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  Woolley Colliery  Index  Woolley Colliery  
/ Index \

Woolley Colliery


  Summary Description Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Location: Darton, nr. Barnsley
3½ miles [6 km] NNW of Barnsley
Map Ref: (Sheet 110 Sheffield and Huddersfield, 111 Sheffield and Doncaster) SE322117, 53° 36' 3" N, 1° 30' 46" W
Opened:
Closed:
Sinking Started: 1869
Owners: Fountain and Burnley Ltd.
1947 - National Coal Board (N.C.B.)
Output: 1894 - Barnsley - Coal: Household, Steam.
1894 - Beamshaw - Coal: Household, Steam.
1896 - Barnsley - Coal: Household, Steam.
1896 - Beamshaw - Coal: Household, Steam.
1900 - Barnsley - Coal: Household, Steam.
1900 - Beamshaw - Coal: Household, Steam.
1905 - Barnsley - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household, Steam.
1905 - Beamshaw - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household. Alum shale.
1910 - Barnsley - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household, Steam.
1910 - Beamshaw - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household. Alum shale.
1915 - Barnsley - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household, Steam.
1915 - Beamshaw - Coal: Coking, Gas, Household.
1947 - Coal: Gas, Household, Steam. (679,000 tons)
1954 - Coal: Gas, Household, Steam.
Employment: 1894 - Barnsley - 588 (448 below, 140 surface)
1894 - Beamshaw - 93 (77 below, 16 surface)
1896 - Barnsley - 594 (470 below, 124 surface)
1896 - Beamshaw - 164 (145 below, 19 surface)
1900 - Barnsley - 607 (483 below, 124 surface)
1900 - Beamshaw - 138 (110 below, 28 surface)
1905 - Barnsley - 779 (635 below, 144 surface)
1905 - Beamshaw - 161 (135 below, 26 surface)
1910 - Barnsley - 780 (616 below, 164 surface)
1910 - Barnsley - 29 (17 below, 12 surface) [Sinking]
1910 - Beamshaw - 192 (162 below, 30 surface)
1915 - 189 (160 below, 29 surface)
1915 - Barnsley - 512 (382 below, 130 surface)
1915 - Beamshaw - 177 (126 below, 51 surface)
1923 - Wooley - 450 (336 below, 114 surface)
1923 - Wooley - 3
1923 - Wooley - 153 (120 below, 33 surface)
1923 - Wooley - 883 (756 below, 127 surface)
1933 - 242 (190 below, 52 surface)
1933 - Parkgate - 2,838 (2,225 below, 613 surface)
1940 - 2,300
1947 - 2,300
1954 - 2,277 (1,781 below, 496 surface)
Seams Worked: 1905 - Barnsley - Barnsley
1905 - Beamshaw - Beamshaw, Winter
1910 - Barnsley - Barnsley
1910 - Barnsley - Haigh Moor, Parkgate, Silkstone [Sinking]
1910 - Beamshaw - Beamshaw, Winter
1915 - Haigh Moor, Parkgate, Silkstone (Sinking)
1915 - Barnsley - Barnsley
1915 - Beamshaw - Beamshaw, Winter
1954 - Blocking, Parkgate, Silkstone, Thorncliffe
Notes:

Current Status - Page under construction! and is far, far from complete!



  Description Summary Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

Description

Woolley, Darton, Nr. Barnsley: First established 1869; working Barnsley seam from outcrop. Shafts to lower seams 1912, two additional shafts 1942 and 1959/1961; the latter the deepest at 613 yds. and providing ventilation for all seams sited about one mile from the pit. Two coal-winding shafts (Nos. 2 and 3) fitted with skips; capable of drawing 620 tons an hour; 2,000 men prod. 846,000 tons from Lidgett. Fenton. Thorncliffe and Sllkstone. The whole of the production is mechanised, including a proportion by R.O.L.F. (Remotely Operated Longwall Face).

NCB Leaflet: Coal in Barnsley Area, published 1967


  Disasters Summary Description Names Local Collieries Credits  

Disasters (5 or more killed)

None Found


  Names Summary Description Disasters Local Collieries Credits  

Names of those killed at this colliery

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

In Memoriam
  Individal page   

Anderson, J., 23 Jan 1880, aged 52, Engineman, Crushed by machinery

  Individal page   

Baddeley, Herbert, Feb 1935, Manager, died from his inuries after an explosion

  Individal page   

Baldwin, J., 22 Mar 1870, aged 32, Collier, Fall of coal

  Individal page   

Ball, Jacob, 02 Apr 1869, aged 25, Collier, Fall of coal

  Individal page   

Bennett, John Thomas, 18 Dec 1912, aged 46, Ripper and Packer, He was caught by a fall of roof and side (about 2 cwts.) whilst he was engaged pulling a piece of side off the opposite side of the roadway. The fall was probably due to a weight

  Individal page   

Birkenshaw, J., 10 Jun 1887, aged 26, Dataller, Fall of roof

  Individal page   

Brailsford, H., 13 Aug 1935, aged 29, Ripper, killed by a fall of roof

  Individal page   

Bristoe, Richard, 26 Jul 1869, aged 35, Hurrier, Fall of roof

  Individal page   

Brockhouse, W., 11 Mar 1897, (accident: 10 Mar 1897), aged 16, Driver, While riding on corves on inclined plane. Died 11th March

  Individal page   

Brooks, Willam, 23 Jan 1883, aged 14

  Individal page   

Brown, H., 21 Aug 1897, aged 28, Collier, Fall of roof

  Individal page   

Butler, J., 13 Dec 1897, aged 42, Collier, Fall of side

  Individal page   

Campbell, J., 16 Oct 1884, (accident: 29 Sep 1884), aged 14, Driver, Fall of side ; died 16th October

  Individal page   

Chadwick, John, 26 Jan 1903, aged 30, Collier, Fall of roof in a long wall face. Cause — four slips

  Individal page   

Charlesworth, Thomas, 29 Mar 1857, Falling down the screens

  Individal page   

Creede, Arthur, 10 Jan 1902, aged 23, Driver, Killed by fall of roof in a roadway, Cause — a slip

  Individal page   

Cromack, Benjamin, 29 Nov 1860, Falling down the shaft [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Dearnley, G., 22 Dec 1898, (accident: 13 Dec 1898), aged 15, Driver, Fall of roof. Died 22nd December

  Individal page   

Edwards, Edward, 12 Nov 1873, Collier, Fall of roof

  Individal page   

Flannagan, John, 09 Sep 1924, 12.12 p.m., 7th hour of shift, aged 42, Erector, An engine driver, a shunter, and a contractor's man, who was illegally riding, were in the cab of a locomotive holding down a train of 12 empty wagons on an incline of 1 in 24. Partly owing to a heavy shower of rain the train got out of control and crashed into an empty wagon at the foot of the incline. The engine driver jumped off immediately before the collision. The other two men received such injuries that they both died within a few hours. The shunter would probably have jumped off and saved himself, but the other man, apparently afraid to jump, prevented him from doing so. The accident was due primarily to the presence of the third man on the engine who prevented the shunter getting off early enough to brake the wagons, and to the train being too large for the engine to hold under the conditions prevailing. There was no engine defect [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Frost, Frederick, 13 Mar 1902, aged 16, Pony driver, Fall of roof in a roadway along which he was driving. Cause — a slip

  Individal page   

Gallagher, J., 10 Dec 1891, (accident: 04 Feb 1891), aged 43, Collier, Fall of stone. Died 10th Dec

  Individal page   

Gaunt, John, 25 Feb 1911, aged 42, Blacksmith, He was lowering a boiler into position with three other men, and had removed the chock from the bogey. The boiler slipped and crushed Gaunt against the side of the flue, killing him. The boiler ought to have been wedged to prevent it moving

  Individal page   

Gee, Peter, 13 Apr 1871, aged 24, Collier, Fall of roof

  Individal page   

Green, Arthur Joseph, 09 Sep 1924, 12.12 p.m., 7th hour of shift, aged 33, Shunter, An engine driver, a shunter, and a contractor's man, who was illegally riding, were in the cab of a locomotive holding down a train of 12 empty wagons on an incline of 1 in 24. Partly owing to a heavy shower of rain the train got out of control and crashed into an empty wagon at the foot of the incline. The engine driver jumped off immediately before the collision. The other two men received such injuries that they both died within a few hours. The shunter would probably have jumped off and saved himself, but the other man, apparently afraid to jump, prevented him from doing so. The accident was due primarily to the presence of the third man on the engine who prevented the shunter getting off early enough to brake the wagons, and to the train being too large for the engine to hold under the conditions prevailing. There was no engine defect [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Green, C., 12 Mar 1903, aged 17, Driver, Fall of roof in a roadway along which he was driving. Cause — a smooth parting

  Individal page   

Hardy, W., 12 Jan 1894, aged 51, Byeworker, Fall of stone

  Individal page   

Hartley, George, 26 May 1924, 12.30 p.m., 7th hour of shift, aged 23, Trammer, Killed by a fall of roof [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Hartley, Ronald, 13 Jun 1924, 4.30 p.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 16, Pony Driver, He was proceeding along a level with his pony and a run of empty tubs when a piece of stone fell from the roof and caught him. He was riding in the first tub and had been leaning over it, and so was crushed between the stone and the tub. The level was not supported. The fall disclosed a break in the roof

  Individal page   

Hewitt, Joseph, 25 Feb 1909, (accident: 15 Jul 1908), aged 32, Collier, Fall of roof. He was working at the face when a thin layer of stone fell from the roof from an unexpected parting. His spine was fractured, but he lingered until 25th February, 1909

  Individal page CMHRC 

Howarth, George, 13 Feb 1915, aged 31, Shaftsman, He and another descended new shaft to High Main level to depth of 20 yards in a cradle and removed centre boards to a platform in order to allow passage for a water carrier to shaft 340 yards below. He went a few yards away and on his return fell to bottom between boards

  Individal page   

Howcroft, Charles, 24 Jul 1906, aged 31, Collier, These men were ripping a new level and walling one at each side of the road. One was using a pick and the other wedging, when suddenly the roof fell out of a very large "pot-hole" and killed them both on the spot [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Hushcroft, John Henry, 08 Mar 1905, aged 17, Trammer, When taking a full tub to the pass-bye a fall of roof occurred in the main level and buried him, and while the deputy and others were attempting to liberate him a second fall occurred and killed him. The roof is a very bad one and wet, and the first fall displaced two bars

  Individal page   

Jones, William, 27 Mar 1867, Collier, Fall of roof

  Individal page   

Keithley, Thomas, 21 Apr 1864, Fall of coal in the mine

  Individal page   

Leek, C., 07 Oct 1868, aged 48, Byeworkman, Run over by tubs

  Individal page   

Litherland, W., 04 Jan 1873, aged 33, Shaftsman, When working on a scaffold in the shaft the crab-rope broke, and they fell to the bottom [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Lloyd, R., 19 Nov 1874, aged 50, Collier, Fall of roof

  Individal page   

McGowan, John, 12 Oct 1929, aged 14, head and chest crushed by some empty tubs, died from his injuries in Barnsley Beckett Hospital ; residence: Myers Square, Worsborough Bridge

  Individal page   

Mellor, G., 30 Jan 1897, Bye-workman, On the 30th January, G. Mellor, a bye-workman at Wooley Colliery, died in the pit from natural causes [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

  Individal page   

Morgan, John, 09 Dec 1871, aged 22, Bye-workman, Crushed by wheel at end of engine plane [More information ...]

  Individal page CMHRC 

Morton, Clifford, 18 Sep 1933, aged 15, Haulage hand, It was his duty to remove empty tubs after they had been uncoupled from set and push them under loading end of overhead belt conveyor — attempted to uncouple end set while tub was being lowered slowly and was bending between them when his head was crushed

  Individal page   

Ovenden, D., 25 Sep 1886, (accident: 13 Sep 1886), aged 60, Collier, Fall of coal. Died 25th Sept

  Individal page   

Parish, A., 31 Dec 1891, aged 22, Collier, Fall of roof [More information ...]

  Individal page CMHRC 

Parkin, John Kaye, 28 Jan 1919, aged 68, Collier, Said to have been struck on shoulder by a fall while getting coal. No witnesses and he was underneath it

  Individal page   

Parrish, -, Dec 1889, A man named Parrish died in December, and it was alleged that he had received injuries in Woolley Colliery, near Barnsley. The injuries occurred many years ago, and the jury at the inquest returned a verdict that death was from the effects of injury many years ago, but there was no evidence to show the circumstances [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

  Individal page   

Pickles, Aaron, 15 May 1862, Falling down sinking shaft

  Individal page   

Proberds, J., 27 Oct 1885, aged 14, Driver, Fall of roof

  Individal page   

Roberts, Thomas, 13 May 1870, aged 50, Collier, Fall of coal

  Individal page   

Robinson, G., 04 Jan 1873, aged 37, Shaftsman, When working on a scaffold in the shaft the crab-rope broke, and they fell to the bottom [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Rowley, G., 31 Dec 1891, aged 22, Trammer, Fall of roof [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Senior, Tom, 24 Jul 1906, aged 43, Collier, These men were ripping a new level and walling one at each side of the road. One was using a pick and the other wedging, when suddenly the roof fell out of a very large "pot-hole" and killed them both on the spot [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Shaw, Roland, 20 Apr 1909, aged 52, Collier, Fall of roof. A small piece of stone fell from the roof upon him. He complained of pain but worked for the rest of the shift. He rested a day and then worked a day, but as the pain continued he consulted a doctor. Pneumonia supervened and he died. A post-mortem examination showed that one of his ribs was broken

  Individal page   

Slack, J., 02 Jan 1896, aged 55, Collier, Fall of side

  Individal page   

Slater, William, 21 May 1859, Crushed by a steam engine [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Smith, Joseph, 10 Sep 1863, Fall of roof in the mine

  Individal page   

Smith, William, 19 Jun 1878, aged 60, Collier, Fall of roof

  Individal page   

Speight, Walter, 27 Jun 1912, (accident: 10 Jun 1912), aged 31, Miner, He had holed a length of about 6½ feet to a depth of about 1 foot under the roof coal, and had set one sprag 1 foot 6 inches from the open end of the holing, when the undercut coal fell upon him, fracturing his spine. An additional sprag should have been set. He died on the 27 June

  Individal page   

Staley, William, 14 Nov 1878, (accident: 13 Nov 1878), aged 50, Collier, Fall of roof ; died 14th November

  Individal page   

Standish, D., 17 Sep 1892, (accident: 16 Sep 1892, 1.40 p.m., 8th hour of shift), aged 27, Labourer, Burnt in chimney flue ; died 17th

  Individal page   

Stephenson, Frank, 08 Oct 1924, 6.15 a.m., 1st hour of shift, aged 14, Screen Boy, He was employed picking dirt from coal as it passed over a delivery belt into wagons. During a short stoppage of the machinery to allow another wagon to be put under the belt, deceased climbed on to the delivery belt and through a fence up to the main belt, 5 ft. above. When the machinery started his leg slipped into a gear wheel driving the belt and was torn off. Death ensued 12 hours later. The boy should not have climbed through the fence

  Individal page   

Sunderland, P., 08 Aug 1889, aged 15, Engineman, Caught between arms of drum whilst examining [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Swallow, John, 23 Feb 1889, aged 13, Driver, Bar fell on him while riding on corfe [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Taylor, David, 04 Jan 1873, aged 33, Shaftsman, When working on a scaffold in the shaft the crab-rope broke, and they fell to the bottom [More information ...]

  Individal page   

Taylor, John, 07 May 1909, aged 30, Ripper and Packer, Fall of roof. He and two other men were repairing and enlarging a roadway. One of the men knocked out a bar with a hammer, and Taylor was fatally injured by the fall of roof which followed. Proper timber drawing appliances should have been used

  Individal page   

Thickett, W., 27 May 1895, aged 23, Water leader

  Individal page   

Wakelin, John, 05 Aug 1932, aged 71, by tubs on an incline

  Individal page   

Whittaker, Joseph, 31 Aug 1869, aged 38, Collier, Fall of roof

 
  68 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 image, have a web page providing individual details of the accident, the page may also include a photograph of the deceased. Click on the image 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 image. The CMHRC is available here.

More information  more information on some of the fatalities shown above


  Local Collieries Summary Description Disasters Names Credits  

Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)

Colliery Map  a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Woolley Colliery

Nearby Collieries  list of collieries/pits etc. near to Woolley Colliery


  Credits Summary Description Disasters Names Local Collieries  

Credits

Sources:

  • 1857 Mines Inspectors Report, by Charles Morton, H.M. Inspector of Mines
  • 1859 Mines Inspectors Report, Yorkshire District by Charles Morton, H.M. Inspector of Mines
  • 1860 Mines Inspectors Report, Yorkshire District, by Charles Morton, H.M. Inspector of Mines
  • 1863 Mines Inspectors Report, by Charles Morton, H.M. Inspector of Mines
  • 1864 Mines Inspectors Report, by Charles Morton, H.M. Inspector of Mines
  • 1868 Mines Inspectors Report, Yorkshire District by Frank N. Wardell, H.M. Inspector of Mines
  • 1869 Mines Inspectors Report (C 124), Yorkshire District by Frank N. Wardell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1871 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 653), Yorkshire and Lincolnshire District by Frank N. Wardell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1873 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 1056), Yorkshire and Lincolnshire District by Frank N. Wardell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1878 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2321), Yorkshire and Lincolnshire District by Frank N. Wardell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1884 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4429), Yorkshire and Lincolnshire District by Frank N. Wardell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1889 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6015), Yorkshire and Lincolnshire District (No. 5) by Frank N. Wardell, 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
  • 1896 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8450), York and Lincoln District (No. 5) by Frank N. Wardell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1897 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8819), York and Lincoln District (No. 5) by Frank N. Wardell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1898 Mines Inspectors Report (C 9264), York and Lincoln District (No. 5) by Frank N. Wardell, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1900 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
  • 1902 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1590), York and Lincoln District (No. 5) by W. H. Pickering, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1903 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2119), York and Lincoln District (No. 5) by W. H. Pickering, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1905 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
  • 1905 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2910), York and Lincoln District (No. 5) by W. H. Pickering, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1906 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 3449), York and Lincoln District (No. 5) by W. Walker, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1909 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 5177), York and Lincoln District (No. 5) by W. H. Pickering, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1910 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
  • 1911 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 6237), Yorkshire and North Midland District (No. 4) by W. H. Pickering, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
  • 1912 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 6983), Yorkshire and North Midland District (No. 4) by Thomas H. Mottram, 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
  • 1924 Mines Inspectors Report, Yorkshire Division (No. 3) by H. M. Hudspeth, H.M. Inspector of Mines [DMM Ref: L-01624 - Tom Bainbridge Collection]
  • 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
  • 1954 Guide to the Coalfields published by the Colliery Guardian

  Summary Description Disasters Names Local Collieries Credits  

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