Brownhills Colliery

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Arblaster, Frederick, 25 Mar 1903, 6.45 a.m., aged 51, Labourer, Crushed between a railway truck and wharf wall while cleaning railway. A locomotive engine was sending trucks into different roads by running shunts. In spite of the fact that the foreman knew trucks were to be sent on the line on which the men were working, he took no steps to warn or protect them, although they could not see the trucks coming, owing to the curve of the line, and the locomotive driver could not see them

Bailey, J., 02 May 1864, aged 19, Collier, Explosion of firedamp [More information ...]

Ball, T., 24 Oct 1866, Sinker, Winding machinery was by some means forced out of gear by which they were precipitated down pumping pit shaft [More information ...]

Barber, William, 09 Jan 1892, 2.30 p.m., aged 17, Gripper, Fell down before a train of tubs on endless rope and was run over

Barnard, Thomas, 17 Feb 1909, 9 a.m., aged 19, Loader, Explosion of firedamp

Baugh, Thomas, 23 Jul 1899, (accident: 19 Jun 1899), aged 43, Header, Explosion of firedamp from a damaged lamp. Died July 23rd

Bellamore, George, 14 Oct 1860, Bridle chains broke, and he fell with cage

Benton, J., 24 Oct 1866, aged 35, Engineer, Winding machinery was by some means forced out of gear by which they were precipitated down pumping pit shaft [More information ...]

Boden, Alfred, 01 Oct 1930, aged 50, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Brownridge, John, 01 Oct 1930, aged 38, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Carter, George, 13 Nov 1906, (accident: 26 Oct 1906, 1 p.m.), aged 47, Loader, Deceased and another were taking a loaded tub down a longwall face from the buttock to the gate road, a distance of about 10 yards, dipping 1½ inches per yard. A worn wooden locker in the rear wheel broke when halfway down, and deceased, who was in front, was crushed against a prop, his thigh and pelvis being fractured. He succumbed on 13th November

Chapman, Frank, 01 Dec 1892, (accident: 11 Nov 1892, 2.30 p.m.), aged 30, Stallman, Injured foot from fall of roof. Lockjaw supervening, he died December 1

Clenton, A. T., 12 Mar 1904, aged 18, Screener, On the 12th March, at Brownhills Colliery, South Staffordshire, a screener named A. T. Clenton, aged 18, was taken ill while at work and went home, and died of inflammation of the kidneys before a doctor arrived. No inquest. [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Cliffe, T., 04 May 1871, (accident: 22 Apr 1871), aged 19, Pickman, Injured by explosion of firedamp on the 22nd ultimo. Died this day

Coldrake, Charles, 09 Jan 1861, aged 41, Suffocated with smoke from a fire which originated in an airway in the "deep coal" workings of an adjoining pit [More information ...]

Cooper, James, 09 Jan 1861, aged 26, Suffocated with smoke from a fire which originated in an airway in the "deep coal" workings of an adjoining pit [More information ...]

Cooper, John, 09 Jan 1861, aged 30, Suffocated with smoke from a fire which originated in an airway in the "deep coal" workings of an adjoining pit [More information ...]

Corbett, Benjamin, 01 Oct 1930, aged 52, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Cradock, Levi, 09 Jan 1861, aged 11, Suffocated with smoke from a fire which originated in an airway in the "deep coal" workings of an adjoining pit [More information ...]

Cradock, Thomas, 09 Jan 1861, aged 37, Suffocated with smoke from a fire which originated in an airway in the "deep coal" workings of an adjoining pit [More information ...]

Creswell, J., 10 Feb 1869, aged 40, Pikeman, Fall of clod in thin mine

Crowe, H., 17 Apr 1866, aged 21, Collier, Fell out of cage whilst ascending shaft

Davenport, James, 04 Dec 1900, aged 46, Enginewright, Run with cage and another man, who escaped, into the water at the bottom of the sump

Dennis, Thomas, 02 May 1889, aged 21, Loader, Fall of rock roof in a gate road. Cause: want of timber [More information ...]

Frawford, William, 05 Feb 1856, aged 57, Overman, Fall of roof whist removing a prop without preparation for temporary support of a known bad top

Galvin, D., 01 Jan 1876, (accident: 31 Dec 1875), aged 16, Horse driver, Accidentally run over by trolleys. Injured 31st December last. Died this day

Garbutt, William, 06 Mar 1904, (accident: 26 Oct 1903), aged 53, Stallman, On the 26th October, at Brownhills Colliery (South Staffordshire), William Garbutt, a stallman, aged 53, reported that he had injured himself in trying to lift a piece of rock. He was afterwards able to do light work but took ill in January and died on the 6th March, 1904. The doctor certified that that death was due to heart disease, but by desire of the relatives an inquest was held, and the verdict returned was "Death from heart disease accelerated by the strain" [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Gibson, John, 17 Jun 1903, Shunter, On the 17th June, at Brownhills Colliery (South Staffordshire), a shunter named John Gibson, was injured by a piece of coal falling from a truck he was moving, and was under medical treatment till 21st August, and then resumed work. He died on the 11th October, from double pneumonia, and a verdict of death from natural causes was returned at the inquest [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Gripton, R., 14 Dec 1881, aged 29, Cager, Accidentally crushed by cage whilst in the performance of his duties as cager or hooker on

Hackett, John, 01 Oct 1930, aged 31, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Hales, Joseph Henry, 29 May 1912, aged 17, Pony driver, Deceased was found fatally crushed between the side and a full tub which he was taking out of a heading. The horse was attached, but no lockers were found in the tub wheels. For a distance of 14 yards from the face of the heading the gradient was against the load, after which the dip outbye for some distance was 1 in 12. Lockers were provided at the brow, but apparently deceased either forgot these as he passed, or attempted to take the tub down without them, with the result stated

Hartshorn, Eli, 18 Aug 1896, aged 18, Driver, Found dying under full tub

Heath, Alfred, 01 Oct 1930, aged 33, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Heath, J., 15 Jan 1864, aged 30, Bandsman, Accidental fall of roof rock caused by two slips (in thin coal mine)

Heath, John, 18 Oct 1910, (accident: 13 Oct 1910), aged 18, Pony Driver, He was coming outbye with his horse attached to two ful tubs with two lockers in the wheels, down a gradient 3 inches to a yard, when the front tub fouled a crossing, jumped over the rails, and pinned him against a prop, causing injuries from the effects of which he died on 18th October

Hodgetts, J., 14 Mar 1862, aged 15, Hooker-on, The deceased was employed at the inset of an upper working and had neglected to have the cage adjusted and forgetting its position pushed the skip into the shaft and followed it

Holland, John, 01 Oct 1930, aged 41, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Howdle, David Richard, 01 Oct 1930, aged 30, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Jennings, Thomas, 13 Nov 1852, Fell down shaft

Jervis, Stephen, 18 Jan 1910, (accident: 17 Jan 1910), aged 40, Stoker, Deceased was screwing up a joint in the blow-off pipe of a Lancashire boiler in which steam was being raised. The joint was situated between the bottom of the boiler and the blow-off cock. One of the bolts broke at the neck, owing to a flaw which was not detectable by ordinary inspection, and a jet of hot water escaped and scalded him so severely that he died on the following day

Jones, John, 18 Nov 1858, (accident: 16 Nov 1858), aged 40, Overlooker, From injuries received by fall of coal on 16th

Jones, W. H., 08 Aug 1894, aged 14, Driver, Upon a surface tramway. The horse upon which he was riding stumbled fell and rolled over him. He lived only an hour

Jones, William, 20 Feb 1874, aged 24, Stoker, Fell down pit shaft

Lawrence, Arthur Charles, 16 Oct 1908, aged 38, Holer, Deceased was working on a long wall face in the New Mine seam which was rising 1 in 9. From his stall the full tubs were lowered down 28 yds. by hand to a jig. Thirteen tubs had been lowered during the shift by deceased and his brother, one in front and one behind, this being contrary to the Special Rules. Two lockers were used in each case. Deceased was apparently turning a full tub on the way-end plate alone, and without any lockers in, when it overcame him, took the rails and forced him down in front. He was found 8 yds. down the road crushed between the tub and a prop, and was dead, his back and head having been badly crushed

Leech, Charles, 19 Jun 1912, aged 57, Stallman

Lycett, Enoch, 17 Jul 1886, aged 42, Labourer, Fatally injured by being crushed between a waggon and the loading wharf wall

Malley, James, 01 Oct 1930, aged 34, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Marklew, J., 23 Aug 1873, aged 16, Horse Driver, Found dead under tub in gate-road

Marklew, J., 18 Sep 1873, aged 60, Pickman, Fall of roof from between two timber props about 3 feet apart

Martin, Alec, 01 Oct 1930, aged 32, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Millington, Emmanuel, 09 Jan 1861, aged 14, Suffocated with smoke from a fire which originated in an airway in the "deep coal" workings of an adjoining pit [More information ...]

Owen, J., 16 Feb 1864, aged 65, Collier, Fell off the cage whilst ascending

Pearce, James William, 15 May 1913, aged 22, Loader, Deceased was filling a tub on a longwall face in the Shallow Seam when a rate of coal and bannocking dirt, 9 feet long, 5 feet deep, and of thickness tapering from 18 inches at top to nothing at the bottom, fell suddenly from the face and crushed his head against a tree so severely that he died almost immediately. The rate came off at a black slip or facing which was not visible before the accident

Poxon, Arnold, 22 Jun 1903, 7.45 a.m., aged 26, Loader, Fall of side (coal) at longwall face in Shallow seam. Sprags had been knocked out at the buttock end the previous day, leaving the coal face overhanging about 18 inches. The fallen coal had been filled up when the overhanging coal fell for a length of 9 feet. The face should have been spragged up, or the coal got down before it fell. The place had been examined by a fireman, and by the father of the deceased who worked with him

Poxon, Samuel, 12 Jul 1924, 10.15 a.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 49, Wagon Tipper, Deceased was assisting to change a rope on the wagon tippler. The rope broke on the far side of the tippler and the balance weights fell on him and injured his foot and ribs, from the effect of which he died. If deceased had not stood under the weights, the accident would not have happened. Also if the rope had been changed without raising the weights the accident would not have happened, and if the weights had been separately fenced in a housing the accident would have been avoided in any case

Reaney, Thomas Arthur, 12 Aug 1914, aged 47, Rockman, Killed by falling down the shaft

Robbins, William, 01 Oct 1930, aged 46, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Rowley, Henry, 09 Mar 1898, aged 19, Loader, Fall of rock roof

Sault, Edwin Thomas, 30 Aug 1910, aged 20, Loader, Deceased was filling a tub of dirt in a rock heading crossing the measures, when a piece of rock 7 ft. long, 4½ ft. wide and 1 ft. thick at centre, tapering out to a feather edge slip around the edges, fell without warning and killed him instantaneously. The contractor had knocked on the roof only a few minutes before the fall and "it sounded like a bell"

Scoffham, John, 01 Oct 1930, aged 46, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Sheldon, George, 02 Jul 1894, aged 16, Horse driver, Found dead under full tub on main level

Shrigley, William, 10 Jul 1900, (accident: 09 Feb 1900), aged 25, Jigger, Injury caused by a blow from a moving tub. Died July 10th

Smith, Alfred, 21 Sep 1904, 9.15 a.m., aged 32, Loader, Fall of side (coal) at longwall face in Deep seam. A rate of coal 9 ft. long and 5½ ft. high, 2 ft. thick at top and wedge-shaped towards the bottom, fell over and crushed him against a tree

Smith, Harry, 01 Oct 1930, aged 38, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Smith, James, 28 Nov 1882, (accident: 23 Nov 1882), aged 46, Pikeman, Injudiciously tried to pull down rock roof when standing under it. it suddenly fell and so injured him on the 23rd November that he died this day

Snape, William, 02 Mar 1896, aged 28, Loader, Fall from working face while pulling a rate

Solomon, F., 09 Jul 1872, (accident: 28 Jun 1872), aged 20, Pickman, Premature explosion of gunpowder on 28th ultimo. Died this day

Stackhouse, Charles, 21 Jun 1934, aged 72, Surface Worker, crushed by waggons, Buried: St. Michael and All Angels Church, Pelsall, Staffs

Thomas, Joseph, 13 Sep 1877, aged 47, Stallman, Engaged knocking out sprags (short props), when a fall of coal took place, crushing his head against a tree, killing him instantly

Wall, G., 02 May 1864, aged 26, Collier, Explosion of firedamp [More information ...]

Wall, Noah, 17 Aug 1896, aged 26, Holer, Fall from face while holing

Whittaker, John Bernard, 01 Oct 1930, aged 44, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Whittaker, William, 01 Oct 1930, aged 62, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light used to light cigarette [More information ...]

Williams, William, 15 Feb 1881, (accident: 14 Feb 1881), aged 51, Pikeman, Injured by rate of coal off working face which fell over the sprags on the 14th int. Died this day

Williams, William, 26 Oct 1913, (accident: 24 Oct 1913), aged 22, Stallman, Deceased had just bannocked a length of face in the Shallow seam, and was throwing the bannocking dirt into the cog, when the coal over which he had bannocked came off suddenly and struck him, fracturing his ribs, some of which penetrated his lungs. He died two days afterwards. The rate was 18 inches thick at the top and tapering out at a point 3 feet down the face ; it was 7 feet long and came off at a "smutty slip." A sprag set up to the face was reeled out, the rate being top-heavy. The rate had apparently been liberated by the bannocking

Winfield, C., 22 Nov 1897, aged 18, Gripper, Run over by tubs on surface tramway

Yates, William, 25 Sep 1903, 1.30 p.m., aged 36, Stallman, Fall of side (coal) at longwall face in Shallow seam. A rate of coal, 6 feet long and 1 foot 6 inches thick, fell off face from a sooty back, knocking out two posts with stretchers to coal and falling on to deceased as he was passing