It was tough, dirty work and thousands of people did it over the decades.
Today, we are paying a picture tribute to the people who made Wearmouth Colliery in Sunderland tick. The very workers who went to the pit face, worked in the canteen and did other jobs as well.
Let’s pay tribute to them all.
For those of you who loved to look back at Sunderland’s past, there is plenty more nostalgia for you to enjoy every day.
Catch it on the Sunderland Echo website by heading to the retro section, or why not have a look at our Wearside Echoes Facebook page.
It is a Sunderland Echo-run page which is dedicated to Wearside’s past and already has more than 21,000 members.
Find out more by heading to https://www.facebook.com/groups/wearsideechoes where you will find a daily dose of old photos, links to Sunderland Echo stories and more besides.
9. On the pitch in 1980
The Wearmouth Colliery football team posed for this squad picture with their trophies in May 1980. | se
10. Record breaking in 1975
A cheer from Wearmouth Colliery deputies, overmen and electricians about to start their shift on the record-breaking H 35 coalface. The colliery had produced more coal in April 1975 than at any time in its history. | se
11. A well earned retirement
Cyril Stevenson (left) with Happy and Frank Barty with Andy, as the last two ponies leave Wearmouth Colliery for retirement in 1970. | se