Working conditions of child miners inspire Ludlow author's debut book

Young adult novel 'Bearmouth' by Liz Hyder, from Ludlow, follows central character Newt and his life down a treacherous mine.

This imagined world, with its own dialect, is riven with social injustice and populated by characters who don't simply accept things because they are told they must.

"Shropshire’s mining history is obviously particularly interesting as it’s so closely linked with the start of the Industrial Revolution," said Liz, a creative writing workshop leader and PR consultant.

"Local South Shropshire historian Alf Jenkins’ books about industrial life – and local dialect – on Clee Hill were phenomenally useful. Alf’s a brilliant writer and really brings the place alive with the sounds of picks and quarrying.

"There’s also the original report to parliament that led to a change in the law in 1842. The Shropshire section of that is heartbreaking, testimonials from the young children who worked down there and the youngest ages of any children down a mine that I’d come across.

"There are records of a two year old dying in an accident in which he or she was killed by ‘burning' in Wellington and others aged just three dying of the same in Brosley, Dawley and Madeley.

"These really young children probably weren’t actually employed down there but were instead in the care of a working parent, they were probably recruited to give a hand though.

"It’s worth remembering that children often worked down the mines from the age of four – it’s horrifying and I don’t think enough people know about it. It’s extreme exploitation and a part of our history that I think we often forget.

"The Victorian era achieved many great things, huge advancements in science and engineering, in education and philanthropy but it was also founded very heavily on exploitation."

While the mine in her novel is fictional, it draws heavily on her research into the early Victorian mines.

"I didn’t want it to be an historical novel, it’s more of a fable set in a Victorian-esque mine, giving me the freedom to write the story that I wanted to write, rather than one that’s restricted by historical accuracy," said Liz.

"In 'Bearmouth', the workers don’t just work down the mine, they also – like some of the pit ponies in real life – lived down there too."

She added: "And of course, Shropshire is the birth of the industrial revolution so feels an appropriate place to pen a book set in a Victorianesque mine."

The book will be launched at Chang Thai, Market Street, Ludlow on September 22.