A DUKINFIELD author is bringing the town’s rich – and often overlooked – coal mining heritage back into the spotlight.
Gillian Hazell has released her latest book which is called Digging For Coal: Dukinfield’s Forgotten Industry.
The 159-page publication delves into the lives of the miners who once powered Dukinfield’s growth, as well as the wealthy coal owners who profited from the industry. It offers a vivid portrait of the people, struggles and resilience that defined a community built on coal.
Gillian, who was brought up in Surrey before moving to Dukinfield in 1991 after meeting her husband on a Greek island holiday, said her fascination with the town’s history began shortly after settling there.
“I’ve always loved history and studied ‘social and economic’ history at school, which included the cotton industry in this area,” Gillian told the Correspondent.
“When I moved to Dukinfield, I was blown away at the sight of the mills and then discovered that my mother’s ancestors, the Chadwicks, built Chadwick Dam and occupied the mills along Cockbrook.”
Her first book The Band Boy, The Bootmaker and The Purse Thief explored her own family history – and it was this research that sparked a deeper passion for uncovering Dukinfield’s past.
“My book Digging For Coal explores not only the collieries but the wealthy coal owners, who speculated their money into exploiting the coal and the coal miners, who risked their lives in the dark, dangerous pits of Dukinfield on a daily basis,” Gillian explained.
“There is also a glimpse at the lives of the miners, where and how they lived and the hobbies that occupied their spare time,” she added. “From newspapers of the time, the book looks at the strikes and industrial action which pitted the miners against the coal owners in their struggle for fair pay and better conditions.”
Beyond the hardships of the mines, Gillian’s new book celebrates the spirit of Dukinfield’s people – their camaraderie, compassion, and fight for fairness.
“It also tells of the unwavering support given by the Dukinfield community in times of hardship, the local doctors and ‘healers’ who tended the miners and how the many mining accidents affected not just the miners and their families but the whole community.”
Gillian is an active member of the Tameside History Forum and the History On Your Doorstep team, who recently hosted tours and open days for National Heritage Week.
She will also give a talk titled Digging For Coal at the Local Studies Library in Ashton-under-Lyne on February 10, 2026, where she’ll share stories from her research.
Digging For Coal: Dukinfield’s Forgotten Industry is available now on Amazon for £7.50, alongside Gillian’s previous local release, The Dukinfield Collection.