In 1905, hundreds of people were evicted from their homes in Kinsley.
Many had to live in tents and makeshift dormitories for up to three months.
They were all mining families, renting their terraced house from the mine-owner.
When a year-long pay dispute could not be resolved, the employers used the police to evict the families from their homes.
Timetable of the Dispute
| April 1904 |
The Hemsworth – Fitzwilliam Collieries Company tries to cut pay substantially on two of their three coal seams. Some miners go on strike. |
| August 1904 |
The company closes down one seam. |
| April 1905 |
The company closes down a second seam. |
| July 1905 |
The company implements pay cuts. The remaining miners hand in their notice. The company sacks all the surface workers. |
| August 1905 |
The company starts evicting the families, who move into tents and makeshift dormitories. |
| September 1905 |
The company is put into receivership and up for sale. |
| October 1905 |
The last of the families are evicted. All families are re-housed in temporary homes. |
| July 1906 |
The owner of Fitzwilliam Main and South Kirkby Collieries buys the company, and forms the South Kirkby, Fitzwilliam and Hemsworth Collieries Company. |
| December 1906 |
Many of the evicted miners are still unemployed. |
| May 1907 |
Some men return to work at Hemsworth, others picket at Hemsworth and at Frickley. |
| November 1907 |
The Yorkshire Miner’s Association ballots it members, and the dispute is settled. |
| March 1908 |
Not all men are back at work, as work on mine improvements are still not finished. |
