History | The Corn Association

During the famine years of 1815 to 1817 The London Lead Company saved their workers from starving by supplying them with corn at less than cost price.

This contined for 5 years and, later, the Company encouraged the miners to set up their own Corn Association and manage the purchase and supply of grain themselves. The Company helped further by organising for goods to be purchased in bulk, transported and stored in their own warehouse to keep prices in the shop as low as possible. The Ready Money Shop was started in about 1825. The store was leased to a shopkeeper on condition that he only sold goods for cash. No credit could be given.

A Balanced Diet
Another way in which the London Lead Company made sure they had a well-fed workforce was to provide each cottage with a garden where they could grow their own food.

By supplementing home grown vegetables and home reared meat with fresh trout from the River Nent and rabbits from the fells - not to mention the occasional grouse poached from nearby moors - the miners' families had a good, balanced diet.

The Company also purchased small parcels of land to let as allotments. Miners could now raise chickens and a pig, which provided meat and eggs all year round.

Later, cottages were let with a few acres of land as smallholdings. Here, miners became farmers and kept chickens, pigs, sheep and maybe even a cow, which increased the local supply of meat, milk, butter and cheese.

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