Grandad I grew up with this photograph of my Grandad . I know very little about him, except that he had been a miner in Castletown pit: a Master Sinker who helped to sink the pit in 1887, and was later killed in that very same pit. My Dad was very proud of his Dad, but he never spoke of the accident that took his life. I assumed that this was because he was too young when it happened – I was never told the date! The only thing my Dad spoke of was the need for my poor Grandma to vacate the pit house the day after the funeral! He was very bitter and angry remembering this! The only other photographs we had of Grandad were of his funeral – A grand affair with the whole village turning out - the Colliery band and the Pit Banner - and a Hearse and a number of other carriages, all drawn by black horses. As I got older, and sadly after my Dad died, I wanted to know more. On the back of the funeral photographs were notes, written by my Grandma, to one of her older sons, who was away at the time. The First note read, “My Dear son. This is the funeral of your poor father, laid to rest on the top of your dear brother, Harry. Don’t bother to grieve too much my son, as the time will soon come when you come home. From your loving mother and all.” The back of the other card read, “with deepest regret from your other brothers and sisters, Castletown.” This fast became an investigation LIVErNEWS Issue 74 ~
25 ~ Spring 2021
