Roadman

A worker whose job was to keep a mine's underground roadways -- the passages along which coal, ore, men and materials travelled -- in safe repair: levelling the floor, resetting timber, and clearing obstructions.

How it worked

A roadman levelled roadways with a pick and shovel, repaired broken timber and set any necessary light timber a single man could handle, raised the floor where it had dropped below the rails, and generally kept the road between the shaft and the working faces flat, trim and passable. Specialist variants existed for particular sections of road: an engine roadman kept rails and points clear specifically where haulage engines ran, while an incline keeper or plane cleaner did the same work on an inclined roadway.

Why it was used

A mine's roadways had to carry continuous traffic -- trams, cages, haulage ropes, men on foot -- and were under constant pressure from the surrounding ground; without dedicated repair work they would narrow, flood or collapse, cutting off the working faces they served.

Disasters associated with this term

Included only where MineArchive's own research gives a reasonable evidential basis, with the nature of the relationship stated — not every disaster where this term might plausibly apply.

• Gartshore Colliery explosion, 1923 (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…Alexander Paterson (47, fireman, married), John Patrick (31, roadman, married) and George Young (18, apprentice bricklayer, single), who…”
• Old Coal Pit Explosion, Coalbrookdale (1856) (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…David Williams (25), Robert Arnold (22) and Richard Ketherall (23); roadman George Morgan (28); haulier William Lewis (13); and 'roman' William…”
• Wynnstay Colliery Explosion (1873) (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…all colliers; John Jones, 16, a filler; and Peter Darlington, 18, a roadman. The inquest verdict found the explosion arose from shot holes not…”

Sources

1. (primary) 044.—Persons Making and Repairing Roads (A Dictionary of Occupational Terms, 1921 Census) — A Dictionary of Occupational Terms (1921 Census classification)
2. (secondary) Old Coal Pit Explosion - Coalbrookdale - 1856 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 31 August 2026 · Last researched: 31 August 2026