The age-old search for Black Gold

99-year-old photograph shows the men who risked all for King Coal

- By GAVIN JONES

THIS week's front page photograph comes to us from our regular contributor John Sparry of Wall Heath. It shows a group of miners, and their bosses, from the Old Park Pit, Dudley, 99 years ago, in 1926:

If you're wondering where the Old Park pit was, John tells us: "The land today occupied by the large Russells Hall housing estate and Russells Hall Hospital was, years ago, combed by coal pits.

"A gent by the name of 'Mo' Marsh was, I have been told, the Charter Master or Buttie Collier in charge, contracted with the Earl of Dudley for rents and payments.