Season's greetings to you all!

My hopes are that you have all stayed safe and well during November's lockdown. I myself have come to share some Christmas spirit with you for this month's article, I hope you enjoy!

If we look back right at the start of the 20th century, we've just marked the passing of Queen Victoria. Within her reign, she ruled over a quarter of the globe, that's over 400 million subjects. Now we've entered the Edwardian phase of history the time before the two biggest wars our country has ever faced.

But what was going on in Radstock during this transitional period? During the late 17th century and mid-18th century we'd come through the industrial revolution which brought huge changes to our society. Such as changes to agriculture and domestic life, including the introduction of the heavy industry. With many women working in mills and factories. Manufacturing and steam trains have now come into their prime so what does that mean for coal production?

It means that coal is not just burned for heating homes, forging horseshoes and hand tools. But is now needed to power the ever-growing demand for industry and transportation of goods; this in turn sees the demand for coal grow and the mines in the Somerset Coalfield production to increase.

The conditions that the miners had to go through, in order to get the work done, wasn't easy. In my previous article I explain about the conditions were like which you can see HERE: Nub News Just how much do you really know about Radstock mines ?

But what about Christmas? We all enjoy our traditions, such as our Christmas tree. However, Miners did not have the usual fir tree, instead a twig tree.

This was usually a bare branch taken from nearby hedgerows, that families would then decorate with real candles and foil decorations. Interestingly, the children in Radstock would go to Radstock Co-operative and ask for foil which lined the tea chests (large wooden boxes) in which loose tea leaves came shipped in from India or China; said foil lining kept the tea fresh. The children would be given the foil for free and make an early form of tinsel. We all value our good ole' cup of tea, well maybe with the exception of the Boston Tea party… too soon?

Most of the other Christmas decorations again would be home made such as ribbons or rag bows. The difference being at this point, at the time they were not called decorations but instead were called "trimmings". Of course, with Christmas comes its superstitions, holly and ivy were collected from nearby hedgerows and bought into homes on Christmas Eve, eventually being taken down on the twelfth night. If you took greenery down any earlier than this, it would be considered unlucky. To keep good luck in the home a sprig of holly was kept. The decorations were usually kept from year to year but with the fresh greenery added.

Christmas Dinner: the fresh food would be bought by the wives of the miners from the Radstock Market after the last mining shift monies had been paid to the men. On Christmas Eve, traders around the market tended to sell items off cheaply and by the end of the evening at 10pm the market closed. Luckily with King Edward's coronation in 1902, new products of confectionary came out into markets in the coming years such as Dairy Milk. Now I know I can blame the royal family for all the money I spend on chocolate! Another controversial item also made an appearance that year, Marmite! Before you ask, no not a fan!

Well thank you once again for reading another one of my articles, make sure to check out the others I have written and remember to visit Radstock Museum this month. They are open on Saturday 5th. 12th and 19th. Pop in and get a special gift for your special someone!

Till the next time. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Todd Arthur Phillips

My thanks to the Radstock Museum Team for providing me with the references and information given.