	Mossfield Colliery	Index	Mossfield Colliery

Mossfield Colliery

Location:	Longton 2½ miles [4 km] E of Stoke-on-Trent
Map Ref:	(Sheet 118 Stoke-on-Trent and Macclesfield) SJ915449, 53° 0' 4" N, 2° 7' 36" W
Opened:
Closed:	1963
Pits:	No. 1 Pit
	No. 2 Pit
	No. 3 Pit
	No. 4 Pit
Owners:	William Rigby and Co.
	Mossfield Colliery Ltd.
	1947 - National Coal Board (N.C.B.)
Output:	1894 - No. 2 - Coal.
	1894 - Nos. 3 and 4 - Coal.
	1896 - No. 2 - Coal: Household, Manufacturing.
	1896 - Nos. 3 and 4 - Coal: Household, Manufacturing, Steam.
	1900 - No. 2 - Coal: Household, Manufacturing.
	1900 - Nos. 3 and 4 - Coal: Household, Manufacturing, Steam.
	1905 - Coal.
	1910 - Coal.
	1915 - Coal.
	1947 - Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 - Coal: Household, Manufacturing. (360,000 tons)
Employment:	1894 - No. 2 - 19 (12 below, 7 surface) [Re-opened Nov. 1894]
	1894 - Nos. 3 and 4 - 366 (267 below, 99 surface)
	1896 - No. 2 - 37 (33 below, 4 surface)
	1896 - Nos. 3 and 4 - 345 (247 below, 98 surface)
	1900 - 554 (435 below, 119 surface)
	1905 - 577 (452 below, 125 surface)
	1910 - 860 (679 below, 181 surface)
	1915 - 630 (507 below, 123 surface)
	1923 - Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 - 746 (613 below, 133 surface)
	1933 - Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 - 1,095 (840 below, 255 surface)
	1940 - Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 - 960 (650 below, 310 surface)
	1947 - Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 - 1,050 (720 below, 330 surface)
Seams Worked:	1894 - No. 2 - Birches [Re-opened Nov. 1894]
	1894 - Nos. 3 and 4 - Bowling Alley, Holly Lane, Hard Mine, Banbury, Cockshead
	1896 - No. 2 - Yard, Birches
	1896 - Nos. 3 and 4 - Bowling Alley, Holly Lane, Hard Mine, Banbury, Cockshead
	1900 - No. 2 - Birches, Yard
	1900 - Nos. 3 and 4 - Banbury, Bowling Alley, Cockshead, Hard Mine, Holly Lane
	1905 - Banbury, Bowling Alley, Cockshead, Hard Mine, Yard
	1910 - Banbury, Bowling Alley, Cockshead, Hard Mine, Holly Lane, Yard
	1915 - Yard, Bowling Alley, Hard Mine, Banbury, Cockshead, Holly Lane
Notes:	Current Status - Page under construction! and is far, far from complete!

Description

Disasters (5 or more killed)

	16th	Oct	1889		Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion, 64 lives lost (Show Names)
	21st	Mar	1940		Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion, 11 lives lost (Show Names)

Names of those killed at this colliery

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

						Alcock, Kenneth George, 18 Jan 1953, aged 28, Collier, Struck by cage
						Allerton, Jesse, 15 Feb 1910, aged 28, Assistant Timberman, Allerton was standing near the bottom of a jig (inclination 1 in 3) in the Holly Lane seam, while the tubs were running. A link in the short chain between rope and tub broke, and allowed two loads of dirt to run amain. They kept the rails to the bottom of the jig, but came off at the bend at bottom, and crashed into the deepside where deceased was standing. The rope was a new one, and the chain, if not new, had been recently overhauled, and put into use with the rope, less than a week prior to the accident. The chain was of 7/16 in. iron. Nothing could be discovered to account for the failure of the link
						Archer, Adolphus J., 21 May 1947, aged 31, Collier, Crushed by cage pit bottom
						Ayres, Frederick, 16 Oct 1889, aged 21, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Bailey, James Henry, 16 Oct 1889, aged 18, Horse Driver, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Ball, John, 16 Oct 1889, aged 36, Contractor, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Ball, Noah, 16 Oct 1889, aged 39, Horse Driver, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Bates, William, 21 Jun 1904, aged 60, Sawyer, On the 21st of June, at Mossfield Colliery, North Staffordshire, Wm. Bates, a sawyer, aged 60, died suddenly while at work. At the inquest a verdict of death from natural causes was returned. [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]
						Bath, Jacob, 16 Oct 1889, aged 23, Contractor, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Blundred, James, 21 Mar 1940, aged 28, Collier, explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Bough, Thomas, 16 Oct 1889, aged 20, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Bradbury, James, 16 Oct 1889, aged 20, Horse Driver, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Bradshaw, George, 16 Oct 1889, aged 18, Taker off, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Breewood, William, 16 Oct 1889, aged 29, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Britton, John, 21 Aug 1914, aged 14, Horse-driver, Deceased had been employed below ground about one month. He was engaged to drive a horse in connection with a "Ring" gin. At 11.55 a.m. work was suspended for ten minutes throughout the mine, when deceased left his post, and without taking his lamp, followed another person inbye to the bottom of a jig 60 yards distant, and there joined a few other boys and a roadman, who had collected there. At 12.5 p.m., the roadman told the lads to go on with their work, and deceased appears to have been returning without a light to his horse, when he was overtaken by a full tub in charge of a trammer and crushed against the side of the road. He died in hospital the same day
						Brough, Thomas, 16 Oct 1889, Holer, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Bull, Job, 16 Oct 1889, aged 26, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Bull, Joseph, 16 Oct 1889, aged 60, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Bull, Joseph, 16 Oct 1889, aged 25, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Bull, William, 16 Oct 1889, aged 19, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Burgess, Harry, 11 Nov 1958, aged 50, Surace worker, trapped by tipper and wall
						Burgess, William, 16 Oct 1889, aged 40, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Burton, Samuel, 09 May 1892, (accident: 01 Apr 1892), aged 3, On the 1st April, a child named Samuel Burton, aged 3 years, was run over by tubs on a surface tramway connected with Mossfield Colliery, and died from the injuries on the 9th May [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]
						Butler, Arthur, 21 Mar 1940, aged 26, Loader, explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Byatt, John, 27 Feb 1950, aged 58, Surface Fitter, Dirt tip chain broke
						Caffrey, James C., 12 Nov 1952, aged 21, Face worker, Heavy roof fall [More information ...]
						Calcott, Henry, 16 Oct 1889, aged 25, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Coe, William Arthur, 13 Jan 1954, aged 28, Shotfirer, Killed by a fall of coal
						Cotton, Joseph, 16 Oct 1889, aged 26, Holer, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Cotton, W., 21 Jul 1885, aged 47, Collier, Fall of coal
						Derricott, Isaac, 16 Oct 1889, aged 60, Holer, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Dodd, Colin, 21 Mar 1940, aged 20, Loader, explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Edwards, Albert J., 16 Oct 1889, aged 28, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Edwards, George, 16 Oct 1889, aged 42, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Edwards, Joseph, 16 Oct 1889, aged 57, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Emery, Francis, 16 Oct 1889, aged 50, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Farrell, William, 16 Oct 1889, aged 23, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Fletcher, Arthur, 16 Oct 1889, aged 26, Fireman, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Foster, Henry, 05 Dec 1910, (accident: 01 Dec 1910), aged 35, Collier, Deceased was working at the face of a winning level, 7 ft. wide, in Bowling Alley seam. At the dip side he had cut in about 8 ft. and 2½ ft. wide ; he then holed the rise coal 2 ft. under and spragged it, and, to get farther under, was wedging down a piece of hard coal at the front of the holing, when the overhanging coal suddenly fell and crushed him against the dip side. Deceased had holed into a slip, which was exposed after the fall. His injuries resulted fatally four days afterwards
						Foster, Isaac, 15 Jun 1892, (accident: 13 Jun 1892), aged 32, Collier, Fall of roof at working face (top of jig), in Moss Seam. Died 15th June
						Hall, John, 16 Oct 1889, aged 16, Taker off, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Harding, Jonathan, 16 Oct 1889, aged 25, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Hewitt, Earnest, 30 Mar 1907, 11.30 a.m., aged 22, Loader, Deceased was loading coal from a fall of tops at the edge of a waste in the Cockshead seam. While so doing, a large piece of top coal, 3 feet 6 inches thick came away from a slip, bringing part of the pack wall with it, and fell on him
						Horleston (Plant), William, 16 Oct 1889, aged 35, Contractor, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Hughes, David, 16 Oct 1889, aged 65, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Hulme, David, 16 Oct 1889, aged 22, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Hulme, William, 16 Oct 1889, aged 24, Taker off, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Hulse, James, 16 Oct 1889, aged 26, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Hurst, J., 16 Oct 1883, Collier, Fall of roof
						Hurst, William, 16 Oct 1889, aged 49, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Jackson, J., 05 Jul 1887, aged 40, Loader
						James, James Bettany, 16 Oct 1889, aged 23, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						James, Thomas, 16 Oct 1889, aged 18, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Jenkins, Charles, 16 Oct 1889, aged 19, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Johnson, James, 21 Mar 1940, aged 37, Collier, explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Johnson, W. T., 10 Mar 1902, 8.30 a.m., aged 16, Taker-off, Crushed by tub which ran uncontrolled down jig dip owing to the jig post coming out
						Jones, Edward, 16 Oct 1889, aged 30, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Jones, Richard, 16 Oct 1889, aged 24, Jigger, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Lawton, William, 16 Oct 1889, aged 18, Taker off, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Leake, Leslie, 21 Mar 1940, aged 16, Haulage hand, explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Lee, Joseph, 03 Jan 1892, (accident: 23 Dec 1891), aged 20, Loader, Struck on head by a temporary jig post coming out. Died 3rd January 1892
						Martin, James, 16 Jan 1912, (accident: 15 Jan 1912), aged 36, Collier, Deceased was engaged withdrawing timber in his working place in the Banbury seam, by means of a hammer, and on knocking out a prop from under a bar, a large piece of bass fell from two unseen slips in the roof, severely crushing him. He died on the following day. Instead of using a hammer he should have used a "Sylvester" pulling jack which was kept in the stall for the purpose of withdrawing timber
						Maughty, James E., 12 Nov 1952, aged 23, Face worker, Heavy roof fall [More information ...]
						Middleton, Arthur, 21 Mar 1940, aged 54, Collier, explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Moffatt, John, 16 Oct 1889, Contractor, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Moore, John Bailey, 16 Oct 1889, aged 31, Contractor, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Newbon, Stanley, 05 Oct 1954, aged 32, Mechanic, Struck by steel rope on coalface
						Parsons, Ronald, 19 Feb 1953, aged 29, Face worker, Killed by a fall of coal
						Perry, Daniel, 23 Jan 1885, aged 60, Collier, Fall of ground
						Porter, Richard, 21 Mar 1940, aged 27, Collier, explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Porter, Roland, 21 Mar 1940, aged 55, Collier, explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Price, Evan, 16 Oct 1889, aged 27, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Prout, Kenneth H., 07 Dec 1962, aged 55, Deputy, Crushed by empty tub
						Radcliffe, George, 16 Oct 1889, aged 32, Roadman, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Ratcliffe, William Arthur, 21 Mar 1940, aged 33, Haulage hand, explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Rowe, Thomas William, 24 Mar 1958, Face worker, Killed by a fall of roof
						Rushton, Charles, 21 Mar 1940, aged 25, Loader, explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Rutter, Sydney, 16 Oct 1889, aged 37, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Salt, George, 16 Oct 1889, aged 42, Horsekeeper, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Salter, William, 16 Oct 1889, aged 50, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Sellars, Herbert, 16 Oct 1889, aged 37, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Shaw, Francis Malbon, 16 Oct 1889, aged 21, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Shenton, John, 16 Oct 1889, aged 15, Horse Driver, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Sherwin, Charles, 16 Oct 1889, aged 21, Taker off, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Sherwin, Samuel, 16 Oct 1889, aged 18, Horse Driver, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Sherwin, Thomas, 16 Oct 1889, aged 25, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Smith, Benjamin L., 16 Oct 1889, aged 33, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Smith, John, 16 Oct 1889, aged 18, Jigger, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Smith, William, 16 Oct 1889, aged 16, Horse Driver, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Steele, George, 16 Oct 1889, aged 14, Horse Driver, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Steele, John, 16 Oct 1889, aged 16, Raker Down, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Symcox, Frank G., 28 Mar 1952, aged 31, Face worker, Blow from steel prop [date of inquest]
						Symes, Charles Henry, 24 Mar 1957, aged 37, Face worker, Crushed by cutter
						Tomlinson, John, 16 Oct 1889, aged 32, Collier, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Townshend, Edward, 16 Oct 1889, aged 30, Horse Driver, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Walker, Thomas, 16 Oct 1889, aged 25, Waggoner, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Wedgwood, Samuel, 16 Oct 1889, aged 28, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Whitehurst, Spencer, 16 Oct 1889, aged 24, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Williams, John, 16 Oct 1889, aged 16, Horse Driver, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Willson, George, 16 Oct 1889, aged 27, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Wood, Henry, 16 Oct 1889, aged 20, Loader, Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]
						Wood, James Mathew, 21 Mar 1940, aged 59, Collier, explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion [More information ...]

						102 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.

For those names marked the text of the Mines Inspectors report into the incident is available online. Click on the icon to display the report.

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.

more information on some of the fatalities shown above

Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)

a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Mossfield Colliery

list of collieries/pits etc. near to Mossfield Colliery

Credits

Sources:

1883 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4078), North Staffordshire District by Thomas Wynne, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1889 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6015), North Staffordshire District (No. 10) by W. N. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1892 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6986), Yorkshire and Lincolnshire District (No. 5) by Frank N. Wardell, 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
1902 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1590), Stafford District (No. 9) by W. N. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1904 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2506), Stafford District (No. 9) by W. N. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1905 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1907 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 4045), Stafford District (No. 9) by Hugh Johnstone, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1910 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1910 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 5676), Midland and Southern District (No. 8) by Hugh Johnstone, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1912 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 6983), Midland and Southern District (No. 8) by Hugh Johnstone, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1914 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 8023), Midland and Southern Division (No. 6) by Hugh Johnstone, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
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
1933 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
1940 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
1947 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
OS Grid Reference from Adit Now website