Known as the 'Pitman Poet', Thomas Armstrong was born at Shotley Bridge on 15th August, 1848. At the age of nine 'Tommy' commenced employment at East Tanfield Colliery where he suffered extreme pains to his legs, resulting in bowleggedness and as a consequence only ever grew to be five feet tall.
Despite receiving very limited schooling Armstrong went on to chronicle the culture of Durham's mining families in some of the regions best loved songs. He penned his first song, 'The birth of the Lad' aged sixteen and over the years found his song writing abilities a valuable source of income for beer money and the support of his seventeen children. Writing during a period of extreme change in the mining industry Armstrong chronicled some of the worst strikes and accidents in the region's history in songs such as 'The Trimdon Grange explosion' and 'Oakey's keeker'. A period spent in Durham gaol also proved a source of inspiration for the pitman and Tommy penned his famous song of the same name whilst serving a six month spell for alleged stealing.
Thomas Armstrong remained in Tanfield for most of his life and died aged 71 around 1919. His son W.H. Armstrong went on to publish much of his father's work in small song collections which can be found in the FARNE archives.
