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Mining

Coal was mined in Northumberland from the medieval period, and the coalfield expanded quickly through the nineteenth century as waggonways and then railways carried coal to the staiths at Blyth and the harbour at Amble.

Some Besfords emigrated from the UK to Australia to work in mining. David Besford left Choppington for Victoria in 1925, and his brother Thomas followed from the Kent coalfield to Wonthaggi in 1928.

George Robert Besford (1909–1981)

George Robert Besford and his wife Isabella Summers emigrated from the UK to Canada in 1947. The family returned in 1949 and lived in Blyth, Northumberland.

William Besford (1851–1879)

William was born in 1851 at Cowpen, Blyth and worked as a coal miner. In 1877, he married Jane Temple at Morpeth Register Office. The couple had one daughter.

William Thomas Besford

William Thomas Besford worked as a miner before becoming landlord of The Waterloo Hotel at Amble, Northumberland.

John Besford (1826–1914)

John was born in 1826 at Eshott Heugh. He would have worked as an agricultural labourer from a very early age (5 or 6). He later worked as a coal miner, which he continued until he was at least 74 years old.

William Bestford (1862–1922)

William Bestford was born near Blaydon in 1862. He served in India with the Northumberland Fusiliers, then worked as a coal miner around Winlaton, and died in Newcastle in 1922.

Thomas Besford (1833–1914)

Thomas Besford worked as a coal miner throughout his life. He was left with four young children when his wife died of smallpox.