This family history book is focussed on six generations of a Derbyshire family who were involved with coal mining. It covers the whole 250-year period of the British Coal Industry from 'grubbing' for surface coal (and before that iron stone) to the closure of pits. The themes of the book include the resilience of the family members both on the surface and below ground. Not one single family member was killed in a mine - however some of the daughters' husbands were. When tragedy struck, relatives rallied round. Many miners were promoted and others moved to the deep mines elsewhere.