Drawing of a Newcomen beam engine
Coal would not have changed the face of Britain without the inventors who solved mining problems and released the energy locked in the coal.
Thomas Savery developed the 'miners' friend', a steam engine that could pump water at 270 litres a minute (1698).
Thomas Newcomen developed the beam engine, the first steady-running atmospheric engine (1705). It was used particularly for pumping. It was said Newcomen saved the mines and the nation's prosperity.
Drawing of James Watt
George Stephenson made a steam pump and engine that solved the problem of pulling tubs of coal from coalface to pit bottom. He also improved colliery railways and built the first practical locomotives.
James Watt made the separate condensing engine, a greatly improved and more powerful Newcomen engine (about 1770). This engine was a prime mover - it could lift weights and drive mechanisms.
Drawing of Richard Trevithick's high pressure steam engine
Richard Trevithick further improved steam engines to use high steam pressures (early 19th century). These engines raised coal and men from mine to surface and made possible the first pit railways.
Gas and iron
William Murdoch, once an employee of James Watt, baked coal in a cast-iron retort and drew off coal gas - the same gas by which our streets were lit and dinners cooked.
Abraham Darby invented the blast furnace and so virtually started the Victorian Iron Age (Bessemer and Siemens introduced the Steel Age about 1850).
Photograph of a flame safety lamp
Ventilation
Carlyle Spedding devised systems using partitions, barriers and doors to direct airflow for safe ventilation of mines. He also worked on lighting systems for pits.
Sir Humphry Davy invented the safety lamp - a flame burning inside metallic gauze that cannot ignite the methane gas (firedamp) in mines - that was named after him.
Photograph of a Meco Moore coal cutting machine circa. 1950's
And one more recent inventor...
James Anderton invented the 'Anderton shearer' - the forerunner of the modern coal cutting machines 'the power loader' used in modern mechanised mining.