Heroic 'broo-wenches' who scandalised Victorian Britain by working NAKED to help them cope in the intense heat of the collieries and wearing trousers are pictured in newly-unearthed black and white portraits

Heroic 'broo-wenches' who scandalised Victorian Britain by working NAKED to help them cope in the intense heat of the collieries and wearing trousers are pictured in newly-unearthed black and white portraits

Fascinating images have revealed the heroic actions of Britain's 'broo-wenches' who scandalised Victorian society by working in trousers and even naked while mining underground.

When a Victorian newspaper ran a front page picture of a Wigan colliery girl in her uniform, it sent shockwaves through Britain.

This had followed a report containing sketches of half-naked women working underground alongside men, a report that resulted in calls for women to be kicked out of the searing hot coal pits.

The 'unladylike' image disgusted many, but the Northern working-class women had their supporters too.

One such man was Arthur Munby, whose fascinating collection of images of the Pit Brow Women have recently been unearthed.

The striking pictures show the heroic women in their working gear. A uniform that consisted of a headscarf to shield their hair from dirt, a long ankle-length skirt and most shockingly of all, trousers underneath.

Munby, an enthusiastic supporter of working women in the 19th century Britain, would make frequent trips to Wigan and other industrial towns to document his heroines.

However, as photography was a new invention in the mid 19th-century, it wasn't straight forward.

He would have to convince the labouring women into a nearby photographer's studio where they would have to pose very still for up to several seconds whilst the exposure was made.

This makes for interesting pictures that show rugged, weather-worn women posing in front of a back drop that was intended to be used for the middle-classes posing in their Sunday best.

The women, also known as broo-wenches, pose with giant spades and other working equipment such as lanterns, baskets and flasks.

In 1842, there had been outrage when it had been discovered that women around the country had been working underground in coal pits half-naked. This of course, being due to the extreme temperature in the pit.

They were eventually banned from underground work, but continued to work on the surface.

This led to a further inquisition in 1865, when the miners of Northumberland and Durham petitioned Parliament on a variety of matters including surface labour by women.

They asserted 'that the practice of employing females on or about the pit banks of mines and collieries is degrading to the sex, leads to gross immorality, and stands as a foul blot on the civilisation and humanity of the kingdom.'

Pit brow women or pit brow lasses were women who worked on the surface at British collieries.

They worked on the pit bank (or brow) at the shaft top, where they were tasked with picking stones from the coal after it was hauled to the surface.

Women and boys under the age of 10 were banned from working underground following the passing of the Mines and Collieries Act 1842. 

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This had followed a report containing sketches of half-naked women working underground alongside men, a report that resulted in calls for women to be kicked out of the searing hot coal pits.

The 'unladylike' image disgusted many, but the Northern working-class women had their supporters too.

One such man was Arthur Munby, whose fascinating collection of images of the Pit Brow Women have recently been unearthed.

A trio of women are shown in their traditional uniform with a sieve

A drawing of a half-naked girl dragging a loaded corf along a low mine passage near Halifax in Yorkshire, sometime in 1842. The engraving was used to illustrate a report on the employment of women in mines, that saw them banned from working underground that same year. Many expressed disgust at the idea of women working while partially clothes

A drawing of a half-naked girl dragging a loaded corf along a low mine passage near Halifax in Yorkshire, sometime in 1842. The engraving was used to illustrate a report on the employment of women in mines, that saw them banned from working underground that same year. Many expressed disgust at the idea of women working while partially clothes

Sketches of half-naked women (including a man, second image) working underground alongside men resulted in calls for women to be kicked out of the searing hot coal pit, with Victorian Britain taking a dim view on women working in such close proximity with men while in a state of undress

Sketches of half-naked women (including a man, second image) working underground alongside men resulted in calls for women to be kicked out of the searing hot coal pit, with Victorian Britain taking a dim view on women working in such close proximity with men while in a state of undress

Young looking pit brow girls just before starting work, Wigan, 1893. Several decades before, women and boys under under 10 years old were banned from working underground, meaning all the little girls became broo lasses, working on the surface above the mines

Young looking pit brow girls just before starting work, Wigan, 1893. Several decades before, women and boys under under 10 years old were banned from working underground, meaning all the little girls became broo lasses, working on the surface above the mines

Ellen Grounds, 22, a Pit Brow girl at Pearson and Knowles's Pits, Wigan, 11th September, 1873

A particularly tall female collier from Rose Bridge Pits in Wigan, who measured 5ft 9 in, is pictured left on August 10, 1869

A particularly tall female collier from Rose Bridge Pits in Wigan, who measured 5ft 9 in, is pictured left on August 10, 1869

Meanwhile, a similarly dressed lass is shown resting on her shovel. Notice the outfit, which featured both trousers and a skirt over the top

Meanwhile, a similarly dressed lass is shown resting on her shovel. Notice the outfit, which featured both trousers and a skirt over the top

Shevington Colliery near Wigan, photographed in 1863. Pictured are a group of women working at the surface. They worked on the pit bank (pictured) at the shaft top, where they were tasked with picking stones from the coal after it was hauled to the surface

Shevington Colliery near Wigan, photographed in 1863. Pictured are a group of women working at the surface. They worked on the pit bank (pictured) at the shaft top, where they were tasked with picking stones from the coal after it was hauled to the surface

Mr Wright, landlord of the Three Crowns and two Pit Brow Women in Wigan on some date in 1865

Mr Wright, landlord of the Three Crowns and two Pit Brow Women in Wigan on some date in 1865

An unknown pit brow woman in Wigan, circa 1867 to 1888

An unknown pit brow woman in Wigan, circa 1867 to 1888

The striking pictures show the heroic women in their working gear. A uniform that consisted of a headscarf to shield their hair from dirt, a long ankle-length skirt and most shockingly of all, trousers underneath.

Munby, an enthusiastic supporter of working women in the 19th century Britain, would make frequent trips to Wigan and other industrial towns to document his heroines.

However, as photography was a new invention in the mid 19th-century, it wasn't straight forward.

He would have to convince the labouring women into a nearby photographer's studio where they would have to pose very still for up to several seconds whilst the exposure was made.

This makes for interesting pictures that show rugged, weather-worn women posing in front of a back drop that was intended to be used for the middle-classes posing in their Sunday best.

The women, also known as broo-wenches, pose with giant spades and other working equipment such as lanterns, baskets and flasks.

In 1842, there had been outrage when it had been discovered that women around the country had been working underground in coal pits half-naked. This of course, being due to the extreme temperature in the pit.

They were eventually banned from underground work, but continued to work on the surface.

This led to a further inquisition in 1865, when the miners of Northumberland and Durham petitioned Parliament on a variety of matters including surface labour by women.

The House of Commons set up a Select Committee to look into the matters raised and questions were asked about the morality of women employed on the pit banks

The House of Commons set up a Select Committee to look into the matters raised and questions were asked about the morality of women employed on the pit banks

The Committee had difficulty to stand up the charges of 'degradation' and 'immorality,' and great interest was shown in the 'peculiarity' of females wearing trousers

The Committee had difficulty to stand up the charges of 'degradation' and 'immorality,' and great interest was shown in the 'peculiarity' of females wearing trousers

Shown are yet more unidentified broo wenches in 1868

Shown are yet more unidentified broo wenches in 1868

The striking pictures show the heroic women in their working gear. A uniform that consisted of a headscarf to shield their hair from dirt, a long ankle-length skirt and most shockingly of all, trousers underneath

The striking pictures show the heroic women in their working gear. A uniform that consisted of a headscarf to shield their hair from dirt, a long ankle-length skirt and most shockingly of all, trousers underneath

Women worked underground alongside men until 1842, as did children as young as eight years old. However this was stopped by Queen Victoria, who decided to put an end to such working following a disaster at Huskar Colliery in Silkstone Common, in which 26 children were killed after a mine flooded

Women worked underground alongside men until 1842, as did children as young as eight years old. However this was stopped by Queen Victoria, who decided to put an end to such working following a disaster at Huskar Colliery in Silkstone Common, in which 26 children were killed after a mine flooded

Interesting pictures that show rugged, weather-worn women posing in front of a back drop that was intended to be used for the middle-classes posing in their Sunday best

Interesting pictures that show rugged, weather-worn women posing in front of a back drop that was intended to be used for the middle-classes posing in their Sunday best

The women, also known as broo-wenches, pose with giant spades and other working equipment such as lanterns, baskets and flasks

The women, also known as broo-wenches, pose with giant spades and other working equipment such as lanterns, baskets and flasks

After women were banned from going underground, they took to carrying out work on the surface. Here they would load carts, sort coal from stone and haul materials from the pit face. This pit brow women are pictured alongside a man at Rode Bridge Pits, Wigan in 1865

After women were banned from going underground, they took to carrying out work on the surface. Here they would load carts, sort coal from stone and haul materials from the pit face. This pit brow women are pictured alongside a man at Rode Bridge Pits, Wigan in 1865

They asserted 'that the practice of employing females on or about the pit banks of mines and collieries is degrading to the sex, leads to gross immorality, and stands as a foul blot on the civilisation and humanity of the kingdom.'

Why were they called 'broo-wenches'? 

Pit brow women or pit brow lasses were women who worked on the surface at British collieries.

They worked on the pit bank (or brow) at the shaft top, where they were tasked with picking stones from the coal after it was hauled to the surface.

Women and boys under the age of 10 were banned from working underground following the passing of the Mines and Collieries Act 1842. 

The House of Commons set up a Select Committee to look into the matters raised and questions were asked about the morality of women employed on the pit banks.

The Committee had difficulty to stand up the charges of 'degradation' and 'immorality,' and great interest was shown in the 'peculiarity' of females wearing trousers.

Peter Dickinson, a male miner from Wigan, was questioned specifically on his colleagues' dress. He said: 'The entire person of the woman is covered and there nothing indecent in the dress.'

He then boldly undermined the Committee by adding: 'Though you spoke of the dress as being one of the leading features of the degrading character of the employment?'

In 1867 the Select Committee on Mines presented its final report. Concerning the employment of women at the pit's mouth, they concluded 'that the allegations of either indecency or immorality were not established by the evidence.'

Meanwhile, a similarly dressed lass is shown resting on her shovel. Notice the outfit, which featured both trousers and a skirt over the top

Shevington Colliery near Wigan, photographed in 1863. Pictured are a group of women working at the surface. They worked on the pit bank (pictured) at the shaft top, where they were tasked with picking stones from the coal after it was hauled to the surface

Mr Wright, landlord of the Three Crowns and two Pit Brow Women in Wigan on some date in 1865

Therefore, they concluded that no government legislation or interference was required, a great victory was struck for the working girls of collieries across the nation.

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