and Dyson’s and begging me to go there – declined this – sent Mr Parker to conclude the business for me and went to Whitley’s and waited there about an hour – Mr Henry Priestley there - sometime talking to him and Booth on the subject of our hard-run election and the damage done by the mob yesterday estimated at £10,000 - £2,000 of which said to be done at Mr James Norris’s Bullclose – all the furniture of the lower rooms utterly destroyed – pictures and books throw about in all directions – all the windows broken and the frames torn out – sad devastation too at the Shay – Mr Jeremiah Rawson’s – his carriage and gig pulled out of the coach house and quite demolished – much damage to the furniture – much damage also done at the vicarage – the 1st person who broke into the house there was a woman – old Mr Briggs had been seen tearing down the state of the poll yesterday and his son Rawdon being spoken to said [say] he could not command his father - Just before the swell mob commenced proceedings (at 3pm yesterday) clubs had been thrown out among them from Mr Protheroe’s committee room window – several people had seen this – Mr Protheroe persuaded the mob to give up their intention of doing damage at Wellhead  saying there was an invalid there – they then called out for ‘Jane Norris’s’ and tho’ so near Wellhead, Mr Protheroe contented himself with sending his servant to ask for mercy there but did not go himself – report says Mr Rawdon Briggs junior was seen to laugh when the mob went to

 SH:7/ML/E/17/0140

 Mr James Norris’s – at all rates, none of the whig or radical gentlemen made any effort to appease the mob – taken with a political article in this month’s Blackwood’s magazine and got Booth to let me have  somebody’s number, bought it and also a little Goldsmith’s almanac –then at 3 ¼ back to Mr Parker’s office – he had just returned from completing the purchase – said all had been done very agreeably – the ladies (Mrs Barton and c°) regretted they had not come to his office sorry they had not seen me – there had been some mistake about it – what a lucky escape thought I – desired a few handbills to be put out at advertising Northgate house to let – the expanse would be about 20/ - the town very full of people crowding about the Swan and running about so see there the damage was done – the old bank very quiet – returned up it and came in at 3 50 – sat talking to A- dinner at 6 ¼ - coffee – Marian had her company so no going to see my father for A- and me – Had Dewhirst about the Mytholm farm house and skin pits for about 10 minutes (till 8) – he said he understood his uncle Pearson was empowered to let him them – How so, said I - said there must be some mistake – this was not at all the case – Pearson had the land till 2 February and the buildings till 1 May  but nothing more to do with the place - I should keep to what I had said to Pearson, to his son Thomas P- and to Mrs Dewhirst herself – that I had no objection to Dewhirst (her son) but his present want of respectability – that he, in his present circumstances was not sufficiently respectable for a tenant of mine – he said nothing so I then said I supposed there was nothing more to be said and he wished me good evening and went away - A- and I then sat reading the Halifax express and London morning Herald – then 50 minutes with my aunt till 10 – then sat talking over the fire - very fine frosty day - F37° at 10 20 pm in my study - the note I should have had from Mr. Parker in the morning came per letter bag tonight.

[libriaco]

I libri nel pozzo

She, coming of a long line of pitmen, a proudly class-conscious woman, despised book learning in her own kind, and felt that no good would come of it.

Lei, che discendeva da una lunga serie di minatori, una donna orgogliosamente consapevole della sua classe sociale, disprezzava l'apprendimento libresco nella sua stessa gente e sentiva che non ne sarebbe venuto niente di buono.

A. J. Cronin, The stars look down [1935], New York, RosettaBooks, 2015

[dry-valleys]

“ Words are ineffectually employed to describe the hateful, blighted scene, but imagine a wide and dreary stretch of common land surrounded by the scattered, dirty and decrepit cottages of the semi-savage population of nail makers and pitmen, with here and there a school, a woe-bygone chapel, a tin tabernacle, and a plentiful sprinkling of public houses. Further imagine the grass of this wide spreading common to be as brown, and innutritious as it is possible for grass to be, and with an extra-ordinary wealth of scrap iron, tin clippings, broken glass, and brick-bats deposited over every square yard, and all around it the ghastly refuse heaps of long abandoned mines.”

Charles G. Harper. (1912) (8 is from around that time).

Followed the Trent and Mersey Canal then turned off near Shugborough, without sampling the delights of that place (please see my earlier essay on Shugborough), as I was rushing to make my first ever visit to Chasewater, a place outside my normal cycling range but which @brownhillsbob and other Staffordshire bloggers made me decide to visit.

As I took a ‘shortcut’ across Cannock Chase, I followed a time-honoured Staffordshire and Black Country tradition and got completely lost amidst the heath and plantation woodland, which in fairness is quite samey compared to landscapes I’m more used to, like the Staffordshire Moorlands.

On my way I visited places like (3) Tackeroo, a First World War railway which lasted between 1915 and 1919, then became a cycle track on which I happily set off in the wrong direction. In its day, Brocton training camp prepared men such as JRR Tolkien for the rigours of war, and this is commemorated in the war memorials and cemeteries which lie across the chase (please see my earlier essays and visit the Museum of Cannock Chase for more).

I did eventually end up at (4) Chasewater Country Park, which is the place to be in this area (I bumped into my girlfriend and her parents, who all live in Rugeley and had come here in their car, though we weren’t together for long as I had to leave in order to get home) and found a beautiful place just yielding to autumn.

Like Cannock Chase, this area has been heavily shaped by humans for centuries, and the reservoir was built as early as 1797, to provide water for the Wyrley and Essington Canal. The railway came in 1849 and mining in the area boomed, producing a way of life that fastidious men like Harper abhorred, perhaps out of shame that the backbreaking toil done there was the thing that enabled them to be ‘superior’.

In the second half of the 20th century, mining declined and the canal ended in 1954, as part of a general turn towards leisure at Chasewater. It was acquired by Brownhills Council in 1997 and transferred to Lichfield Council in 1994; they sculpted the country park in 1998 and did a fine job.

Mining finally disappeared from the area in 1993 and is commemorated by the statue at Burntwood (10), designed by local artist Peter Walker and unveiled in 2013. After this I had to belt back Castle Ring, Rugeley and Stone way as, due to the Cannock Chase farrago, I was late.

The railway I mentioned earlier? Unlike almost all other such lines, this one was never shut because as its industrial use came to an end, it was taken over in 1964 by the volunteers who still run it. Like the castle and other places, that was not taken in during my brief visit but will be something to look forward to next time, without being blighted!

[charlesreeza]

The memorial chapel to Bishop George Augustus Selwyn at Lichfield Cathedral is lined with painted tiles showing scenes from New Zealand and Melanesia where he served as bishop before being appointed Bishop of Lichfield.  Selwyn had been a staunch defender of Pacific Islanders and Maori rights.  

The decoration of this chapel had its critics.  A. B. Clifton wrote in an early guide: "There are more than usually hideous frescoes showing the labours of the bishop among the Maories and among the pitmen of the English diocese."

[sellyoursoulforagoodfic]

Day 8 Take 2: Holiday Shopping

by @adventuresintooblivion

Word Count: 616

No Ship

Summary: BB-8 goes on an adventure

On most days a droid’s life is relatively simple. Just do what your master tells you and roll into the charging port at night. Rinse and repeat. To be honest though, most droids weren’t BB-8. 

Granted BB-8 led a glamourous life. He fought in the resistance. He rode shotgun in every major battle and even got to insult enemy droids on a regular basis. BB-8 did it all with his best friend Poe Dameron.

Poe was the problem right now though. BB-8 didn’t understand most human traditions. Sure he and every other droid out there had certain programming meant to help with that but the holidays always threw the poor bot for a loop. The worst one was Christmas. 

As far as BB-8 could figure it out was that certain holidays had a higher priority than others. Halloween had fallen to the wayside in recent years. Valentine’s day didn’t apply. Birthdays changed depending on the human but it was very important. Christmas was luckily the same day every year however it was just as important as a Birthday it seemed. 

So here BB-8 was at a store trying to find a present for Poe. the shop owner was being excessively difficult. It didn’t matter that BB-8 had credits the idiot wouldn’t let him in.

The shop owner waved aggressively at the droid, “Go away! I don’t speak Droid. Little nuisance.”

Nuisance?! And here I am being all sorts of polite. I’ll show him nuisance.

BB-8 rolled around to the alley where a grate connected to the inside of the store. He’d spotted it earlier while trying to avoid First Order soldiers. Now it was his way in.

He listened for the shop owner and while he was distracted with making a sale began soldering through the metal. It wasn’t long before he was rolling through the isles of a part shop looking for the perfect thing for Poe. Granted the pilot had already heavily modified his X-Wing but there had to be something.

There!

Glinting in the sunlight was an Acceleration Servo. It also seemed to be paired with a Stabilization Drive. 

This is perfect!

THWAP!

A broom landed inches away from BB-8. The shop owner was no longer distracted and had finally noticed the droid. 

“You! I told you to leave you filthy droid!”

Well it was now or never. BB-8 gunned it aiming for the shop owners ankles. Sure enough a hundred pound droid landing on his toes sent the shop owner reeling backwards into a nearby display. BB-8 used the distraction to grab the parts and run.

The shop owner chased after him for about a mile before he gave up. He bent over huffing and puffing. Finally he raised his fist at the small droid.

“Next time I see you I’m selling you for spare parts!”

BB-8 promptly ejected the cube with credits he’d brought to pay for everything. And while BB-8 can neither confirm nor deny whether the credits hit the shop owner between the eyes, he can say for sure he didn’t rob anyone.

～

A couple hours later BB-8 rolled into the flight deck hanger in search of his pilot. Sure enough he was in the corner laughing with one of the pitmen. 

Always socializing.

BB-8 rolled right up to Poe presenting his spoils of war.

Poe finally noticed him, “Oh hey BB-8. What’s this?”

He bent down and took the parts from the droid, inspecting them. BB-8 wasn’t about to mince words after what he went through.

“You got this for me? For Christmas? Aw buddy, you shouldn’t have. Now I gotta brag to the guys about how awesome you are.” Poe bent down and hugged BB-8.

Mission Accomplished.

[sarahchapman2013]

Basic hair roll for "Pitmen Painters" 1930s typical working class hair style