Writhlington Colliery

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Drewitt, James, 01 Jan 1909, aged 50, Examiner, Knocked down by and crushed under full tubs of rubbish in No. 2 South Rock Vein Self-acting Incline, while on his way to examine another part of his district before the day shift. He omitted to get into a manhole, which the boy accompanying him did. Manholes were provided at less than 10 yards apart. They were in good order, and well whitewashed under his own supervision. He must in some way have misjudged the position of the journey, although his sight and hearing appear to have been all right

Durbin, H. J., 04 Apr 1883, aged 14, Carting boy, He was bringing a tram down a slight incline ; the custom was to use three sprags. On this occasion he tried to take it down without any, and it overpowered him

Ford, William, 11 Jun 1902, aged 30, Repairer, When ripping the top and clearing the road at the bottom of the pumping pit, to increase the size of the standage, a large stone about 8 yards long fell. It was liberated from a slip which was, apparently invisible at the time. Another repairer was trying to wedge it down from the inside, under the impression that it was very strong and could only be got down in pieces [More information ...]

Hobbs, Joseph, 11 Mar 1882, (accident: 24 Feb 1882), aged 67, Collier, He was on the top deck of the cage when it reached the bottom of the shaft he stepped off thinking he was on the lower deck, and fractured his ribs by falling on to the flat sheets. He died on the 11th March

Horler, Frederick John, 29 Jul 1885, aged 13, Carting boy, He was employed with his father in stowing rubbish on an incline, he went with his father's knowledge and pulled a full cart over the bank head and it over overpowered him and the empty cart coining up crushed him. The man in charge of the incline was censured

Hunt, William James, 10 May 1924, (accident: 07 May 1924, 9.45 a.m., 3rd hour of shift), aged 46, Coal Getter, Deceased was engaged in getting down some "badger" or clod over the coal, which had been benched. He withdrew the sprags and successfully dropped the clod on his rise side, but a piece of clod "as big as his head" was released by the above operation, and struck him on the side. Peritonitis supervened two days after and an operation being performed it was found that the bowel had been perforated. He died the day after the operation

Latcham, James, 29 Nov 1904, aged 45, Collier, James Latcham, 45, collier, died on the 29th November from apoplexy supervening on an epileptic convulsion which he had when at work at Writhlington Colliery on the previous day. [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Masters, James, 18 Jan 1871, aged 56, Collier, Coming to his work on a very dark morning he walked into the engine water pond and was drowned ; the pool should heve been fenced

Nicholls, Alfred, 02 Dec 1895, aged 40, Horsekeeper, Apparently endeavouring to put a strap on a drive pulley for an oats crushing machine he become entangled with the shaft, which was revolving about 100 times per minute near the ceiling

Nineham, Henry, 07 Dec 1903, aged 25, Collier, When holing on the top of the coal he exposed a slip, and as there was already another one running close to the face, they released a large stone which fell and crushed him

Nokes, George, 11 Jun 1902, aged 45, Repairer, When ripping the top and clearing the road at the bottom of the pumping pit, to increase the size of the standage, a large stone about 8 yards long fell. It was liberated from a slip which was, apparently invisible at the time. Another repairer was trying to wedge it down from the inside, under the impression that it was very strong and could only be got down in pieces [More information ...]

Plumber, Robert, 02 Mar 1853, aged 51, Roadman, Fall of roof in heading

Pointing, Alfred, 31 Jul 1854, aged 13, Collier, Fell down underground pit, from windlass slipping

Ruddick, Ted, 14 Jan 1904, aged 18, Assistant Carter, A carting boy or putter, who was in front pulling a cart or tub up a rather steep stall road or topple, slipped and the gusset chain or tugger became detached, whereupon the tub overpowered deceased who was pushing up behind, it carried him before it in its descent and crushed him fatally against the lower side of the level

Salmon, James, 14 Oct 1870, aged 15, Carpenter, Overwhelmed by trams on surface incline

Taylor, J., 21 Jan 1876, aged 40, Hitcher, Fell down shaft [More information ...]

Veal, G., 16 Sep 1881, aged 27, Collier, Fall of stone. It had been tried shortly before and sounded safe

Ward, Edward, 23 Sep 1905, Under-bailiff, Edward Ward, under-bailiff, at Writhlington Colliery, died suddenly on the 23rd September from "natural causes" when on his way home from the colliery [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Witcombe, James, 23 Nov 1860, aged 14, Carting boy, Heavy fall of stone from roof

Young, Albert William, 16 Dec 1937, aged 23, Carting boy, fell out of the cage whilst ascending the shaft