The coalmining lock-out of 1926, with particular reference to the co-operative movement and the Poor Law.

This study is largely concerned with the experiences of the
locked-out miners and their families during the national coalmining
dispute of 1926 . Enthusiasm for the stoppage amongst rank-and-file
miners varied considerably from one mining district to another and
an attempt is made to identify and account for both intra and interregional
variations in solidarity . From quite early in the dispute
the danger of widespread destitution in the coalfields presented
perhaps the most immediate threat to solidarity. Particular attention
is therefore paid to the efforts made to overcome this threat and to
the sources of relief available to mining communities in 1926 .
Various forms of community and individual self- help are looked at in
some detail as is the operation of the Poor Law, which played such a
crucial and controversial role in the dispute.
In some districts local co-operative societies provided considerable
relief to mining families in the form of extended credit both to the
miners ' unions and to individual members . In others, retail societies
demonstrated little or no apparent sympathy for the miners . Relationships
between the co-operative and trade union movements during the
General strike and continuing mining dispute are examined at some
length and an attempt is made to account for the differing responses
of co-operative societies called upon to assist the miners in their
struggle.