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Mining
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The South Staffordshire coal fields played an important part and shaped Gornal history, many folk were engaged in mining in one form or another.
Around Gornal, the coal seams were near to the surface and some mining was opencast or walk-down shafts.
Many of the shallower coal seams in the area were depleted and closed and others became less profitable by the 1920s.
A group of miners c1920, at an unknown local pit?
Wooden winding gear and a small group suggests a small pit?

CDM collection

Many of the smaller workings were leased from The Earl of Dudley, who owned much of land and mineral rights in the area, generally the coal seams ran near to the surface in many places and were easily got, however flooding was common.
The problems with flooding with water often causing the workings to be abandoned.
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1839: Newspaper Notice.
VALUABLE MINES AT GORNALL.
To be SOLD by AUCTION, by Mr. Payton, at the Bush Inn, in Dudley on Thursday, 25th day of April at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, the valuable mines of Thick and other COAL and IRONSTONE, in and under the following pieces of Land, in the occupation of Mrs. Mary Simmonds, immediately opposite the Church at Lower Gornall, and adjoining the colliery of Messrs. Timmins and Company:-

  A. R. F
Upper Jackfield....................1  1  3
Lower ditto............................0  3  27
Baker's Piece.........................1  3  13
The Amber Field...................0  2  32
The Sling............................... 0  2  9
The Lower Meadow..............3  2  3
Garden, &c............................0  0  29
Total.....................................11  1  23

For further particulars apply to Mr. George Robinson, Solicitor, Wolverhampton.
1939: Birmingham Gazette, 24 March.
RISKS THAT MINERS RUN
  "This is another instance of the risks undertaken by miners" commented the acting Dudley Coroner, Mr. A.E.V. Sherwood, yesterday, when a verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned on Joseph Marsh, aged 44 of 18 Summer Lane, Lower Gornal, who was killed at Ellowes Hall Colliery, Lower Gornal on Monday.
  It was stated that because of the uneven nature of the face extra safelty measures were being taken, but as Marsh was setting a haulk of timber a piece of coal weighing half a ton, slipped out of the roof and fractured his spine.
1932 advert.
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this aye fur noggin yeds