Lundhill Colliery Disaster

Date: [unknown]
Location: Wombwell, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England
Surnames/tags: Mining Disasters England Disasters

Worldwide Disasters | Mining Disasters | England Mining Disasters Yorkshire Mining Disasters |Lundhill Colliery, Barnsley, Yorkshire, 1857

Contact: TBC

Contents 1 History and Circumstances 2 Rescue Effort & Rescuers 3 Others Involved/Supporters and the Aftermath 4 Disaster Memorial 5 Sources

History and Circumstances

• Date: 19 February 1857
• Location: Lundhill Colliery, Wombwell, Yorkshire, England
• Victims: 189 lives lost
• Cause: Colliery Explosion

Area Histrory

Lundhill was a small mining settlement situated in the heart of Yorkshire's Dearne Valley between the town of Wombwell and the village of Hemmingfield with Barnsley to the north and Rotherham to the south. Wombwell and the surrounding villages had a small population and was mainly a faming community prior to the opening of Lundhill Colliery which was sunk in 1855. The pits however boosted the local economy and its population grew significantly.

The cottages at Lundhill were built in the 1850s to house the miners working at Lundhill Colliery and their families. There does not appear of be any evidence of the existence of a significant settlement at Lundhill in the 1851 census. By the time of the 1861 census there had been a major change, not only in Lundhill, but in the surrounding towns and villages as the mining industry developed and people moved into the area for work.

The 1861 census lists five cottages at Lundhill Top, and fifty cottages on Lundhill Row. Also listed is Lundhill Tavern (The only building remains standing today at Lundhill) and the Lundhill Colliery Office, which appears to be also the home of a family. Some of the families living at Lundhill in 1861 had moved there from the surrounding villages, but many others were new to the area. The census shows families that had moved from the coal mining areas of Lancashire, Durham and the Midlands and also from the rural county of Lincolnshire. They had all come to find work at the coal mine.

There was hardy a family living in Lundhill that did not loose at least one loved one in the explosion that occurred at Lundhill Colliery on 19 February 1857 that killed 189 men, left 90 widows and 220 children without fathers. A newspaper report in the Leeds Intelligencer (28 February 1857) states:

In the row of 50 houses standing about 50 or 60 yards from the works 91 of the late residents now lie in the pit, whilst the houses are tenanted by no less that 40 suddenly made widows.

In 1861 several widows were still living on Lundhill Row.

The miners cottages at Lundhill were demolished in the 1960s.

Mine History

Lundhill Colliery was owned by Messrs Taylor and Co. The pit was sunk in 1855, and therefore was newly established at the time of explosion. By 1857 it was one of the largest and deepest pits in Yorkshire. The Barnsley seam of coal, which was 200 yards from the surface, was won around the time of the disaster, after two years sinking, The colliery had three shafts, one for pumping out water, one for drawing coal and a third, used as a funace shaft to aid the ventilation

The colliery company employed roughly 290 men and boys, of which about two/thirds worked the day shift. It was one of the areas biggest employers. In 1857 many of the miners and their families had recently moved into the area to work at the colliery, which was known to be dangerous to work in.

Work continued at Lundhill until the 1890s, when the colliery was closed by the then owners, the Wombwell Main company, who found it more practicable and convenient to wind the coal from near by Wombwell Main Colliery.

Mine Disaster Circumstances

On 19 February 1857, around 220 miners ranging from 10 to 59 years old were working underground at Lundhill Colliery. Around 12.20pm there was a violent explosion in the mine that sent flames up the pit shaft and shook the countryside for miles around. The explosion was so powerful that one of the cages was blown up and out its shaft, and a large amount of smoke, dust and fire arose from another shaft and was visible from miles away.

At this time most of the men would have been eating their snap (lunch) in the mine, but a fortunate few would have left the mine to go home for their meal. It is believed that most of the men who were underground were killed instantly by the explosion or by the roof of the mine caving in.

There was damage on the surface too. Doors were shattered and some of the roofs collapsed, the furnace was destroyed and the stables caught fire. Coal that was being moved out of the mine ignited and caused the fire to spread.

Due to the presence of gas in the mine, there was a serious threat that a second and even bigger explosion would occur. In spite of this threat, a group of rescue workers which consisted of volunteers descended the mine later that day. They brought 19 survivors from the mine, but two of these later died from their burns. The search was stopped at 7.30pm when it was clear that there were no more survivors to be rescued.

During this time the fires continued to burn and fire brigades from the surrounding areas attended but failed to extinguish the flames which were said to be rising almost 100 feet from one of the shafts.

The following morning, it was decided to cap the first and second shaft with planks and clay. This tactic seemed to work as the flames died down, but thick black smoke still arose from the third shaft which was left open. As no one could have survived a decision was made to put out the fire by diverting a nearby stream to flood the mine. This however made it impossible to recover the bodies until the mine was drained again.

It was two months after the explosion on 17 April 1857, that the mine was finally drained and the recovery of bodies began. The recovered bodies were all placed in coffins and lined up in the yard to be identified by loved ones. Most of the bodies were badly burned or mutilated, in a state of decomposition and were thereby unrecognizable. They were identified by their clothing and by the places in which they were found, which were assumed to be the places where they would usually be working. By 22 May, 100 bodies had been recovered, the others were being dug out from under the collapsed roof. The corpses of horses down the mine slowed down the recovery process. The last body was recovered on 16 July 1857, five months after the explosion. In total 185 bodies were recovered, others could not be traced and the search was abandoned.

it was later found out that most men died in the explosion, but that a large number of the victims were also killed by suffocation.

Lundhill Colliery Explosion

Investigation Report

Following the accident, an investigation was opened on 23 February 1857 at the near by Bulls Head Inn at Brampton and continued over a three month period. The coroner was Mr. Thomas Badger. The jury interviewed 60 witnesses including survivors and men who had worked in the mine in the days before the disaster. The conclusion was that the explosion was caused by a number of factors. The mine was not well ventilated which meant that any gas like firedamp (methane) could have built up without anyone noticing. The safety rules were ignored and "brattices" were not erected as frequently as they ought to have been because the men did not like them, as the air current they created "wasted" their candles. When safety lamps were used some workers would remove the protective gauze and open the lamps to give a better light. The workers did not understand that a weak flame was evidence that the mine was not properly ventilated. The candles that the workers used also meant that there were open flames in the mine. The jury concluded that there was not enough evidence to pinpoint the real cause of the explosion. It was assumed that the bad ventilation built up a high amount of flammable gas and that that gas was ignited by the workers' candles. It was, therefore, viewed as an accident and not as criminal negligence. They did, however, condemn the lack of discipline and the non-observance of the special rules, but didn't blame the colliery proprietors for the loss of discipline.

The following recommendations were made:

that good Davy lamps should be used exclusively

that the return air of the pit should not be carried over the furnace so as to come in contact with it

that goaves should not be formed so near the furnace

that a discretion should not be given to the miners with regard to the use of safety lamps

that discipline should be rigidly enforced ;

that means should be adopted for educating the miners, and fitting them for working amid dangers.

Rescue Effort & Rescuers

After the explosion, a rescue party lead by Mr. Coe (Steward of Messrs Taylor and Co.), Mr. Webster (of Wombwell Main Colliery), Mr. Maddison (of the Hoyland and Elsecar Pits), Mr. Utley and Mr. Ellison entered the mine.

They spent almost two hours in burning mine causing great anxiety on the surface.

Mr. Webster gave an account of what happened during their time in the mine to a group of officials deciding on a course of action, and to the press.

Once underground the party made their way to the south for about 300 yards. The did all that was possible to make good the doors and stoppings that had been blown out, in order to partially to restore the ventilation. They found that the lower portion of the slides and broadgates were entirely destroyed, the furnace had blown up and coal around it was on fire. They proceeded as far as the dared to venture until they came in contact with foul air and were forced to retreat.

They returned to the shaft, before making an examination of the north levels, along which they proceeded for about 400 yards. During the investigation, they found many dead bodies and brought the remains to the shaft. One man was found dead close to the bottom of the shaft; further on they found ten bodies in a mass. Not far from the furnace a large number of bodies were lying, as the men had congregated near the fire at dinner time. The stables, which contained six horses, were on fire. In places coal and rock were falling.

When they again returned to the shaft the fires were burning more fiercely and there was a great danger. They decided it was no longer safe to remain underground and so left the mine as quickly as possible.

One of the rescue party later stated that a man named Joseph Simmonds was found alive by the party and they had tried to bring him out of the mine. He had, however, broke away from them, and rushed towards one of the workings. He was caught a second time and was thought to be in a state of delirium from the gas he had inhaled. He had struggled with superhuman strength and made off into a part of the workings where it was not safe for them to follow him. They had had to leave him in the pit.

Others Involved/Supporters and the Aftermath

The tragedy left 90 women widows and 220 children orphaned.

This disaster caused interest throughout the nation. At the time it was the biggest mining disaster that had ever occurred in England. There are many newspaper reports from the time.

The scene of the disaster attracted visitors from all over the country and for a time the site became a "Tourist Attraction". The Illustrated London News (28 February 1857) printed a graphic account of what occurred in the days following the disaster:

Every train today has brought a large number of “excursionists”, who by their conduct seemed bound to a fair or country fete rather than visitors to the scene of a frightful calamity. Each road leading to the pit was covered with throngs of people, dotting the highway for miles in every direction; and the immediate neighborhood of the works could only be compared to Greenwich Hill on a Sunday. At two o’clock there were from 10,000 to 15,000 persons on the spot, and few indeed were those who appeared to think they were standing immediately over the bodies of nearly 200 human beings. In the dense crowd before them, the loud laugh and jest were heard incessantly. It is true there was little to indicate what had taken place beyond a heap of rubbish and boards a few feet high over the cupola shaft, from which a white smoke was issuing in small quantity; but the larger part of the crowd were neighboring pitmen, pitmen’s wives and children; and it is difficult to understand the callousness of their conduct, contrasted with that of a few grouped round an individual who was “improving the occasion”, their voices raised occasionally in hymns which swelled and murmured over the confused babble with an effect that may be imagined, but not described.

The whole nation shared the grief which was so intense that a special disaster fund was set up with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert making substantial donations. The local community worked particularly hard to provide for the destitute and bereaved widows and families of those killed in the explosion, making collections in public places such as railway stations and public houses.

The tragedy raised awareness of the dangerous conditions many miners were working in at that time and as a result many collieries improved the safety and working conditions for their employees.

Many of the people who were affected by the disaster told their story in later years.

Disaster Memorial

A memorial obelisk was built in the grounds of nearby Darfield Church where many of the victims were buried.

The Memorial Obelisk in Darfield Churchyard, Yorkshire.

There is now a 9 hole golf course on the site of the former Lundhill Colliery. To mark the 150th anniversary of the disaster, Wombwell Heritage Group organised for a new memorial to be placed at the Hillies Golf Club clubhouse. It was unveiled on 19th February 2007 by the then Mayor of Barnsley, Councilor Margaret Morgan.

Lundhill Disaster Memorial 19 February 2007

The plaque on this memorial

Sources

• Durham Mining Museum
• Wikipedia
• Mines Rescue
• Wombell-on-the-net
• Conisbrough and Denaby Local History
• www.findmypast.uk Newspaper Collection.
• UK census 1851
• UK census 1861
• Darfield Parish Records Doncaster Archives or Darfield All Saints Parish Records CD

Victims Name Details Sourced Bio Connected Category Abbott, Joseph Age 40 Married, 4 children Yes Yes Yes Samuel (Moss) Abbott Age 10, Step son of Joseph Abbott Yes Yes Yes Allenson, Joseph Age 23 Yes Yes Yes Backwood, Joseph Age 23, From Lundhill Bailey, Barnet Age 40 Married, 3 children Buried 2 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Bailey, George Age 14, Son of Barney Bailey. Buried 2 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Bailey, Michael Age 22 Baines, Michael Age 22, Lived at Hemingfield, Buried 31 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Ballye, Benjamin (Probably Benjamin Batty) Age 22 Lived at Lundhil, Buried on 6 June 1857 at Darfield Barraclough, Charles Age 22, Married, 1 child. Brother of Henry Barraclough. Lived at Lundhill. Buried 12 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Barraclough, Henry Age 26, Married with 2 children & 1 child born after his death. Brother of Charles Barraclough. Buried 12 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Barlow, James Age 29, Married, 2 children, Lived at Monk Bretton. Yes Yes Yes Yes Batty, Benjamin Age 22, Lived at Lundhill Beevers, Benjamin Age 23, Married, 3 children and one born after his death. Brother of Elijah Bevers, Buried 2 May 1857 at Gawber, Yorkshire" Yes Yes Yes Yes Beevers, Elijah Age 18. Brother of Benjamin Beevers. Buried 2 May 1857 at Gawber, Yorkshire Yes Yes Yes Yes Beevers, John Age 20. Lived at Wombwell. Buried 2 June 1857 at Darfield Blackburn, Joseph Age 11. Lived at Broomhill Booker or Brooker, Henry Age 22. Married, 2 child. Lived at hemingfield, Buried 31 May 1857 at Darfield Booker, John, Age 16. Lived at Hemingfield. Buried 31 May 1857 at Darfield Broadhead, Matthew Age 22 or 25. Buried18 July 1857 at Darfield. Was the last body recovered Brook, Joseph Age 58, Lived at Jump. Buried 10 May 1857 at Darfield Brown, George Age 18. Lived at Wombwell. Buried 9 May 1857 at Darfield Burland, Robert Age 20, Lived at West Melton. Buried 4 June 1857 at Brampton Bierlow Yes Yes Yes Yrs Burthard, James Age 21. Lived at Lundhill Bush, Dennis Age 22, Live at Lundhill, Buried 30 May 1857 at Darfield Candlett, William Age 18. Lived at Jump Yes Yes Yes Carr, John Age 41. Married. Lived at Wombwell, Buried 21 June 1857 at Darfield Childs, Joseph Age 23. Married. 1 child, Lived at Ardsley Childs, William Age 19. Lived at Ardsley Chisholm, Daniel Age 31. Lived at West Melton. Buried 6 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Clark, James Age 27 Coates, Charles Age 29, Married, 1 child, Brother of James Coates. Lived at Wombwell. Buried 27 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Coates, James Age 34, Married. Brother of Charles Coates. Buried 3 July 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Cooper, John Age 11. Lived at West Melton Yes Yes Yes Yes Corbridge, Richard Age 27, Married, 5 children, Lived at Lundhill, Burried 6 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Cowen or Cowan, Matthew Age 15. Lived at Lundhill Crompton, Elijah Age 19. Lived at Lundhill Crossland, Joseph Age 32 or 33, Married. 5 children. Lived at Lundhill. Buried 12 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Cutt(s), George Age 16. Lived at Lundhill. Nephew and stepson of John Cutts, cousin of William and John Cutts. Buried 24 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Cutt(s), Sr., John Age 40. Married, 4 children. Father of William and John, uncle and stepfather of George, brother in law of William Illingworth. Lived at Lundhill. Buried 23 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Cutt(s), John Age 17. Married. Son of John Sr, brother of William Cutts, cousin of George Cutts. Buried 12 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Cutt(s), William Age 19. Son of John CuttsSr, brother of John Jnr, cousin of George Cutts. Buried6 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Dart, Philip Age 30. Married, 1 child. Buried 10 May 1857 at Darfield Dawson, Arthur Age 10 or 13. Lived at Hemingfiled. Buried 31 May 1857 at Darfield Dawson, George Age 26, Married, 1 child, Lived at West Melton. Buried 26 June 1857 at Brampton Bierlow Yes Yes Yes Yes Dawson, John Age 10. Lived at Hemingfield. Buried 1 May 1857 at Darfield Denton, John Age 39. Married. Buried 1 July 1857 at Darfield Denton, Thomas Age 18 or 19. Lived at Hemingfield. Buried 1 July 1857 at Darfield Depledge, Stephen Age 13. Lived at Wombwell. Buried 2 May 1857 Yes Yes Yes Yes Drury, James Age 10, Son of Thomas Drury. Lived at West Melton Yes Yes Yes Yes Drury, Thomas Age 32. Lived at West Melton Yes Yes Yea Yes Dunstan, Richard Age 33, Married, 4 children. Lived at Jump Dyson, George Age 19. Lived at Old Factory, Wath. Buried 25 June 1857 at Darfield Dyson, William Age 17. Lived at Ardsley Farmer, George Age 24, Married, 2 children, Lived at Broomhill. 21 June 1857 at Darfield Farmer, Thomas Age 26, Married, 2 children, Lived at Jump. Buried 19 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Faulks, Thomas Age 29, Lived at Lundhill Fletcher, Robert Age 55, Lived at Lundhill Foster, George Age 15 or 16, Lived at Old Factory, Wath. Buried 9 June 1857 at Darfield Frost, John Age 32, Married, 5 children, Lived at West Melton Garbutt, Edward Age 35, Married, 4 children, Father of John and William Garbutt, Buried 11 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yea Yes Garbutt, John Age 11, Son of Edward Garbutt, Buried 11 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Garbutt, William Age 17, Son of Edward Garbutt. Buried 11 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes George Gee) Age 25, Brother of Thomas Gee, Lived at Hemingfield. Buried 1 July 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Gee, Thomas Age 27, Brother of George Gee, Lived at Hemingfield. Buried 21 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Gill, George Age 49. Lived at Hemingfield. Buried 30 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Joseph Goodall Age 24, Married, 2 Children, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 7 June 1857 at Gawber Yes Yes Yes Yes Thomas Gray Age 22, Married, 1 child, Lived at West Melton. Yes Yes Yes Greenwood, William Age 24, Married, 1 child. Lived at Wombwell Grimshaw, John Age 32 or 35, Married 4 children, Lived at Wombwell, Buried 10 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Grimshaw, Joseph Age 42. Lived at Wombwell, Buried 6 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Guest, Benjamin Age 17, Lived at West Melton Haley, John Age 22, Lived at Broomhill, Buried 19 June 1857 at Darfield Halliday, John Age 20, Lived at Lundhill Hardfield, William Age 32 Harper, John Age 20, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 9 May 1857 at Darfield Harrison, Joseph Age 18, Lived at Wombwell, Buried 6 May 1857 at Darfield Hartley, Luke Age 20, Lived at Wombwell Hawcroft, Henry Age 22, Married, 2 children and 1 born after his death. Henry's 22 year old wife was the youngest widow and she was the last surviving widow. Buried 11 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Healey, John Age 22 Hearrison, Joseph Age 18 Helham, Joseph Age 24 Hellett, Thomas Age 39, Buried 22 June 1857 at Darfield Hellett, William Age 10. Buried 28 June 1857 at Darfield Hilton, Thomas Age 24. Married, 2 children. Lived at Lundhill Yes Yes Yes Yes Hobson, Israel Age 20, Married, Son of John Hobson. Yes Yes Yes Yes Hobson, John Married. Father of Israel Hobson. Yes Yes Yes Yes Hodgson, John Age31, Married. Buried 9 June 1857 at Darfield Horne or Home, Thomas Age 24. Lived at Lundhill. Buried 12 May 1857 at Darfield William Hosfield Age 32, Married, 3 children, Lived at Hemingfield, Buried 16 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Hough, George Lived at Wath. Howarth, David Age 29 or 30. Married, 1 child, Lived at Hemingfield, Buried 21 June 1857 at Darfield Howarth, Robert Age 25, Lived at Lundhill James Hunt Age 27, Married, 1 child, Brother of Samuel Hunt, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 6 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Samuel Hunt Age 32, Married, Brother of James Hunt, Buried 15 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Hutchinson, William Age 20. Lived at Lundhill Illingworth, Ezra Age 25. Married, 2 children, Lived at Lundhill Illingworth, John Age 10, Son of William Illingworth, Lived Lundhill, Buried 7 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Illingworth, William Age 32, Married, 5 children, Lived Lundhill. The only deputy who died, found without his head. Father of John Illingworth. Brother in law of John Cutt Sr. Buried 7 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Ives, James Age 19, Lived at Wombwell Jackson, Levi Age 44, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 8 May 1857 at Darfield James, Amos Age 30, Married, 4 children, Lived at West Melton, Buried 9 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Johnson, Benjamin Age 31, Married, 3 children, Lived at Worsborough Dale, Buried 21 May 1857 at Darfield Kellett, Charles Age 28 or 29, Married, 1 child, Brother of Richard, Thomas, & Joseph Kellet, Buried 6 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Kellett, Joseph Age 19, Brother of Charles, Richard, & Thomas Kellett. Lived at Wombwell. Yes Yes Yes Yes Kellett, Richard Age 11. Son of Kellett, Richard. Lived at Wombwelll. Buried 29 April 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Kellett, Richard Age 33 or 39, Married, 5 children, Brother of Charles, Thomas, & Joseph Kellett. Lived at Wombwell, Buried 18 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Kellett, Thomas Age 17, Son of Kellett, Richard, Lived at Lundhill, Yes Yes Yes Yes Kellett, Thomas Age 39, Brother of Charles, Richard & Joseph Kellett. Lived at Broomhill. Buried 21 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Kellett, William Age 10. Son of Kellett, Thomas, Lived at Broomhill. Yes Yes Yes Yes Kitchen, Thomas Age 28, Married, Lived at Broomhill. Buried 8 July 1857 at Darfield Knowles, Edmund or Edward Age 30. Lived at Hemingfield. Buried 8 May 1857 at Darfield George Law Age 39, Brother of Sampson Law. Lived at West Melton Yes Yes Yes Yes Sampson Law Age 21, Brother of George Law. Lived at West Melton Yes Yes Yes Yes Litchfield, James Age 26, Married, 1 Child, Brother of William Lived at Jump, Buried 18 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Litchfield, Thomas Age 22, Lived at Jump. Buried 28 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Litchfield, William Age 11, Brother of James Litchfield, Lived at Jump Yes Yes Yes Yes Logan, Thomas Age 33 or 37, Married, 1 child, Lived at West Melton Yes Yes Yes Yes Joseph Lumb Age 33, Lived at Gawber, Buried 12 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Ludrick, Charles Age 20, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 27 May 1857 at Darfield John Malkin Age 22, Married, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 7 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Mangham, George Age 20, Married, 1 child, Brother of William Mangham, Lived Old Factory Wath, Buried 12 September1857 at Wath upon Dearne Yes Yes Yes Yes Mangham, William Age 25, Brother of George Mangham, Lived at West Melton, Buried 15 May 1857 at Wath upon Dearne Yes Yes Yes Yes Margison, Joseph Age 38. Married, 5 children, Lived at Wombwell, Buried 9 July 1857 at Darfield Marsden, Richard Age 24. Lived at Darfield, Buried 24 June 1857 at Darfield Mason, George Age 33, Lived at Jump. Buried 21 May 1857 at Darfield Matthew, John Age 22 Mayinton, Joseph Age 38 McAllister, Peter Age 25, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 8 May 1857 at Darfield Mellor, H. Age 22, Lived at Wombwell Milner, Charles Age 22, Married, Lived at West Melton Mitchell, William Age 61, Married, 6 children, Lived at Monk Bretton. Yes Yes Yes Yes Monks, William Age 32, Married, 1 child, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 24 June 1857 at Darfield Moore, George Age 50, Married, 7 children, Lived at Wombwelll Yes Yes Yes Yes Moore, Robert Age 43 Moore, Robert Age 13 or 14. Buried 1 July 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Moore, William Age 22 or 23, Lived at Hemingfield, Buried 29 April 1857 at Darfield Moss, George Age 17, Lived at Ardsley, Buried 1 July 1857 at Darfield Moucks, William Age 32 Musgrave Andrew Age 33, Married, 1 child, Lived at Broomhill, Buried 14 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Naylor, Thomas (al Nevitt or Levitt) Age 22, Married, 1 child, Lived at Hemingfield, Buried 14 June 1857 at Darfield Nettleton, Abraham Age 41, Married, 7 children, Lived at Wombwell, Buried 15 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Nicholson, A. Age 17, Lived at Lundhill Nortcliffe or Northcliffe, George Age 15 or 17. Lived at West Melton. Nortcliffe, Thomas Age 17, Lived at West Melton. Offenden, George Age 25, Lived at Old Factory, Wath Oldham, James Age 24, Lived at Wombwell, Buried 21 June 1857 at Darfield Samuel Parkinson Age 21, Lived at Wombwell, Identified by silver snuff box, Buried 8 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes John Phillips Age 19, Lived Worsbro' Dale Yes Yes Yes Pickles, William Age 29, Married, Lived at Old Factory, Wath, Buried 17 June 1827 at Darfield Pollard, Edward Age 50, Married, 3 children, Lived at Wombwell, Buried 9 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Pollard, James Age 49. Lived at Wombwell Pollard, James Age 19. Buried 9 May 1857 Yes Yes Yes Yes Pullan, Robert Age 20. Lied at Wombwell, Buried 10 May 1857 at Darfield Rellet, Richard Age 10 Roebuck, Samuel Age 24, Married, 2 children, Lived at hemingfield, Buried 17 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Rooke, John Age 26, Lived at Worsborough Dale Russell, John Age 27, Brother of Stuart Russell, Lived at Hemingfield, from Scotland, Buried 16 March 1857 at Darfield Russell, Stuart Age 17, Brother of John Russell, Lived at Hemingfield Sark, Phillip Age 30 Schofield, Samuel Age 25, Lived at Lundhill Scholer, George Age 32, Married, 1 child, Lived at Lundhill Scott, John Age 25, Married, 2 children, Lived at Hemingfield Shirtcliffe, Thomas Age 17 Simmons, Edward (al Fishman) Age 11, Lived at Lundhill Joseph Simmons Age 26, Married, 2 children, Lived at Lundhill Yes Yes Yes Smith, James Age 19 or 22, Lived at Lundhill Smith, James Age 23, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 6 June 1857 at Darfield Smith, John Age 19, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 7 May 1857 at Darfield Smith, John Age 51, Lived at Lundhill, Smith, Joseph Age 21 or 22, Lived at Wombwell, Buried 19 June 1857 at Darfield Smith, Joseph Age 53 or 55, Married, Father of James and John Smith, Buried 7 May 1857 at Darfield Smith, Richard Age 25, Lived at Jump Smith, William Age 27, Married, 5 children, Lived at Wombwell, Buried 6 May 1857 at Darfield Stevenson, John Age 25, Married, 1 child, Lived at Ardsley Tattersall, George Age 29, Lived at West Melton Tattersall, James Age 19, Lived at West Melton. Thomas, William Lived at Worsborough Dale Thompson, George Age 35 or 37, Married, Lived at Jump, Buried 19 May 1857 at Darfield Thompson, John Age 30 or 36, Married, 5 children, Lived at Wombwell, Buried 15 June 1857 at Darfield William Thompson Age 29, Married, 1 child, Lived at West Melton, Buried 6 May 1857 at Wath upon Dearne Yes Yes Tes Thorp or Thorpe, Samuel Age 16 or 19, Lived at Broomhill, Buried 31 May 1857 at Darfield Townsend, George Age 19, Lived at West Melton. Trainer, Edward Age 23, or 32, Lived at hemingfield, Buried 8 May 1857 at Darfield Tunnacliffe, Tunnicliffe or Turncliffe, George Age 20, Lived at West Melton. Buried 30 April 1857 at Darfield Turner, Abraham age 21, Lived with his widowed mother at Old Factory, Wath. Brought out of mine alive, and died later, Identified by his mother. Brother of Stephen Turner. Buried 23 February 1857 at St Georges Churchyard, Barnsley Yes Yes Yes Yes Turner, Stephen Age 31, Married, 3 children and 1 born after his death, Brother of Abraham Turner, Lived at hemingfield, Buried June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Turner, Thomas Age 17, Lived at Hemingfield Uttley, Thomas Age 20, Lived at Lundhill Walker, Charles Age 24, Brother of Edward & James Walker, Lived at Wombwell, Buried 9 May 1857 at Darfield Walker, Edward Age 27, Married, 1 child, Lived at Lundhill Walker, James Age 22, Brother of Charles and Edward Walker, Lived at Lundhill Ward, John Age 24, Lived at Hemingfield Webb, William Age 21 or 22, Lived at West Melton, Buried 17 May 1857 at Darfield White, William Age 25, Lived at Jump, Buried 18 June 1857 at Darfield Whitney or Witney, Josiah Age 24, Lived at hemingfield Wildsmith, Abram Age 18, Lived at Jump, Buried 7 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Wilkinson, James Age 22, From Wigan. Better known as "Lanky Jem". Lived at Lundhill John Wilkinson Age 22, Married, 2 children, Lived Old Factory, Wath, Buried 23 June 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Wilkinson, Richard Age 35, Married, 4 children, Brother of Thomas Wilkinson, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 9 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Wilkinson, Thomas Age 33, Married, 2 child, Brother of Richard Wilkinson, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 9 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Wilkinson, William Age 33, Married, 1 child, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 25 May 1857 at Darfield Wilson or Witchen, Henry Age 18, Lived at Jump Windle, Alfred Age 30, Married, 2 children, Lived at Lundhill, Buried 6 May 1857 at Darfield Yes Yes Yes Yes

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Others Involved Name Details Sourced Bio Connected Category Archer, William Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Worked the night before the explosion, left between 3 & 4 o'clock. Beevers, William Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Fire-trier, Worked on the night shift on the south side on the night before the explosion.  ? Member of the Rescue Party. Bell, Thomas Was working 150 yards from the up-cast shaft. Booth, John !Burrows, George Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Lived at Lundhill. Was of the opinion that the explosion had been caused by a fall of the roof in a part of the old workings. Chipchase, Henry Coe, Joseph Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Lived at Hemingfiled. Colliery general manager. Steward of Messrs Taylor and Co. Member of the Rescue Party. Corbridge, William Gave Evidence at the Inquest. From Lundhill. Foreman and Fire-trier. In charge of the furnace men. He was in a cabin, 12 or 14 feet from the bottom of the shaft. Recalled that there was an air gate to the North side that had fallen in. Dallison, Thomas Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Lived at Lundhill. Worked at Lundhill for 5 months. Left the pit at 5am on the morning of the explosion. His two sons worked with him and left at the same time. They always worked with candles. Donkin, John Lived at Hoyle Mill. Was working about 200 yards from the shaft on the north side. Donkin, William Lived at Hoyle Mill. Was working about 200 yards from the shaft on the north side. Dunston, John Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Lived at Jump. Worked on the northern side on the Tuesday night before the explosion. Said the air gate was partly blocked for over 3 month and there was not much air where he was working. Ellis, John Was working 150 yards from the up-cast shaft. Mr Ellison Member of the Rescue Party. Flint, James Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Worked at Lundhill for 16 month. Left pit at 3am on 19 February 1857. Usually worked with a candle. Goodison, George Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Furnace man. In charge of the furnace the night before the explosion. Said there was plenty of air. Air passages were clear and there was no indication of gas. Habbishaw, William Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Was working about 200 yards from the shaft on the north side with William and John Donkin and Joseph Simmonds when the explosion took place. A nearby air course had fallen in and was partially blocked. Stated that most Packers were inexperienced and sometimes worked with a large oil lamp and sometimes with a Davy lamp without a gauze. Halliday, Thomas Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Arrived drunk when called to give evidence, was sent home, and recalled to give his evidence later. Hartley, William Hammerton, John Son of Thomas Hammerton Hammerton, Thomas Father of John Hammerton Hickson, Aaron Hitchen, Henry Law, Samuel Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Lived Newhill, Wath. Worked at Lundhill for 6 months. Worked with candle all the time and never saw gas. Levitt, Abraham Long, John Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Lived at West Melton. Worked at Lundhill for 2 years. Worked the night before the explosion. Ludrick, Peter Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Lived at Lundhill. Worked at Lundhill for 5 weeks. Worked the night before the explosion. Worked with candles. Mr Maddison Member of the Rescue Party. Hoyland and Elsecar pits Naylor, Thomas Mr Peacock Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Lundhill Colliery Company. Provided evidence that the Lundhill Coal Company consisted of Mr. W. Taylor, jun., Mr. T Galland, Mr. E. T. Simpson, of Walton, near Wakefield, and Mr. W. Stewart, of Wakefield. That Mr. Joseph Coe, of Hemingfield, was the head steward of the pit Price, Thomas Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Lived at Hemingfield. Stated that there was plenty of air. Worked with a candle Ramsden, George Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Lived at West Melton. Worked at Lundhill for 16 months. Worked the Wednesday night before the explosion. Had noticed gas several times, but worked with a candle. Robinson, John Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Left the pit on the morning of the 19th February 1857 Rollings, David Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Working in the left-hand board gate until about a quarter of hour before the explosion. Always worked with candles. Scholey, Joseph Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Lived at Lundhill. Worked at Lundhill for 10 months. Worked with a candle or an oil lamp. Sellers. Benjamin Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Mineral Surveyor. Stated that from Lady Day 1856 to February 1857 about 14 acres of coal had been got. The coal was from 8 to 9 feet thick. He thought that foul air should be removed via a different route from the furnace shaft. Simmonds, Edward Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Was working 150 yards from the up-cast shaft at the time of the explosion. Stated that here was no gas and they worked with candles. The pit was not different from other days. Smith, Thomas Swift, Joseph Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Worked at Lundhill for 17 months Thompson, John Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Lived at West Melton. Worked at Lundhill for 18 months. Worked on the night of 18 February 1857. Always used candles where he worked. Edward Trainer Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Tunnicliffe, Joseph Mr Utley Member of the Rescue Party. Warhurst, John Gave Evidence at the Inquest. Foreman and Fire-trier. Described conditions when he went into mine with rescue group. Warringder, George Mr Webster Member of the Rescue Party. Wombwell Main Colliery.