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Mining was dangerous work in Victorian times and accidents and deaths were fairly common.

In addition to the threat of large pit disasters caused by fire, flood or collapse, accidents could happen to workers at any time.

It was very common for young children to be sent to work in the cold and dark pits so that they could earn money for their poor families.

Some of the accidents causing death in pits around Derbyshire between 1853 and 1855 included:

• Ilkeston, April 1853 - the body of 11-year-old James Gothard was found after he was drowned while on a night shift. An explosion had occurred in the pit when a miner using an unguarded candle was investigating a build up of sulphur gas.

Planks had been placed across an area of the pit flooded with water but James fell in and drowned as he made his way out of the pit in the dark.

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death and instructed that all men should be given safety lamps to guard against future explosions.

• West Hallam, August 1854 - Government inspectors ruled that extensive alterations were necessary to make the colliery at West Hallam fit for work.

They inspected the pit after Thomas Gregory died when he fell from scaffolding in an engine shaft into the water at the bottom. Mr Gregory was carrying out essential repairs at the time.

• Codnor Park, December 1855 - 14-year-old Samuel Machin died after the roof of a pit fell on him.

He was filling a tub with coal at a pit owned by the Butterley Company when the roof gave way without warning.

The roof had been examined and considered safe just half an hour before the accident took place.

This story also appears on Headline History in the Victorian section.

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County:  Derbyshire

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