Question

Coal production in England increased from 4.7 million tonnes in 1750 to 250 million tonnes in 1900. Give reasons.

Answer 1

1. Industrial Revolution required fuel.
2. Coal was needed in vast quantities.
3. Before the Industrial Revolution, two types of mines existed: drift mines and bell pits.
4. Both were small-scale coal mines and the extracted coal was used in homes and local work spots.
5. As industrialization gained pace, more and more coal was needed to fuel steam engines and furnaces.
6. The development of factories by Arkwright and the improvement of the steam engine by James Watt further increased the demand for coal.
7. As a result, coal mines became deeper and deeper, making them more and more dangerous.
8. As miners used oil lamps in the mines the risk of explosion was high leading to the death of miners.
9. This was reduced by the invention of a safety lamp by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1815.