THE LAST ESTON MINER - HAROLD BRIGHTON (2008)

HAROLD 'MIFF' BRIGHTON was the last surviving Eston ironstone miner. He died on the 2nd August 2008 at the age of 86.

He was from a third generation Eston mining family and there was even a district in the pit named after them called "No5 Brightons".

He worked beneath Eston Hills from 1938-1949 and was of the last to learn the art of mining (barring, drilling, blasting and filling) at the ironstone face.

His mining career came to an abrupt ending on the 10th May 1949 when his cousin William Randall Brighton was tragically killed just four months before the pit closed. To honour Randall, Miff, his father Charlie, his brother Bill and Randall's brother Fred all walked out that day and never went back in.

The interview clips were filmed in August 2001 for the film 'A CENTURY IN STONE' (2004).

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Pancrack
• Craig
• Hornby
• Eston
• Middlesbrough
• Teesside
• Cleveland
• Ironstone
• Mining
• Iron
• Steel
• History

[LICKWINDOWSWITHME]

Miff is my grandad .. R.I.P

[MegMerrilies]

Interesting. I reckon my dad is the last Teesdale lead miner left. He has a tale or two to tell. He worked in similar dangerous conditions.

[edyardley]

Craig, alright mate, it's Ed, this is superbly moving, and a great tribute to Harold and his family now he has gone.May he rest in peace.