From 1800 to the mid 20th century, the burning of coal provided nearly all of the power for British industry and transport, as well as heat for homes. By distillation it produced gas for lighting and cooking and coke for the production of iron. So you can see how important coal mining was. This book tells how mines evolved from simple bell pits to the extensive networks of shafts and tunnels extending deep underground. It describes the methods used to drive tunnels through the rock and the machines that were developed to cut the coals, and explains how coal was transported from the coalface to the shaft. As coal mining was an extremely dangerous occupation, measures taken over the years to minimize this danger from the hazards faced by miners has been described as well. This book is written by an expert in coal mining, and is one of the most comprehensive on the topic.