Sound Recordings, Northumberland, Durham, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and South Wales
Details
Type of record: Archive
Title: Sound Recordings, Northumberland, Durham, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and South Wales
Classmark: LAVC/SRE/A756r
Creator(s): BBC; Parker, Charles (1919-1980)
Site Location(s): Subject - County Durham, England, United Kingdom( 54.6766, -1.76654 ); Subject - Northumberland, England, United Kingdom( 55.25, -2 ); Subject - Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom( 53.1277, -1.01227 ); Subject - Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom( 52.8577, -2.03686 ); Subject - Wales, United Kingdom( 52.5, -3.5 )
Date(s): [1950s]
Size and medium: 1 x 17.8cm open reel spool; Duration: 30' 38".
Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/414807
Collection group(s): Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
Description
'The Big Hewer', the fourth of eight radio ballads transmitted by the BBC Home Service between July 1958 and April 1964. This programme was produced by Charles Parker, written by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger and broadcast on the 18 August 1961.
The programme is a documentary about the lives of coal miners in the coalfields of Northumberland, Durham, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and South Wales, and incorporates folk songs and actuality. The subjects discussed include miners/being a miner, becoming a miner, going into the pit and down the mine for the first time, the coal seam, the experience of working underground, jobs in the mines, big hewers, awareness in the mine (pit sense), mining accidents and deaths [some of the informants are miners' widows]. Continues on tape LAVC/SRE/A757r.
The contributors on this recording are Ewan MacColl, A. L. Lloyd, Isla Cameron, Lou Killen, Ian Campbell, Joe Higgins, Peggy Seeger (auto harp, guitar, mandolin, 5-string banjo), Alf Edwards (English concertina, harmonica, clarinet), Alfie Kahn (tin whistle), Bryan Daley (guitar), Jim Bray (double bass), Dave Swarbrick, Ben Davies, John Williams, Dafydd Thomas, Evan Williams, Philip Weekes, Dick Beamish, George Newman, Ernest Black, Jack Elliott, Rees Elliott, Johnny Pandrich and George Earl.
Access and usage
Reproduction
Access
This material is not listed in detail and has not yet been assessed for access. Access will be subject to review by Special Collections staff. Access to parts of it may be protected under Data Protection and/or other relevant legislation.
Copyright resides with the BBC.
© BBC
Physical and technical conditions
19cm/sec. Tape slows towards the end.
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