Memorial plaque unveiled in memory of Staffordshire miners

The plaque commemorates those who died while working at collieries in Talke o' th' Hill, Jamage and Bunkers Hill

A plaque has been unveiled in memory of miners who died while working in north Staffordshire.

The memorial at Talke Pits Village Hall, in Stoke-on-Trent, was created to honour the men and boys who worked in three local collieries.

The miners were killed in roof collapses, gas explosions and other accidents between the 1840s and 1930s.

MP for Stoke-on-Trent North Jonathan Gullis said the community was "so proud" the memorial was in place.

"Generations of families are woven into the heart of our towns and pit villages and I always enjoy hearing people share their stories with the pride and passion that they so rightfully feel," he said.

"I hope it will help engage more of us to keep talking and teaching about our history and heritage for future generations to come."

Trace heritage back

Unveiled earlier this month by Kevin Johnson, deputy mayor of Kidsgrove, the plaque commemorates those who died while working at collieries in Talke o' th' Hill, Jamage and Bunkers Hill in the area.

Mark Casewell, from the Talke Mining Memorial Society, said he believed most local families could trace their heritage back to mining.

"The coal industry generated all the work around here at one time," he explained.

"It's a thing of the past now, but a lot of people still look back and have still got relatives who are buried locally.

"We're called a mining community, and we've still that ethos where we think back and remember those that were lost."