Exhibition remembers pit brow lass who spent more than 50 years in Wigan's mines

Charlotte Davies was born into a mining family in Bryn and was just 13 when she went to work on the pit brow at Park Lane and then Long Lane Colliery in Ashton.

She retired after 52 years of service and was awarded the British Empire Medal by King George VI for her efforts.

Now, she is being honoured with a display at the Museum of Wigan Life.

Her great-nephew George Davies, who is a councillor for Wigan Central, suggested she could be commemorated when he heard the museum was looking for the stories of people in the mining industry.

Coun Davies said: “We are very proud of great aunt Charlotte and all the family. They did over 400 years between them in the mining industry.

“I’m very proud of my roots and I feel that we should never forget people like that, who did a fantastic service for Wigan and the country.”

The exhibition includes Charlotte’s story and items relating to it, including photographs of her British Empire Medal and the letter sent by King George VI.

Charlotte was one of eight children born to Sarah and John Davies, a nailmaker from Lower Gornal in Staffordshire who moved to Bryn with his family in 1871 to find work.

Both Charlotte and her sister Mary Ann left school at 13 to work at no2 pit Park Lane, where their father and six brothers all worked underground, before moving to Long Lane Colliery when it closed.

Charlotte completed 50 years of service in 1949 and she was awarded the British Empire Medal on January 2, 1950.

A letter arrived the next day with congratulations from King George VI and Prime Minister Clement Attlee.

Minister for Coal Hugh Gaitskell delivered the medal to her home on Willow Street, but Charlotte was at the pit brow in her clogs and shawl working.

She retired at the age of 65, after 52 years of service, and died 10 years later in 1962.

Mary Ann spent 32 years on the pit brow, with the whole family recording 442 years of service to the industry in total.

It is an achievement of which Coun Davies is very proud and he is delighted to see Charlotte remembered at the museum.

The display, which is located upstairs in the building, is expected to be there for 12 months.