Miners' pranks"

Gladstone Arms, Church Road, Buckley

1910

MINERS' PRANKS

CAPTION ONE

It was the custom for coal carters at the "Dumpling Pit", Lane End to drink at a local tavern after receiving their wages on a Saturday noon.

Knowing that a certain carter would be totally inebriated, the colliers often unharnessed his donkey then placed the shafts of the cart through a gate and re-harnessed the animal, in order to watch the drunken man's reactions as he attempted to depart home.

The Gladstone Arms once stood in Church Road between the present Horse and Jockey and Lane End.

CAPTION TWO

Local coal was delivered by donkey and cart. The carter was given a small allowance each pay-day for extra attention to his donkey. This was spent promptly in the adjacent tavern (The Gladstone Arms, alongside Lane End Colliery). A favourite prank carried out by the colliers whilst the carters enjoyed their tipple was to un-harness the cart, place the shafts through the wall gate, then re-harness the donkey. Unsuspecting, tipsy carters often had problems getting home.

OLD BUCKLEY DAYS AND WAYS

PICTURE NUMBER 32

see entry number 1.51

Author: Bentley, James

Miners' pranks"

Gladstone Arms, Church Road, Buckley

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