Neath Fair - Timbermen Underground

[desmo11225]

Hello Everyone
                       I am a brand new member and I'm not asking a geneoligy question, I hope thats O.K
          I was born in Resolven Dec 1925 Worked on the surface at Glyncastle Colliery from 1940 t0 1950, I remember going to Neath Fair 1946/7/8/9 and seeing a competition between Timbermen testing their speed and skills erecting sets of timber, using norway timbers 9ft long and about 8 to 10 inches in diameter.
I am trying to find newspaper reports or photographs of this avent or maybe a film or someone else who remembers it         
                      I use the   Welsh Coal Mines Guest Book    a lot and people are baffled to know what Timbermen are doing underground.
                              I would be greatful if someone would help me with this subject as I've promised to find out more from people who have Tmberman as thier ancestors occupation.
                       I hope my request meets with your approval
                                     Des Jones
                       
Moderator comment: welcome Des - I just changed the title of the thread a little to reflect that you're specifically looking for info about the Neath Fair, as well as general information.

[Ruskie]

Hello Des.

Welcome to rootschat! I can't help much I'm afraid, but I did find another discussion about mining jobs in general.

There are rather a lot of links - some might be better than others, and I haven't checked to see if any mention "timbermen', but you may find something of interest.

I noticed on the link to Welsh Coal Mines, that they have a forum - maybe someone there will be able to help. http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/ (I see they have a page for Glyncastle 

Anyway, here is the link:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,395713.0.html

As a wild guess I would imagine that timber was used as a method of support underground, so men skilled in working with timber must have been employed for this reason, so perhaps 'timberman' was just a general term they used? 

This link mentions timber men, both above and underground:
http://www.workerseducation.org/crutch/pamphlets/coal/coal_5.html

[Colin D Gronow]

The things RootsChat get me looking at

Have a look at this YouTube video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_B3XwyU63o

It's about Timbering in Underground Anthracite Mines, but I'm sure something similar happened here.

[RJ_Paton]

from http://www.geevor.com/index.php?object=368

The work of a timberman at Geevor was a skilled, varied and often challenging one.

There are many tasks underground that he could be called upon to undertake such as repair work, support work, spreaders in stopes, casings, raise hole coverings, chutes or box holes, as well as making sure that there was a good supply of timber on all the levels he was responsible for.

Although a tin mine reference I'm fairly sure the jobs in other types of mines would have been similar.

added:

Definition of a timberman from http://www.workerseducation.org/crutch/pamphlets/coal/coal_5.html

Timbermen, inside.—Cut and set timbers or supports in mines to prevent falls of slate, stone and dirt.

[ruchca]

Hi My Grandfather was at one time a timberman underground, I don't really know but I assumed that they erected the pit props and arches for support. After this,  steel supports were used. He was born and bred on a farm and in his younger days his occupation was a waggoner on a farm. (presumably fixing and looking after waggons,  which in the 1910 and 20s where wood construction) So this is where I think he must have got his experience working with wood.
Hope this is of some help.

[Bethan]

According to my hubby an ex-miner a timberman used to supply the colliers with any timber required in their workplace

Best Wishes Bethan

[Cell]

Hi,
my G grandfather was a timberman who worked underground. My father grew up with him. He used to work on the struts and frames underground . He also survived the  Bedwas  disaster  in 1952 doing his job ( it burnt half of his skin off)
 I've never known a timberman ( in the mines)  by anything else, but to work on the supports underground.

Kind regards

[desmo11225]

Hello Everyone
                       What a wonderful welcome, Thank you very much and already plenty of people know about Timbermen Underground, I have written to the  University of Wales, Swansea, to the Manuscropt Records & Photographs Library and Information Centre, also the Audiotapes,Videotapes& Banners at the South Wales MinersLibrary. that would be something to come up with wouldn't it.
                      Also thank you for adding Neath Fair-Timbermen Under Ground.
           About Myself!!!!! I started work Jan !940 aged 14yrs 1month, working through to Jan 1950 when the Essential Works Order was removed.
                     My GG Grandfather was Silvanus Jones, I found him on the 1841 census, he was an Iron Miner in Brynmawr, G Grandfather John was killed in an explosion of gunpowder underground aged 34 yrs when my Grampa was 1 yr old, his Uncles Silvanus and Benjamin owned and managed Deep Pit and California Slope adjacent to Round House Farm, Nantyglo, the company was called   Silvanus Jones & Co, Nantyglo.
                        After GGG Sivanus they were all Johns until I arrived and I was Christened John Desmond and my Father was very proud of the fact I didn't work underground, only for about 6/8 months with the horse shoeing smith when his mate was off work injured, they had horses underground in both Glyn Castle Pit and Faldydre level.
                     Once again Thank You All
                                  desmo11225

[Brian T3]

The things RootsChat get me looking at

Have a look at this YouTube video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_B3XwyU63o

It's about Timbering in Underground Anthracite Mines, but I'm sure something similar happened here.

 This demo bears NO relationship at all to the way it was done in the S.Wales mines I worked in.