I think that perhaps wages were relative. In a rural community like Northumberland, coal mining presumably paid better than agriculture and the houses were of a higher standard. Unfortunately the water supply and sewage disposal left a bit to be desired. My Radcliffe coal mining ancestors started off in Shilbottle went briefly to Eglingham (Coal Eglingham) then oscillated between Shilbottle and Radcliffe for a while. After a brief spell at Glebe colliery in Bedlington, they settled on Radcliffe. Of course they had the advantage of 7 sons, all living and all miners.
My great grandfather from another branch was an agricultural labourer until the mid 1880s and then went into the mines, I guess for the money. Apparently there was competition between the pits for miners and Pegswood was attractive at that time re housing and special offers!
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