	Homer Hill Colliery	Index	Homer Hill Colliery

Homer Hill Colliery

Location:	Cradley 8½ miles [13 km] W of Birmingham
Map Ref:	(Sheet 139 Birmingham and Wolverhampton) SO938852, 52° 27' 54" N, 2° 5' 28" W
Opened:	1869
Closed:	Mar 1928
Owners:	S. Evers and Sons
Output:	1894 - Coal: Manufacturing. Ironstone. Fireclay.
	1896 - Coal: Manufacturing. Fireclay.
	1900 - Coal: Manufacturing. Fireclay.
	1905 - Coal: Manufacturing. Fireclay.
	1910 - Coal: Manufacturing. Fireclay.
	1915 - Coal: Manufacturing. Fireclay.
Employment:	1894 - 193 (142 below, 51 surface)
	1896 - 38 (23 below, 15 surface)
	1900 - 40 (28 below, 12 surface)
	1905 - 39 (24 below, 15 surface)
	1910 - 36 (21 below, 15 surface)
	1915 - 50 (29 below, 21 surface)
	1923 - 66 (54 below, 12 surface)
Seams Worked:	1915 - Fireclay, Old Mine, Thick Coal

Description

Disasters (5 or more killed)

	11th	Nov	1866		Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle, 12 lives lost (Show Names)
	12th	Nov	1867		12 lives lost (Show Names)

Names of those killed at this colliery

Please note that this collection of names is by no means complete!

						Appeleby, Edward, 12 Jan 1889, (accident: 10 Jan 1889), aged 45, Pikeman, Fall of thick coal from side which came over sprags. Cause: a bump. Died 12th Jan
						Bambrook, E., 14 Nov 1867, (accident: 12 Nov 1867), Pikeman, Explosion of firedamp. Died 14th [More information ...]
						Barnbrook, John Richard, 13 Apr 1883, aged 16, Driver, Fall of timber and roof, caused by full tub, upon which he was riding, getting off the rails
						Barrell, F., 13 Nov 1867, (accident: 12 Nov 1867), Pikeman, Explosion of firedamp. Died 13th [More information ...]
						Battleton, W., 18 Nov 1867, (accident: 12 Nov 1867), Bandsman, Explosion of firedamp. Died 18th [More information ...]
						Buddleton, William, 11 Nov 1866, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle [More information ...]
						Burnbrook, Eland, 11 Nov 1866, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle [More information ...]
						Burrell, Francis, 11 Nov 1866, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle [More information ...]
						Bytheway, William, 24 Apr 1890, (accident: 23 Apr 1890), aged 45, Brusher, Died 24th April. Horse suddenly started and pulled a full tub upon him
						Capewell, J., 05 Nov 1881, aged 37, Deputy, Fall of coal roof in bottom part thick coal. Whilst decensed was examining the place a "bump" occurred and forced two timber props out, and also brought down a mass of coal upon him, which caused his death soon afterwards
						Cooper, William, 26 Jul 1884, (accident: 23 Jun 1884), aged 23, Loader, Died 26th July. Fall of coal roof. Cause, a "bump"
						Downing, E., 16 Jan 1868, Bondsman, Fall of coal in thick coal pit
						Edwards, J., 12 Nov 1867, Horse driver, Explosion of firedamp [More information ...]
						Edwards, John, 11 Nov 1866, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle [More information ...]
						Gordon, W., 23 Nov 1867, (accident: 12 Nov 1867), Bandsman, Explosion of firedamp. Died 23rd [More information ...]
						Gordon, William, 11 Nov 1866, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle [More information ...]
						Griffiths, George, 11 Nov 1866, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle [More information ...]
						Griffiths, J., 19 Nov 1867, (accident: 12 Nov 1867), Pikeman, Explosion of firedamp. Died 19th [More information ...]
						Guest, S., 18 Nov 1867, (accident: 12 Nov 1867), Bandsman, Explosion of firedamp. Died 18th [More information ...]
						Guest, Solomon, 11 Nov 1866, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle [More information ...]
						Gunner, Samuel, 04 May 1882, aged 45, Pikeman, Fall of roof coal which deceased was cutting. A bump occurred forcing out a tree and bringing down about 10 cwt. of coal upon him
						Haddock, William, 11 Nov 1866, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle [More information ...]
						Hall, John, 04 May 1877, (accident: 03 May 1877), aged 29, Pikeman, Injured by fall of roof and top coal gob causing a severe shock to the nervous system, on the 3rd instant. Died this day
						Hambry, Thomas, 11 Jun 1880, (accident: 02 Jun 1880), Pikeman, Injured by fall of coal on the 2nd. June. Died this day
						Harden, W., 14 Nov 1867, (accident: 12 Nov 1867), Bandsman, Explosion of firedamp. Died 14th [More information ...]
						Hart, D., 19 Nov 1867, (accident: 12 Nov 1867), Bandsman, Explosion of firedamp. Died 19th [More information ...]
						Hart, Daniel, 11 Nov 1866, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle [More information ...]
						Heathcock, J., 13 Nov 1867, (accident: 12 Nov 1867), Bandsman, Explosion of firedamp. Died 13th [More information ...]
						Heathcote, Jesse, 11 Nov 1866, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle [More information ...]
						Homer, J., 16 Apr 1867, aged 31, Bandsman, Fall of bat from face of upper working in thick coal
						Millington, J., 12 Mar 1878, aged 65, Timberer, Fall of clod roof whilst repairing gate-road and removing the timber
						Morgan, S., 01 Feb 1871, Bondsman, Fall of coal in "thick coal" pit
						Palmer, Isaac, 18 Apr 1882, aged 17, Driver, Deceased was found fatally crushed under full tub. He explained that the horse had knocked him down and had drawn the tub upon him
						Parish, Aaron, 28 Jun 1894, aged 20, Loader, Fall of clod under holing
						Poulton, J., 26 Nov 1867, (accident: 12 Nov 1867), Bandsman, Explosion of firedamp. Died 26th [More information ...]
						Poulton, John, 11 Nov 1866, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle [More information ...]
						Tippetts, John, 17 May 1877, aged 14, Trapper, Crushed between tubs on pass bye in gate road
						Westwood, H., 14 Nov 1867, (accident: 12 Nov 1867), Bandsman, Explosion of firedamp. Died 14th [More information ...]
						Westwood, William, 11 Nov 1866, Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by lighted candle [More information ...]
						Wood, J., 26 Apr 1868, (accident: 18 Mar 1868), Pikeman, Injured by fall of coal on the 18th ultimo ; died this day. The sad result of neglecting to sprag the coal whilst holing in thick coal pit

						40 names found

If you know of any fatalities missing from the above list then please contact us with the details and we will add them to our database.

Those names marked with , have a web page providing individual details of the accident, the page may also include a photograph of the deceased. Click on the symbol next to the name to see the web page.

Some of the names of mining fatalities on this page have been kindly provided by Ian Winstanley of the Coal Mining History Resource Centre (CMHRC) and are marked with . The CMHRC is available here.

more information on some of the fatalities shown above

Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)

a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Homer Hill Colliery

list of collieries/pits etc. near to Homer Hill Colliery

Credits

Sources:

1868 Mines Inspectors Report, South Staffordshire and Worcestershire District by James P. Baker, H.M. Inspector of Mines
1871 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 653), South Staffordshire and Worcestershire District by James P. Baker, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1877 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 2003), South Staffordshire District by James P. Baker, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1878 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2321), South Staffordshire District by James P. Baker, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1881 Mines Inspectors Report (C 3241), South Staffordshire District by James P. Baker, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1883 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4078), South Staffordshire District by W. B. Scott, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1884 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4429), South Staffordshire District by W. B. Scott, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1889 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6015), South Staffordshire District (No. 11) by W. Beatie Scott, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1894 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1896 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, also available online at Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd
1900 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1905 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1910 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1915 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1923 Colliery Year Book and Coal Trades Directory. Published by The Louis Cassier Co. Ltd., from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian