Safety: A coal miner’s pit check from Harrington Colliery in West Cumbria
SMALL reminders of the dangers of working underground in West Cumbria's coal mines have been sold at auction.
A small group of pit checks, used as a safety device by miners, were sold on Ebay.
The highest prices was £87.55 for an example from William Pit at Whitehaven.
One numbered check would be carried underground during a shift while a matching check was kept at the surface to show who was working, in case of an emergency.
Other examples includes £10.09 for a check from Harrington Colliery, £27.25 for a coper check from Haig Pit, Whitehaven and £19.11 for a check from Risehow.
Another square brass check from St Helen's Colliery made £17.25 and £11.01 was paid for an oval check from Solway Colliery.
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