COLLIERS AND HURRIERS Part II

I intend to take my account of coal mining in the Huddersfield area up to the General Strike.  Since I have not had time to focus on it, rather than let the information I have already languish unseen by those interested in this topic, I have decided to post the framework for Part 2 of ‘Colliers & Hurriers of the Huddersfield Area’ on my website.  People are welcome to use these notes for personal research, but an acknowledgment of the effort I have put in so far would be nice if any of this material is used in publications. I hope to revise this as further information is transferred to my computer. Part I can be found at:

Coal Mining in the Huddersfield Area

I also compiled this before I saw the book by Pamela Cooksey and Alan Tinsdeall , which has further information about the New Mill area:

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ABBREVIATIONS

CVG                     Colne Valley Guardian

HE                        Huddersfield Examiner

HEW                     Huddersfield Examiner (Weekly)

Hexp                     Holmfirth Express

HC                        Huddersfield Chronicle

HWN                     Huddersfield Weekly News

HLHL                    Huddersfield Local History Library

HHE                     Halifax and Huddersfield Express

LM                        Leeds Mercury

LI                          Leeds Intelligencer

LT                         Leeds Times

OS                        Ordnance Survey

NS                        Northern Star

WYMA               West Yorkshire Miners’ Association (Records in NUM offices, Barnsley)

W                          The Worker

WE                Wakefield Express

YFT                      Yorkshire Factory Times

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 1850 Coal Mines Inspection Act.

1854    HC 14 Jan: ‘rapid advance in price of coal’ theft of it increased.

1855    Second Act – introduces general rules, also laws on shaft safety, indicators, signalling.

1857 

HE 17 Jan: Inquest at Green Dragon on George Archer, 14, hurrier for Godfrey Heaton at Wheatley’s Bradley Pit, working at furthest from shaft.  Took one corve but returning left ‘slipper’ which held wheels at bottom of incline.  Coming down with another full one it  ‘overpowered by its weight’ and when he tries to turn it into incline crushes him. 21 ½ cwt in corve.  Accident Tuesday, taken on spring cart to infirmary where he dies Wednesday evening.   Jury recommends that ‘slippers’ be fastenened to corves.

HE 13 Jun: Kirkstyles colliery, Cumberworth. Three shafts, ‘engine pit, gin pit and turn stake or back-band pit’ At last, Thomas Senior, banksman launching scoop. Clatch irons slip off.  James Dearnley, 12, coming out of one of headings with full scoop hit by falling one.  Unconscious and in precarious state.

1861 

HE 9 Mar: Burns Colliery, Birchencliffe, Jones & Waterhouse, Ben Hinchliffe Dyson, hanger-on killed by step and axle of corve falling down shaft when being hooked on by banksman J.Pilling. Signal between hanger-on and banksmen by means of iron rod up shaft.

HC 9 Nov: Clough Colliery, Whiteley Upper, James Jones, 30, killed. Part of shaft unwalled, iron stone or blue binding, breaks off.  Messrs Cardwell done nothing about it. Deceased complained to steward day before about falls.  Struck on head by lump. Died 5 mins after being brought to surface.  Jury decides accidental death, not even reprimand to owners

1863

HE 14 Feb: Fieldhouse Colliery. two pits, 60 men endangered by blasting ‘had made rules for their guidance and had visited infractions with small fines, but in the present case the lives of 60 men were endangered.’

1864

HC 16 Jan: Messrs Harpin, ‘Gin coal pit’ , Thurstonland, Joseph Greaves, 58, Wooldale, killed,. One of jurymen at inquest ask if court-leet  constables should officiate at inquests, coroner says should be county police.  Killed putting punshon under large stone when clearing way to face. Stone 6×3 feetx10in thick

HC 30 Jan: late Thos Gelder, Clayton West, six acres of coal and colliery plant to be sold.

HC 30 Jan; out of work activities – Brook, collier, falls into sinking wood quarry while netting small birds, badly injured.

17 April: Lane End Colliery , Flockton, lockout to impose wage cut. (Machin. p. 129).  Supported by WYMA, William Brown visits. 4d a day deducted for absenteeism, even if sick. Lasts till August – nearly 5 months when return with lesser reduction and right to remain in union.

HC 9 Jul: Lane End Colliery, Lepton, Stansfield & Co. Strike for former rate of wages now lasted 11 weeks. 75 plus boys on strike.   70 children dependent. Joined union since strike, which has antagonised employers.  4s/6 ½ d a week from Methley Poor Law union.

HE 30 Jul: Hepworth shaft accident.HC 13 Aug: Matthews & Brook, Shelley and John Alderson, colliers strike for 6d. doz. advance.

HC 22 Oct: George Inn, Kirkburton, miners addressed by William Brown of Hunslet on ‘Coal Miners’ Union.’ foolish things they spent money on more profitable be in formation of Union to support them in event of accidents and old age.

HC 29 Oct: Geo Mossley, collier Kirkheaton assault hurrier, Allen Garner, in cabin before work, ‘drummed’ him in face, 10s comp, 10s fine and 10s costs.

HC 31 Dec:  White Horse, Jackson Br, colliers treat,  ‘Messrs R Craven & Co and others occupy the several coal pits in that wild region…’ 95 treated, masters Dyson and Watkinson and Sykes, chief manager, ‘After supper these sons of the underground world were at liberty to drink, sing, tell stories &c as best suited them and many were the amusing anecdotes told of the pranks they played when “out of the light of day”…’

1866 

HC 28 Jul: Wood Lane Kirkheaton, camp meeting of colliers, addressed by Brown of MA, cautions them against strikes and says should take wages home instead of to public houses. Should get educated and hurriers should be dutiful and remain at home not leave as soon as they were earning 12-14s a week, but support parents.

HC 4 Aug: Fieldhouse Colliery, three colliers from Deighton and Sheepridge prosecuted for opening the ir safety lamps to work by, despite written regulation. As warning fined 20s.

 HC 22 Sep: Commonside Pit, James Pearce, Cumberworth, Simeon Swift,54,  banksman, killed.  Fire pan at bottom of 18 ½ yard deep shaft which Swift had to mend on Sundays. Drawn up by windlass. At Sunday half ten goes to mend it does not return home, wife and son go to search for him then call on Mr Pearce, found by him at bottom of shaft having apparently overbalanced and fallen.

HC 20 Oct : Blossom Pit Grange Moor strike.

HC 20 Oct: Fieldhouse Colliery, George Townend, eldery man, summoned for slapping boy, banging his head against wall and dragging him across floor. in cabin at pit. Says boy was always agate with the lad who worked for him. Boasting of his ‘steam arm’. ! £1.9s.3d fine and expenses.

 HC 3 Nov: Inquiry into Pollution of Rivers, John Haigh, colliery proprietor, Thurstonland, four men employed.  small quantity of water flowed from heading , but one seam ochrey.  40 years ago ochre water problem worse. No comlpaints about it now.  Land valued at £100-£150 acre, good pasture.

 HC 1 Dec: Park Mill colliery strike. a year ago struck for  advance of 4d dozen, returned on understanding price to consumer would not be raised but ½ d per scoop, or corve introduced giving extra 8d per dozen profit.  Strike again.

HC 15 Dec: Men return after Stringer threatns to shut down.

HC 22 Dec: letter from Edward Stringer on strike.  advance of 9 ½ d /doz. ‘I should never allow any workman to dictate to me what I should charge, neither would I entertain the question of any further advance of their wages while the pit was still standing…’

1867

HC 2 Feb: Ben Lockwood’s pit, Flockton, in dispute with partner  Ellam, colliers sue for wages owed.

HC 21 Sep: Lepton , illegal indenture for hurrier only 8 when signed.

1869 

HE 3 Jul: Thurstonland, hard and soft bed coal field, steam engine, rails pumps etc, colliery siding near Brockholes junction, property of late James Whiteley, Stile Commmon. [1870 24 Sep: his residence for sale].

He 10 Jul 31 Jul: Box Ings Colliery, Kirkburton, Charles Knowles, collier, (son hurrier), slab of rock several yards long falls and crushes him badly. Inquest.

1870 

HE 26 Feb: Bradley Wood Colliery, C.Wheatley, miner killed sinking shaft,hit by small object.

HC, 14 May HE 4 Jun:Sinking Wood Colliery, John Haigh’s, explosion, John France 16,  with candle in workings not inspected by underground viewer who had three pits under his supervision. Fatal burns.  (messers Haighs, dissolved partnership in 1868.

HE 10 June: Fulstone colliery ownership dispute.

HE 10 Sep:Lane Head pit Holmfirth, Geo Charlesworth killed by stone from roof.

HE 24 Sep: late James Whiteley, Style Common, Birks Hill, house to be sold.

HE 5 Nov: Jms Whiteley’s collieries, Lockwood Common, Taylor Hill, New Ground to be run by his son Nathan.

1871

HC 28 Jan: Lane Dyehouse and Fartown Collieries for sale, colliery engines etc.   (HE 21 Jan xeroxed)

HE 1 Feb: Edward Brooke obit.

May 22: Whiteleys colliery. Youth , Walter Sykes,broke wrist trying to stop a run of  tubs.

HE 10 June: Fulstone Colliery – Haigh – lease dispute.

HEW 1 Jul: Kirkstye pit,Cumberworth, Senior Rawnsley lowered down by Walter Peace, banksman, at bottom shouts ‘Pull me up, pull me up’ . Thomas Fretwell lowered down and puts him  in corve, but he falls out a few yards up.  Brought up by steward , dead from black damp.  Proprietor of mine should have used experienced fire trier.

HEW 16 Sep:  Kirkburton, House subsidence – area ‘mined from end to end’. But first such accident for 50 years.

 HEW 18 Nov:  Ebenezar Heeley against CS Tinker at al dispute about pit at Sally Wood.

(1871 Mines Regulation Bill)

1872  Coal Mines  Regulation Act enforces standard ton, legal recognition of checkweighmen, certificates for colliery managers, raises age for employing boys.

Jan 13.    J.L.Kaye’s pit,Flockton. 26 year old miner injured by scoop at pit bottom.

Jan 20. Thomas Schofield, colliery proprietor at Denby Dale, crushed while supervising the filling of wagons at station.

HEW 6 Jul:  Kirkstyes pit,near Shepley, Henry Ellis’ execs.  colliery plant to be sold., including ‘egg-end boiler’, horiz engine, wire rope, drawing drums etc.

 (cf Kirkstile 1872

HEW 17 Aug: ‘unoccupied coal pit’  cockfighters caught in smiths shop.)

Oct 26.*Alderson & Co. Shelley. coal raised d. per scoop. Miners strike either for wage advance or reduction of coal prices to public. Meeting at the Gardners Arms.

Nov  2.*Alderson writes to press. d. per scoop equivalent of 5d. per ton. He had been compelled  by miners demands for 33% to raise price, had offered them 15%.

HEW 7 Dec: for sale, coal, ironstone and fireclay beds under land formely worked by Thurstonland Coal Co..

‘Coal Famine’ In 1871-72 rising price of coal leads to wage demands.  In May 1872 strikes begin in Leeds area.  According to HEW 21 Aug 1897, Yorkshire coal trade was at its height.  ‘the acquirement of colliery property was the rage’. 97 pits commenced.  When prices fell and demand slackened thin seam pits abandoned.  407 mines closed since 1873 (257 of them by 1887).

1873    December to Jan 1874 coal prices fall 16-12s ton.

1873   

New Act in force.  In April owners agree new byelaws with WYMA, including leaving without notice.

 Jan  4.     *Lodge & Co. Kirkburton. miners on strike for a few days to obtain wage increase which was granted.

Mar  8. *Holmfirth.  Two or three pits on strike. price of coal “beginning to be seriously felt.” Some mills on short time as a result.

Mar 15. Oxlee. T,J.Tinker’s pit for sale.

Mar 15.*Kirkburton. Due to the coal shortage the farmers have to spend more time waiting with their carts at pits and therefore do not have time as was custom,to cart seeds for smaller farmers.

Mar 29.*Mealhill. CS & H.W.Tinker – letter to LM. Coal masters raise price 2s.6d. a ton. Miners demand 22% increase. masters offer 20% or reduction of coal price to 1s.6d. a ton if men will reduce their pay claim proportionately. The men refused.

Sep  6.*Emley Moor.  colliers’ meeting in field at back of Gun & Pigeon addressed by John Dixon of Miners Association on Mines Regulation Act. A large number of  colliers enter the Grange Moor branch.

Nov8. Shuttle Eye, owned by Ben Lockwood of Blacksmith’s Arms. Jos Pratt, 29,Briestfield miner suffocated by “damp”, struck into old workings, went back for his clothes and watch before damp cleared. 200 people on pit back see body brought out.

Nov.22: Letter miners wages increase 4s.11d/ 8s day – 62% increase.

coal prices 2d/ 3s.6d. ton 500% increase.

1873  

HEW 9 Aug:  EJW Waterhouse, Hollybank leases coal under 1,000 a of Chevet Park estate, Wakefield, sells it to Taylor & Crosland, Huddersfield, Woodmoor Coal Co formed, Roberts, brewer, Farnley Tyas, partner. Also other new sinkings.

HE 22 Nov: letter on miners wages and coalprofits:

wages 4s.11d to 8s a day (62% increase)

profits     2d to 3s.6d per ton (500%) increase.

 WYMA mins: firms refusing to put up weighing machines, Denby Grange, Emroyd, Fieldhouse and Bradley (Wheatleys)

10 Nov.  Lodges at Grange Moor, Emroyd, Flockton.

1874 Mar 18.   reduction of coal prices and miners wages.

  WYMA mins: 4 May, reduction at Grange Moor.

  18 May: resolution ‘to take all legal means to enforce the machine at Fieldhouse Colliery according to the Mines Regulation Act.

            Emroyd demands home coal ‘as our neighbours’.

            25 Aug: ref to Fieldhouse branch

HEW 5 Sep: Grange Moor, Stansfield &Co. two colliers breach contract.    Following intro of new Act in 1873 new byelaws agreed with WYMA.

   WYMA mins: 3 Oct:  ‘That the financial members of Huddersfield and Fieldhouse be supported in resisting their reduction until the district be settled.’ 

            18 Oct (Spec. deleg. mtg):

             no of strikers according to employers cf union members

            Flockton (Stansfields) 400 – 160

            Huddersfield 160- 63

            19 Oct: Flockton members to hold public meeting next Saturday and receive their pay at Reindeer Inn.

            31 Oct: Flockton, Emroyd and Fieldhouse Lodges to send men to Woolpack, Wakefield Sat 7 Nov for money.

            28 Nov: Huddersfield men to have support until settlement.  (Rowley, manager wants 20% reduction)

 1875  

HEW 9 Jan: Gawthorpe – Messers G & J Haigh – brattice set on fire by candle on hurriers’s corve. Richard Oldroyd (40) suffocated.

 WYMA Council 23 Jan:  Res: That a deputation wait upon Mr Wood of Flockton about their grievances and as he is making them into Dogs and will not let them work only on his terms.’

May 29.           Snowgate Head. J.Haigh & Co. 40 year old  collier killed by stone. It took two or three hours to recover body.

Sep 11. New Ground Pit, (foot of Primrose Hill) . Edward Brooke & Sons. a new drift under  Stile Common wood. 150 yards from entrance gate is 3 feet 8 inches wide and seam 30 inches. Dyson Sykes, son of foreman William, buried under two tons of shale which was removed in 20 minutes. Puncheons four feet apart.

Jul 10. Cumberworth  colliery and brick works. sale of plant.

Sep 25. Alderson & Brooke summonsed for £4.14s. for a fortnight’s wages in lieu of notice. Collier earns 7s. a day and hurrier earns 11s. a week.

Nov 13. Fartown  collier strikes hurrier in argument over a corve.

            WYMA 29 Nov: Lodges voting for establishment of Coop Coal Sociaety

            Flockton                     10, no of members  100.

            Hudds  ?                      12                            12

            Denby Grange           45                            45          

            27 Sep: can Emroyd members be summoned for arrears to check fund ?

1876

Feb 12.   (HEW) Wheatley’s Bradley  colliery.  collier badly injured in roof fall.

HEW 6 May: Sheards colliery,Lepton, hurrier sues collier for 11s, weeks wages – but only worked part of week.

Sep 16. (HEW)New Ground. 17 year old miner on way home slips and is injured. had already had three fractured limbs.

HEW 13 Nov: Fartown collier strikes hurrier in corve dispute.

 1876-77 WYMA members fall from 6,000 to 3,400.

1877

HEW 13 Jan, Geo Ed Stringer, colliery proprietor, Deby Dale, prosecuted before Barnsley magistrates for running a traction engine that did not consume its own smoke on the highway. Also not having flagman. Claimed he was taking snow off wheels. fined 40s for first and £5 for other offense, plus costs.

HEW 27 Jan, Springwood Colliery, equipment to be sold including 1000 yards of rails.

Feb 3.Advert. New Ground  colliery. coalminers wanted to contract to drive 100 yard drift.

Feb 10; Shuttle Eye. Ben Lockwood fined £20 for violating provisions of Coal Mines Regulation Act of 1872. “every mine with more than 30 employed or output more than 25 tons should be supervised by a manager”. Assistant inspector of Yorkshire district visited on 5 Dec. 1876 and finds 33 colliers, 36 hurriers, 2 tellers, 1 hanger on, 1 deputy and 1 steward. (74)

Aug 11;Wood Pit, Fulstone. Jonathan Mitchell, Miner,19, buried. Brother and cousin attempt rescue. A stone 5 feet by four was on him. 12 men take three hours to remove him. Died. The pit superintendent was  censured.

Dec 8: Knowles Colliery, Hepworth, John & Amos Kaye, bank’d.

Dec 8: Gregory Spring Colliery, Kirkheaton, Howgate, Day & Holt, case by Michael Sheard Gid Royd, Luke Armitage, Hopton, owed from October  1875, 10 yards holeing, 2s/yd; one day’s work, 9s.7d; and fortnight’s work in lieu of notice £2 15s 3d..  defence , men paid by ton of coal raised,  stayed away themselves. Allowed the 9s 7d.

1878  

Jan 26: Geo.Ed. Stringer,  summonns for obstructing highway at Cumberworth 12 Jan, near Star Inn, two coal wagons.for 55 mins while engine was pumping from pond and men had their dinners.  Bench recommends Superintendent withdraw case.

Feb 2:Park Milll  colliery. G.E. Stringer. traction engine brings coal in two five ton trucks from pit to coal staithe at Sheply Lane Head causing damage to road. The previous year (20 Jan 1877) he had been charged with running a traction engine on the highway that did not consume its own smoke and without a flagman sixty yards in front. he said the flagman was taking the snow off the wheels. Fined £5.

HEW 10 Aug: E Jaggar,, Flocton Moor Head case at nisi prius court v. Dewsbury and Heckmondwike Waterworks Board for negligence resulting in flooding of colliery workings. Pit bounded by Fall Lane,  97 yard downcast winding shaft, upcast, 80 yards. Adjacent to former pit of Jos Haigh & Sons, Flockton Moor, which worked Blocking seam.

HEW  31 Aug:  Sheard & Sikes, Inbed Pit and Bellstring Lane Pit, Gawthorpe Green, Lepton, engines, boilers, going gear etc to be sold.

HEW  2 Nov: German Main Colliery, Denby Dale, to be sold, in full working operation by John Harrison, Whin Moor Bed, weekly output 50 tons.

HEW 23 Nov. Snowgate Head, Sinking Wood, and Brockholes collieries to be sold. (Haigh’s)

HEW 12 Oct: Lindley, miners ‘poising’ assault case.

1879. WYMA mins: 25 Feb: recruiting leflet. Men to stand at pit gates to sign up, 2,000 recruited in Jan and Feb, 22 of them at Fieldhouse.

            Branches

            Denby Grange            sec: Chas Noble, Grange Lane,    Overton.

            Emroyds                     sec: Thos Walker, Middleton.

            Huddersfield               sec: Henry Horsfall, Damside, Huddersfield.

            Fieldhouse                   sec: John Crossland, Fartown Green.

1880. HEW 4 Dec: Edward Waterhouse JP, obit. Born 1822 son of James Waterhouse, colliery proprietor, Ainley who was killed in an explosion while Edward still an early age. Head of firm James Waterhouse until colllieries sold. Then brick and tile manufacturer at Elland.

1881. HEW 26 Mar Soney Wood pit ,Kirkburton, miners temporarily trapped by shaft collapse

HEW 26 Mar, WE 12 Feb,5, 19 Mar; Emley Moor Colliery, Adam, James Joseph, and Edward Jaggar charged with stealing corves and planks from father Robert, dispute over ownership, Jaggar 4 collieries at Emley.

WE 6 Aug, Jaggar Bros, prosecute 2 minors for perjury in plant theft case.

HEW 2 Apr: Sow Wood pit Lower Whiteley, deputy killed by cage

HEW 1 Oct: Advert for Holme Bottom Mill, Holmfirth “The mill is a short             distance from the local collieries…”

HC  10 Dec: John Haigh, coal merchant and boatowner, Slaithwaite in liquidation,  sale of 3 narrow boats carrying from 25 to 30 tons, two others and two carthorses.

HC 31 Dec: Grimscar Colliery, Fixby, plant and materials to be sold due to termination of the lease and discontinuance of working of the pit.  10 hp horizontal engine, by Robert Gledhill. Rails, iron flags, pit gearing , corves, anemometer etc.

 1881    WYMA and SYMA confirm amalgamation.

 HEW 4 Feb: Sinking Wood colliery, John Haigh & Co. summons miner Arthur Mitchell of Fulstone for leaving work without notice – £1 and costs. Manager George Hebblethwaite.

HEW 3 Jun: Ozzings Colliery Shepley, sale of plant including Arnold boiler and Steam Engine by Kenworthy, Royston & Crossley.

HEW 21 Oct: John Kaye miner, Tinker Hill summons George Lindley, stone merchant, Cartworth for £15.4s. for driving drift in his quarry to find water at 8s./yard. (38 yards).

1882. 10% wage gain. December, Leeds conference calls for 8 hour day.

1883. HEW John and Joseph Haigh of Honley and Morley, colliery proprietors bankrupt. Agreed three years ago to dissolve partnership, but had not happened in law. Mother administrator of fathers’ intestacy.  John and Joseph paid promissary noted to mother and other beneficiaries but had not paid up.  Mother creditor for £6,000 takes out bankruptcy proceedings.  Collieries under rent from Dartmouth £2,000 rent owed.

  HEW 30 Jun: Grange Moor, Messers Stansfield Pit, fire damp ignites. two Milnes brothers, Joseph and Pem, collier and hurrier, burnt. Explosion knocks steward of his tram

Trade Depression

 1884

HEW 23 Feb: Huddersfield Bankruptcy Court, , John and Joseph Haigh, colliery proprietors Morley and Honley, ‘a curious question as to the liability of trustees’. Messrs Haigh ‘extensive collieries which were held under lease from Lord Dartmouth.  The lease contained a forfeitur clause on bankruptcy occurring.’  Joseph Haigh wished to continue and pay creditors given time.

WE 29 Mar, Flockton Coal Co. four miners,in a strike against wage reductions,  prosecuted for damage to property of Co, cottages at Netherton and intimidating blacksheep .

WE 10 May, Parkmill Colliery,, deputy James Hoyle of Scissett charged with assault on Harris Thos Watson of Midgeley, he had stopped hurrying because had no motties and had to use chalk instead to mark tubs.

 HEW  24 May: James brooke collier, Sude Hill, 14 days in Wakefield for not paying hurrier.

WE 18 Oct, Emley Moor colliery, Joah Earnshaw, 33 killed by roof fall

1885

HEW 7 Mar: Robert Brown, Lepton, sued by John Westhead, collier Lepton for £4.10.6d wages. Said he was employed as deputy to draw tracings etc. at 5s/day but “in order that the men would not know how he was paid he worked at coal getting along with his brother and drew all due to them.” He was paid for the coal got, but not for the agreed day wage. He had been deputy at another pit for 5s. a day and didn’t have to get coal.  Brown says he was only a collier and worth 3s.6d a day.

HEW 9 May: High Hoyland, haigh & Dyson, colliery plant sale, including winding engine.

  HEW  6 Jun:   Thomas Bennett, ‘farmer and coal miner’,  Deanhead, Hepworth, cuts own throat.  Complained of bronchitis and had not been well for some time, not in usual spiritis and had pain in his head. Too ill to eat breakfast on day he died.

HEW 14 Nov: Kirkheaton, Bells Tring colliery, engine, boiler to be sold.

WE 11 Jul, Flockton pit of Jesse Jaggar, offence against 1872 Act, bad ventilation, inspectors lamp could not burn due to ‘carbonic gas’ (blackdamp), fined £5 plus costs on two accounts (£13.5s).

 1885    WYMA presses for sliding scale.

 HEW 3 Apr: Sinking Wood, Jos Haigh’s,Walter Petch ,13, s of James Petch, deputy, killed by 5cwt stone while shovelling muck

HEW 18 & 25 Sep: Square Pit,Whiteley Upper, man killed by stone fall at face.

HEW 20 Nov: Whiteley Colliery, naked light, fatal explosion (xerox)

1887    Pithead price of coal rises 7%.  188 improved trade, strikes for wage increases.

1887 Mines Regulation Act. minimum age raised to  12.

1889. WE29 Jan, Six Lane End Colliery, Jaggar Bros, Adam Jaggar prosecuted under 1872 Act, employing men without having two shafts to pit.. Explosion, no casualties., he had passed exam for manager’s certificate but didn’t know why double roadway was necessary, stopped makin one ‘stating that he had come across inferior coal and did not wish to incur expense’.

HEW. 17 Aug:  Shelley, George Brook’s pit tramway.  Damage done by lads riding corves. Two schoolboys and William Henry Fisher, wirer of Skelmanthorpe charged with damage to corve.

HEW 31 Aug: Emley Moor colliery, Jaggar & Co. Fred Stringer, miner charged at WR Police Court with leaving work without 14 days notice. Left without coming again. According to prosecution ‘when miners left in this way without removing their tools it caused some anxiety for the man might be buried in the pit for anything they knew.’ £2 damages and £1.2s. costs.

HEW 14 Sept:Six Lane Ends colliery, Flockton, Adam Jaggar & Bros. Robert Marsden engine tenter accused of manslaughter of William Guest, chimney sweep. On sunday afternoon he asked to be lowered down pit to get some ‘spa water’  raised too high so cage hit head gear, rope breaks and cage crashes sixty yards. Body recovered after three hours. Marsden had no right to lower man down.  Cogwheel broke so break wouldn’t work. not guilty.

HEW  28 Sep: Shuttle Eye colliery, four week strike. Percentages introduced last November – 10 % advance.  4s1d/day for getting, filling tramming, yardage, packing etc. then 10% paid 4d a ton more. Since 2d. taken off on 1 July  and then further 2d. on 14 August.  When notices expired refuse to work at new prices until reductins restored.  Deputation and Mr Frith from Barnsley meet owner and manager  and ask for 4d/ton restored. Owner tells them to ‘talk sense’.  Have support of other collieries and National Levy Fund. 140 join YMA and attempt to get all men in locality to take up question.  Also grievance about great thickness of dirt and trammers have to travel long distances – 800 yards.

HEW 5 Oct: Emley, back of Green Dragon, meeting of miners in support of Union with Flockton, Emley and Grange Moor brass bands – new branches at Clayton west (100 members), Flockton (80), Grange Moor (130), Middletown (70), Thornhill (100). Speakers; George Thornton (horbury), B.Pickard, E.Cowey, Alfred Hawkins (Normanton), J.McInnes (Wakefield).

WE 19 Oct, Jos Jaggar, four months in Wakefield for indecent assault on girl on way home from Flockton Feast.

WE 21 dec, released after memorial signed by 1700 people presented to Home Secretary.

1889    MFGB Founded. 26 Nov. Newport. first Conference Jan 1890.

1890    Coal price falls.

 WE 18 Jan,WYMA, meeting in support of at Flockton.

WE 8 Mar, Emroyd Colliery, Milnes Stansfield & Co, 20 men locked out.

HEW 22 Mar:  Stansfield,Lane End et.al. wages and coal prices.

HEW 28 Jun: Flockton branch of YMA, case to reclaim banner.

HEW 13 Sep: Ezra Booth, checkweighman, Flockton (Milnes Stansfield & co. colliery) assaulted by tipsy Edwin Kaye at Green Dragon who accuses him of being unfair with corves. Fined.

WE 27 Sep Parkmill Colliery, Stringer, tram road from pit to Clayton West station keen opposition. Sends 325 on day trip to Blackpool.

HEW 18 Oct: Jaggar & Co. Grange Moor, summons 9 miners for breach of contract.

HEW 25 Oct: Greenhouse Colliery, Kirkburton, George Brooke proprietor, (son Ben Brook, manager) summons man for breach of contract.

1891. HEW 25 Jul: Emley Moor, Jaggar & Co, 60 colliers summonsed for damages incurred by their absence from work, men make counter claim for loss of time. According to Co barrister men refused to go down shaft on 26 June because not enough railway wagons to keep them in work all day. Also refused to work on Saturday.  Loss of about £30 day to prepare for men working. More thanusual 25 waggons. Adjourned ‘Great interest was evinced in the proceedings by miners from Emley, Flockton, Thornhill and other places.’

HEW 26 Sep:  Lepton, Grange Moor and district, Saturday meeting , Ed Cowey speaker on Trades Congress, resolutions in favour of 8 hour day and urging all miners to join MA.

1892

YFT 19 Feb: Kirkheaton branch decides to join Miners’ Association – tea at Colnebridge addressed by Edward Cowey, chaired by George Thomson of Woodhouse Mill.

WE 9 Apr, Emroyd Colliery hanger on in blocking bed hit by descending chain ,’in precarious condition’.

WE 18 Jun, Hanstock, manager of Miss Lister Kaye’s colliery obit, father in law of Jos Jaggar.

HEW  23 Jul:  Greenhouse and Dobroyd collieries, Shelley, Geo. Brooke, colliery proprietor and farmer, colliery plant to be sold, including two steam engines, pit waggions etc.  HEW 15 Oct: Bankruptcy Cout case.  Owes Atknson’s trustees coal rent, but says he had paid them £560 but had only gor coal to value of £220 therefore they owed him , also action against him for subsidence, also problems with business at Yew Tree farm.

YFT 16 Sep: Fulstone, Ebenezer Heeley summons 3 hurriers for leaving work.

(HEW 6 Aug: Ravens Wharf colliery, Dewsbury, 6 killed by flooding).

1892    Mines 8 Hours Bill defeated (272:162)  May 1893 carried, but not proceeded with.  1894, April, carried again.

1893.HEW 28 Jan, Captain Henry William Stansfield, obit (64)

Flockton coal owner and magistrate.

            HEW 21 Jan: Fulstone, Ebenezer Heeley sues Fulstone Local Board for damages for altering drain which prevented run off of water from his drift.

            HEW 15 Apr, Grange Moor, Ben Elliott, colliery proprietor, charged with assaulting Gamaliel Senior checkweighman. Senior employed by miners. On 24 March dispute broke out over weighing machine, stopping the mine for a week. According to Senior it was 1lb in 5 cwts out. (Error allowed 5oz in 5cwts.  On 31 March Elliott threatened to discharge him, said he was not fit to live. Senior goes with two men from weighing machine company to test machine, Elliott follows asking “where that preacher was” grabs Senior’s beard and swears at him. Sam Schofield and Jos Hampshire, miners support complainant. John Stott weighman, and Asquith Stafford apprentice to Alderson & Hukin machine makers say, machine only 4oz in 5 cwts wrong did not see defendant stike Senior, “trivial case” fined 1s.

(Gamaliel Senior. 1947: HEW 31 May: 95^th Birthday, ‘Bernard Shaw of Grange Moor’.  Lived at ‘Freedom House’.  Oldest membe of Communist Party in Britain. Only shaved once in 70 years.  Left Labour Party when he was 85 because they were not moving fast enough for him.  Miners of today he says are ‘pampered’.  Says would remove the miners extra coal allocation !

Obit ae. 97 1949 (HEW 10 Oct),  former councillor, helps get first six workingmen’s houses built on Grange Moor, vegetarian, non smoker, teetotaller, member of Huddersfield & District Healthy Life Society.

[Checkweighmen introduced by 1860 Mines Regulation Act.  1887 Act gave power to checkweighmen appointed by majority of workmen to recover due proportion of wages from those benefiting – helps promote trade union organisation].

HEW 20 May: Ed Cowey of YMA speaks at Flockton on depressed state of trade. Accepting wage reductions did not prevent unemployment. – wages not cause – compared Wales where wage reductions had taken place but 16,000 unemployed and Durham 14,000.  Eight hour bill needed.

 HEW 29 Jul,: Holmfirth, trade bad coal crisis gives opportunity for manufacturers ‘to have a rest’, only 6 or 7 days supply of fuel. Some firms supplied by Hazlehead and Law pits ‘ whose owners hjave not joined the movement.

HEW 12 Aug: Snowgate Head, Messers Tinker’s, Brook Battye (19) collier killed by stone fall, collier for 12 months.

 HEW 9 Sep:Huddesfield police hear rumour of intended attack on Brookes Fieldhouse pit, police posted. At New Ground men working three 8 hour shifts but brought out on 8 September.

HEW 16 Sep,  Grange Moor and Whiteley colliers arrested for begging by using threats at Ossett.

Fieldhouse Colliery stopped.

Miners fife and drum band raising funds in Huddersfield and Holmfirth.

Around fifty striking colliers and boys, some with sticks and lenghts of gas pipe, march from Grange Moor, Flockton and Middleton etc and arrive at Kirkburton at 6.30 Saturday morning. Two pits in areas worked from shafts, four or five day-holes, employing 80-90 men and boys. Coal being led from pits day and night as quick as could be got.

Lepton Edge, new pit just sunk, only a few men maintaining workings. Turned back be crowd.

Linfit Lane and Linfits pits (George Hey & Sons), 4 or 5 working in each supplying engine coal. Cease work.

Thornclife (James Hall and Messers Jaggar), men brought up.

Royd House day hole (Shaw & Co) stopped.

Box Ing colliery (Seth Senior & Sons) men turn back.

Monday larger crowd approaches, Sheard’s miners promise not to work.  Crowd procedes to Sovereign Inn at Shepley (Tinkers) demand he opens cellar. Tinker calls on quarrymen for help, battle with miners in road, miners scattered. One (from Wath) jumps over wall and falls into quarry, breaking collar bone and other injuries.

Tuesday crowd demands Spring Grove pub at Kirkburton opens up to serve them, refuses, some panes smashed.

HEW 23 Sep,Fieldhouse, Damside and Kirkburton collieries all working.

HEW  7 Oct: Relief Committee for Grange Moor and Lepton formed. 60 miners need assistance. Can only support married men.Tickets for provisions given out.  Only those with branch stamp and secs name on books and boxes authorised to solicit support.  Rumour G Cardwell to open on old wages but he says can not until Coalowners’ federation say so.  Mr Elliott says same, would have to withdraw from CF, and it was the men who had forced him to join.

HEW  21 Oct: Theatre Royal (use granted by Messrs Robinson Bros)– meeting in support of miners. Cllr Allen Gee moves res v. action of coalowners.

*Kirkburton – four new pits opened, working shifts and doing a roaring trade, every means of conveying coal brought into use, mill coal as expensive as house coal before lockout, anything which can burn including ‘dirt’ which would have been rejected before.

[Oct 14 Skelmanthorpe Mutual Improvement Society – The Coal Crisis – supports miners.  Oct 28 tradesmens meeting v price of coal]

HEW 28 Oct: Linthwaite Wesleyan Chapel collection for colliers wives and childrens’ fund. Supported by Rev Slugg who says some support fund who did not agree with actions of the men.

  HEW 4 Nov, 11 Nov; Wood colliery, Jackson Bridge, Tinker Bros Ltd, Charles Haigh, Fulstone, collier (40) killed by shot firing prematurely. Manager, John Haigh Roberts of Woodroyd, Honley.

 Kirkheaton greengrocer prosecuted for hawking coal without carrying a scale, pleaded ignorance of law.

HEW 11 Nov; low Moor Iron Co tell South Crosland Local Board that they can not supply dross to mend road since furnaces extinguished due to coal crisis.

 HEW 2 Dec.Flockton Coop Soc, provides meals for children and distributes flour. Milnes & Stansfield’s pit still not working;Lister Kaye allowed coal picking.

HEW 30 Dec:   Edward Brooke & Sons, of Leeds Fireclay Co, treats – in recognition of the services of the men during the miners’ strike. to colliers of New Ground and Close Hill collieries. £8,000 paid out in wages during that period.  Mr Armitage manager.

1894 Conciliation Board established  10% Reduction agreed.

1894. HEW 30 June: John Kaye JP of Clayton West obit “It is believed that the agitation and anxiety arising out of the dispute in the coal trade last year had afflicted his health, for he had not been himself at all ever since…” But he was 79! assaulted by crowd at platts Common Barnsley returning from Simon Wood Colliery Elsecar.

1894. WE 27 Jan,HEW 27 Jan: Grange Ash Colliery, Flockton, Jaggar & Elliott

summon 51 miners for breaking contract by striking, hurriers poorly paid, weighing machines deficient, wish all to be in Union. – summons withdrawn.

51 colliers from Grange Moor, Flockton, Emley and Briestfield summonsed for breach of contract. 2s.6d. each claimed. Joe Mallinson, Haigh Lane Flockton, test case.

On 4 Jan assemble for work at half past six but after meeting in pit top cabin refuse to go down. No. 6 bye-law in book signed by all men  states that men could not absent themselves without notice exept due to accident or sickness.

Jos. Jaggar: was in office where he manages colliery on behalf of the proprietors who include his mother.  On the day a delegation came to him including Mallinson, Richard Rhodes, Jos Roberts, Wm Taylor, Wm Lodge to present grievances – hurriers not earning sufficient, weighing machine deficient, non union men to enter union and pay 1s/day levy.  Jaggar says not sufficient grounds to stop work and Rhodes replied ‘I know its wrong but we want these things altering.’ and then return to cabin.

Usually 80-85 tons a day got and that day about a dozen carts turned away empty.  Jaggar had written to weighing machine makers asking them to put it right.

Hilton Jaggar, the weighman was not in court. he had said nothing about machine. On 18 Dec it had been tested and found alright at 2cwt, at 3cwt 2lbs out in colliers favour.  The checkweigman Rhodes, had not asked it be tested to 8cwt.  Full corves 6-7cwt. Rhodes had asked him to meet a deputation but he was away and said he would talk to men in their working places.  On 4 Jan men had said they didn’t get full quantity of coal sent to pit bank, but had said nothing about corves wanting mending.

Reed, for defence: masters had broken contract already by deficient weighing.  Proper facilities weren’t provided to allow checkweighman to test maching as proper weights weren’t present

John Booth, undermanager: amount claimed from men reasonable.

John Day, colliery manager: firm lost 5s/man on day.  Men had returned as normal following day.

Clerk: Draws attention to Bowes partners v. Press, miners refused to go down with non unionist – breach of contract.

Bench decides that a breach of contract had occured.  Parties should come to some agreement. Summonses withdrawn.

“There was a slight attempt at a demonstratation but the men went away in an orderly manner.”

1894. HEW 3 Feb: Emma Lister Kaye sues Wm. Shaw & Sons of Grove Mill Longwood for coal supplied and not paid for during strike.

HEW  21 Apr: Ben Elliott, sued for hit and run incident on Grange Moor in which trap he was driving dangerously overturned another and injured horse. He horsewhipped other driver who tried to detain him.  £27 damages awarded against him.

HEW 28 Apr: Kilner Bank, Read Holliday & Co sinking pit to Halifax Old Bed, 115 yards deep, another 15 to 20 to go. Boiler powering pump explodes.

* Ben Alderson Brook, colliery proprietor, Dean Bottom, Kirkburton, selling oal other than by weight.  Sold a ‘scoopful’ of coal for 9d. to a boy who came with barrow to pit.

.           HEW 22 Sep: Penistone, stormy meeting on H.J.Wilson MP’s opposition to Eight Hour Bill. John Brook Holmfirth, seconded by pres of Holmfirth Labour Club, proposes that a Labour candidate be adopted in sympathy with working classes “and particularly the miners”.

13 Oct: Cowey adopted ad Holmfirth Div. Labour candidate.

1895. HE 9 Feb, Parkmill Colliery, Stringer & Co, youth, Charlie Scofield, Denby Dale, killed by roof-fall.

WE 6 Mar, Six Lane Ends colliery plant for sale, Middleton Coal Co. in liquidation, including coal cutting machinery.

            HEW  4 May: letter from John Day, manager of Shuttl Eye, Grange Ash and Lodge Mill Collieries, no ‘tyrannical’ action at pits, lists Shuttle Eye, New Hards seam mens’ daily average earnings. 5s.7d to 15s. a day. – most c. 11s.  men pay 1 ½ d day for tool sharpening and light.  Pay own huuriers wages vary from 1s.10d – 3s day.

            ibid. and WE, Flockton Old, Manor House Farm, Lane End and Emroyd Collieries of Milnes & Stansfield, plant for sale and coal.

HEW 11: Letter from Wm Hutchinson, Flockton, in reply to Day.  For a few years coal trade slack at Grange Moor, men on short time, at Shuttle Eye collieries only a portion of men work each day.  At New Hards pit Formerly coal stacked as men could fill as many corves as they could. Now only allowed corves when carts come to pit for coal, so they are in pit, but idle.  Men wrote to Elliott requesting that number of men each day be limited but ignored.  Day’s list not typical week. Some of hurriers help with coal getting.

HEW  18 May: letter from John Day, reply Hutchinson – no complaint about Blocking Bed at pits, only New Hards. Says nothing about how Hutchinson and other men in New Hards restricted output to six corves a day and thus lost customers.

NB     HEW 25 May, 1J un: Further Correspondence – also from Sam Schofield

HE 6 Jul YMA, Grange Moor branch.

1896. HEW 15 Feb: Eight Hour bill discussed at MA National Conference – prior to 1872 boys “worked all hours God sent” since then, 52 hours. Demand for 8 hours from bank to bank.

.           WE 29 Aug, Jaggar’s Emley Moor colliery, labourer’s head crushed between wagon buffers at Skelmanthorp screens.

HEW  7 Nov: Hepworth, checkweighman Charlesworth Roberts summons two colliers for none payment of wages – but not legally elected.

HEW 28 Nov: Speedwell colliery, Emley Moor, Jaggar’s, collier  Jms Henry Duncan, (27), Emley Moor, and hurrier Jos Telford, (19) Kirkburton killed by 4 ton block of coal while ‘baring’ under the coal, dataler says face spragged every 3 feet, though sufficient. Wheatley Lime seam.  Mr Baddely manager, Sowerby, deputy. ‘Slip’, ‘back’ or ‘hugger’ caused fall.

1897 :  8 hours Bill defeated.

            Home Office return shows over 400 Yorkshire mines, mostly thin seams or worked out, closed since 1873 (HEW 21 Aug)

 1897    HEW 10 Apr: Linfit Lane Colliery Co., Shaw’s, Robert Lodge collier, leavinf work without notice case.  Co. ‘a good deal annoyed’ by this problem.  defendant says never received copy of rules and bad ventilatin, took hour and half for smoke to clear after shot fired.  5s damaged plus  expenses.

YFT 13 Aug: Tinkers Colliery, Holmfirth checkweighman sues 3 colliers for 6s.6d. wages due.

HEW 18 Sep: Shuttle Eye, Ben Elliott’s pit. William Almond, hurrier,16, accused of unlawfully wounding of John Wood,hurrier (17).  Wood coming back from pit bottom with empty corve asks Almond with full one to go back to passing place “turning board” three yards away.  Almond threatens to throw lump of coal at him then hits him with ‘tomahawk’ in belly.  Victims brother Castle Parker Wood and collier John Williams carry him to pit bottom.  Almond committed to trial at Sessions.

1898. HEW 26 Feb: George Stringer’s, Park Mill colliery – visit of Huddersfield Technical College mining class. Manager Mr Thompson showed them round the extensive surface works.

“The colliery is fitted with many modern improvements and electricity has been introduced for driving pumps in the mine and also for lighting the surface works and driving a safety lamp cleaning machine.  The coal is separated in an Elliott coal washer and goes to the coke ovens.  the practical use of the coal washer was demonstrated by the presence of a huge mound of dirt which has been seperated from the coal within the last few years.  Air is circulated around the workings by means of a Hopton fan.  The cages are fitted with safety detaching hooks so that in the event of the engine running away and the cages being drawn into the headgear the rope would be disconnected and the cage left suspended instead of falling to the bottom of the shaft as would otherwise be the case.  There is an extensive system of haulage both on ther surface and underground by means of wire ropes.  In one case an endless rope 4,800 yards long takes empty tubs into the workings by one road and brings full tubs out along another road.  All the colliers are provided with safety lamps of the bonneted Clanny type: the laborious work of mining is also lessened by the use of coal cutting machines to undercut the coal prior to it being wedged or blasted down.  Pneumatic drill are also used to drill the shot holes in the coal into which explosive is put so as to bring the coal down.  there is a fine compressed air plant in use at the colliery.

[In 1896 Park Mill colliery had 454 workers underground and 69 on the surface.]

*****************************************************************

1887. Richard Sutcliffe, Co. Tipperary mining engineer, comes to as contractor to Park Mill and introduces two coal cutters made in Ireland called Alice and Jumbo.

1889. Nearly killed in accident but miner pierces air bagging with pick to stop engine.

1890, leaves to become manager of Hartley bank pit of Flockton Coal Co.

1906. inventor of revolving belt conveyor.         (Richard Sutcliffe  biog by R. and E. Sutcliffe 1955)

**************************************************************************

1898. HEW 2 Apr: Victoria Colliery Lepton, George Henry Shaw of Rowley Hill (45) killed by by stone.

1898. HEW 8 Oct: YMA Emley demo on Saturday. Clayton West, Flockton and Emley branches – tea in British school presided over by Rev. J.Hawkins of Skelmanthorpe. County Clr J Thornton and Clr D.Bromley move res calling for miners to join Association contrasting present conditions with those of miners of 40-50 years ago improved by Union.  Clr Fred Hall also speaks.

1899. YFT 13 Jan: Miners’ Dispute at Skelmanthorpe – Clayton W Br of YMA issues appeal for  men at Wheatley Lime Albert Whittle, Br. treasurer , Alb Exley pres, Emmanuel Mann, Sec.

1899. HEW 2 Sep: Messers Jaggar’s pit. James Stephenson miner, Cumberworth, summonsed by John William Duckett, hurrier of Kirkheaton at County police Court, for 12s.6d. wages due. Duckett had been taken from Ashton Under Lyne Union workhouse by John Mayer , miner and worked for him some time before working for defendent.  Mayer who worked in same pit said he wanted him back and should give Stephenson 14 days notice.  Customarily only verbal notice required unless leaving pit.  Defendent said written notice was required and he had lost five days work as a result of having no hurrier and asks if 30s counterclaim could be submitted, but not allowed by court at this stage.  He had worked 12 years in pit and defendent had worked about 18 months for him.  decision adjourned until owners’ view on notice known.

1899. HEW 14 Oct: Shuttle Eye Colliery – meeting in Primitive Methodist Schoolroom, Grange Moor, J.Williams in chair to present G.Senior (Gamaliel ?), had to leave because employer  “said he was an agitator”.  J.Taylor makes presentation, Senior, a “man that would stand up for that which was just and right”. Senior says he appreciates the present and “pleased to find that the men had more confidence in him than ever he thought they had when they had been having meetings to try and settle the resolutions that had been passed.”

1900 Amendment to 1887 Mines Regulation Act. –  minimum age raised to  13.

 HEW 24 Feb: Victoria Colliery Lepton, James Swift, new colliery, shaft sinker injured by premature blast.

HEW 12 May: Roland Teal, Grange Moor, deputy at Flockton Coliery, in engine house struck by machinery and hip broken.

HEW 21 July: Victoria Colliery, Lepton, plant to be sold.

1900. HEW 21 Jul: George Charlesworth, Hepworth obit, aged 80, former hurrier and most of life continued in coal industry. “Despite his environment he early cultivated a taste for reading and research and became, what is commonly termed a well-read man.  He had at command a rich store of history both ancient and modern”.  quoted Homer, Milton, Burns and Byron.  Worshipped Gladstone.  Devout, but preferred ‘content to worship under his own vine  and fig tree’.  Former guardian. “Mr Charlesworth’s death snaps another of the few village links, the type of which the new bourgeoisie disregardeth.”

HEW 4 Aug: George Leonard Addy, Skelmanthorpe fined £10 or two months, for attempting to defraud Stringer & Jaggar, Park Mill, by fixing his mottie in other mens’ corves.

1900. HEW 13 Oct:20 Oct: New Peace Pit, Leeds road, Leeds Fireclay Co. Explosion, William Hoyle of Brick Buildings (33) working without shirt badly burnt able to walk home after ‘oil applied to his wounds’ later died. Fred Ellis (25) working with him fully clothed not much hurt.

Inquest: William Armitage manager: shaft 90 yards at 62 yards “approach” to Halifax Hard bed being driven.  Shaft 14 foot diameter and wrought iron pipe 15 inch diameter extends below approach. Air pumped by 36 inch fan at 8,000 cubic feet a minute. Stoker, David Horner of Dewsbury in Charge of fan.  Naked light in landing of shaft.  The men had two safety lamps in approach. Deceased thought that the hopper coming down shaft had forced gas towards naked light.  Juror asks why Ellis not present, doctor’s certificate of illness.  Accidental death verdict although air pipe should have been in workings which extended 22′ from shaft.

1901. HEW 18 May: Park Mill colliery, Stringer & Jaggar: Wm Sykes thigh broken in roof fall.

1901. HEW 29 Jun. Ravensthorpe dispute – YMA branch deputation to Trades

1901    HExp 19 Oct:  Wood Pit, Tinker Bros Ltd, Hazlehead. – 20 colliers and 10 hurriers summonsed for damages for abstaining from work and pumping loss £4 a day.  85 men and 50 lads employed. Men take holiday for Doncaster Race Week and Honley Feast, two weeks notice expcted for absence.  roadmen, banksmen, hangers on paid by contract according to output – laid off.  Colliers argue can’t work without hurriers and it was they who absented themselves. Damages awarded against hurriers, 2/6d + 5/6d costs.

1902. HEW 31 May: Clayton West miner Wm. Henry Brearly left for British Colombia around 18 months ago killed in Crow Nest Colliery disaster. Death toll 130.

HEW 30 Aug: Park Mill Colliery.Stringer & Jaggar: Herbert Fisher, byworkman killed in gas explosion.  Found by his brother Allen on saturday morning badly burnt and with head injuries.  No appliances for accidents it took brother and deputy, Booth one a a half hours to get him out of pit.  He dies in lamp room.  Sam Schofield who had been working with him erecting wooden dam to keep water back  in road yard high and 4 foot 6 inches wide,  Explosion when raising partition. No flame seen, working with candles – had not noticed gas before.  Alf Booth:  had found no gas with safety lamp and it had not been known in that district.  Top sleeper but one broken in half ‘at one stage the coroner threatened to commit him if he did not give his evidence but jury says appliances should be kept in case of accidents down pits.  Secretary of the company said this would be done.

 HEW 22 Nov: Fanny Moor Colliery, Emley Moor, Stringer, Jaggar & Co. Herbert Lockwood, deputy and shot firer sues for compensation.  Not worked since severely burnt in explosion in which another killed.  Spark ignites his powder.

1903. HEW 14 Feb: Victoria colliery, Lepton, Luke Robinson, getter and Arthur Senior, hurrier, getting a ‘post’ (pillar) supporting roof, 30 inches high., working by candle, 4 props 18 inches to 2 foot apart. Roof sounded OK but few minutes later 3-4 cwt collapsed killing Robinson.  Charles Ellis, deputy.

HEW 4 Jul: Box Ing colliery of Seth Senior, Moorhouse Armitage, Lane Head, Kirkburton, injured by roof fall. Working with Joseph Armitage, under manager, packing.

HEW 11 Jul: Shaw Laithe Colliery, Elland, miner killed after drops candle on charge ready to fire.

HEW 1 Aug: managers certificates awarded.

1904    Wage reductions.

HEW 23 Jan: Park Mill, Stringer & Jaggar, sued at Barnsley County Court by David Jones and 11 other miners for £7.3.2d. Seams over 30 inches paid 2s.5d./ton, less than 30 in, 3s.10d/ton.  Had been paid lower rate though thin seams. Judge says seam thickness could vary day to day, allows half claim.

1905

HEW 18 Mar: Naylor Bros. Denby Dale, clay miner killed working with heading machine.

HEW 5 Aug: Park Mill colliery, Frank Bell, Denby Dale. roof fall fractures spine. In critical condition

1906   

HEW 5 May: Victoria Colliery, Lepton,  Swift & Netherfield, Hall England, 16, hurrier from Crosland Moor workhouse killed by roof fall.

1907    8 Hour Bill passed.

 HED 18 Mar,Worker 23 Mar: Emley Moor colliery, Mallinson on of Richard Henry Mallinson of Commonside Flockton, , trammer (15) killed.  Working with father in No. 3 Drift, afternoon shift, preparing place for new wheel for haulage rope, replacing old one 110 yards away.  First time Mallinsons in thatpart of mine and did not know  way about very well.  Son had to tram dirt some distance.  Both not used to lamps as candles  used where they usually  worked. Son’s light went out. A longway to lighting station and son had to pass over old wheel to get there. Around 4pm.  Cover off old wheel (four foot di) which John Umpleby of Skelmanthorpe was working on.  Boy’s leg caught between rope and wheel.  Deputy George Leather told him not to go to lighting station as a mile away. Had not instructed that people be warned about work on wheel.  Had a key to open lamps.  Three others had gone out that morning.   Infirmary house surgeon says knee joint badly lacerated, deceased hasd lost much blood died soon after.

HExp 22 Jun: 60 colliers from Hepworth/Jackson Bridge travel to Barnsley for Miners Demonstration in waggonette, some on bikes. Two injured on road between Sovreign and Dendy Dale.

HED 23 Jul, Lodge Mill Colliery, breach of contract., men average 6s.9d. per 8 hour day.

1908. YFT 28 Feb. Skelmanthorpe, Stringer & Jaggar, manager killed by breaking chain.

W 4 Apr: Shuttle Eye and Grange Ash collieries 10 day strike over high price of three types of coal they have for home consumption. ‘In the old days the colliers used to get their coal for nothing or for a nominal price, but now, when everything is tightened up,they have to pay heavily.’ Won a slight reduction but if the price of coal falls further they will be paying more than people who buy it from outside. Also at Cardwell’s collieries same grievance and meeting of masters and men agree slight reduction.

W 5 Sep: Hepworth Iron Works Co, Hard bed Pit 60 or 70 men and their hurriers on strike for 18 weeks for advance of wages. Took reduction on understanding it would be restored as distances increased  and coal had to be hurried further but promise not fulfilled.  Co. having to buy coal fromother collieries to fill contracts ‘and the trade union miners at those pits  are thus unwilllingly being used as cogs in the system against their brothers’.  Gatehead branch of YMA demonstration, showery weather, headed by Hepworth ironworks Brass Band, Hepworth, Scholes, back to Hepworth Band room for tea.  Speeches made at halting places.  Jonas Kaye of Hepworth said there were some blacklegs ‘you know who they are’ Called for support and said they would stay out two years if necessary.  Cllrs Herman Barker (Broadstones) and Fred Adams (Thurlstone) rousing speeches.  Barker: ‘it was for the working class to organise itself to wrest from the capitalists the wealth which the workers created  and which was stolen from them in broad daylight’.  500 people at tea, provisions supplied by supporters. gala in field lent by Wilson Brook, diabolo contests and bowling at the wicket and dancing to ironworks band.

HED 24 Nov, Worker 28 Nov:: Denby Grange colliery, breach of contract case at Huddersfield county court against executors of E.Lister Kaye by John Wilson of Broomhall, Emley and two other corve fillers for not providing rails and so loosing a days work also damages for ‘false imprisonment in detaining them in the pit.’ YMA barrister. Told  deputy they would need rails next day, but arrive and find none. Undermanager George Hooper wont allow them to leave pit until end of shift at 2pm.  Defence says rails provided but men could only earn  1s.6d to 2s a day due to bad roof and so used it as an excuse to come out.   Hooper says went to inspect place and found it easy to move corves without rails and men had done it before.  Judgement given for defendants.

1909   1 Jul:  1908 Coal Mines Regulation Act comes into effect.  8 hour day excluding winding time.

W 6 Nov: Lodge Colliery, Lepton, Ben Elliott. Summons of 70 colliers for 5s a day for leaving work without notice and refusing on three days to go below. men say hanger on too old and not strong enough for ‘heavy and responsible work he was called on to do’.  On August 16 one Clark,of hangers on goes home, another Hirst, refuses to go down and is dismissd manger asks Brook deputy to do job, though he admits he had a lot of other duties and couldn’t do job properly. Hanger on had to be at bottom as men came down and did all signalling for ascents and decents ‘the mens’ lives depended on him’.  Magistrate said men had a right to know that there was a competent man doing job.  Manager’s order for them to go down unlawful and therefore men were reasonable in refusing.  Costs allowed to defendants who appeared, but 5s. damages and costs against Clarke for not apppearing.

W.6 Nov:(ibid).Denby Grange. Herbert Lockwood of Flockton Hill claimed £6.5s.5d. from executors of E.Lister Kaye, for accident which occurred on 12 December last.  Leg fractured in several places by fall of coal. Average wages before £1.17s.8d.  Firm paid him 18s.10d. per week up until 22 June then offered him 15s.10d. and asked him to sign a receipt in full settlement.  restarted work on 22 June and could make his old wages on soft face coal but not on hard.  Doctors give contradictory evidence about effect of injury on his working ability.  Frank Waterhouse, manger says he received less due to a 5% reduction in the rate of wages that year and a scarcity of trammers.  Ordered to pay the £1.2s.6d. not accounted for by this.

1910

W 8 Jan: Emley Moor colliery,Stringer & Jaggar. Thomas Gibson,20, hurrier of Top Hill Farm Lower Cumberworth dies on Thursday night  from injuries sustained that day. His brother William for whom he was hurrying  hears cry and finds him at cross gate trapped between his tub and three yards long weighing about three tons across his back which had fallen from side. Took ten minutes to prise stone off Thomas.  Cross gate new and roof timbered up but falls common in roadway, including some bigger than that one.  Roof in some places propped with bars let into side at others bars supported by props.  At this place no props but pack wall of clod three feet high where coal had been got.  Thomas had been filling tub with broken wood.  Willis Booth of Skelmanthorpe, in charge of district, said timbered was put where it was thought it was required. There were no props at place where accident happened but “stretchers” supporting roof resting on stone. These had not been disturbed by accident. Pack walls made about a fortnight since and were about five or six feet thick and wedged tightly in face with stone settled on them.  He had watched them settling and found no sinking above.  The walls of the cross gate were straight and he had sounded them abut 9 in the morning every yard.  there had been some blasting near two or days before, but thought fall was due to a natural slip of joint in rock.  He had tested wall with a yardstick and found nothing wrong.  Jury return verdict of accidental death and suggest tomahawk not stick be used for testing in future.

1911 Act: Certification of deputies and surveyors.  Illegal for manager to run more than one pit without permission of mine inspectorate.

W. 14 Jan: Harry Castle, Hurrier, Jackson Bridge charged at Holmfirth police Court by Messers Tinker Bros of Hepworth of serious breach of Coal Mines Act. Pleads guilty but case adjourned 14 days to allow him represntation due to seriousness of offence.

W 18 Mar. Emley Moor colliery, Stringer & Jaggar. Walter Dyson dies in infirmary  from brain damage and haemorraging over a week after being crushed on head by 2 cwt stone.  Working with another miner, Joseph Radley, Skelmanthorpe, on Monday morning  filling coal being got by coal cutting machine into a tub two or three yards from the face.  Filling a skip and pulling it out onto the plate when Dyson on his knees behind corve pinned to ground by stone  3.6in by 2 foot by 30 inches.  They had tested roof before working and did own timbering.  William Swallow deputy, said he had examined area where deceased was working and it would have been examined by deputy on Sunday night.

HEW 29 Mar; Emley Moor colliery, Stringer & Jaggar. Owen Smith hurrier, son of George Smith, killed by tub hit by runaways not coupled to those on rope haulage.  Duty of hurriers and hanger-on to make sure tubs coupled.

HExp 22 Apr: Wood Pit, Jackson Bridge, Harry Charlesworth, 29, of Jackson Bridge killed by roof fall ‘I am fast’ dug out dead. Leaves wife and child. Inquest at New Mill UDC offices.

W.15 Jul:  Emley Moor colliery. Benjamin Beckwith, 24, coal cutter, Emley dies in infirmary from injuries sustained when he was on the bracket of the machine wheel when someone turned electric  power on.  Mines Inspector and Herbert Smith question witnesses at inquest.  His brother, also a miner says when he visited him in the infirmary he wold not say who turned power on. Power had to be turned on first in the gate and then on the machine but only when deceased said so. George Edward Stringer said that the machines and power had been supplied to them by contractors who  had full control over the working of the cutters, subject to the officials of the colliery who oversaw safety. The contractors supplied the men who turned on the power.  deceased had control over power and machine on his shift.  Stringer knew of no case where machine had started of its own accord.  It required both hands to make a full revolution of the switch to give full power and a quarter turn power to turn it round.  The manager, mr Taylor appointed the chargemen. Machines locked when not working.

John Black of Thorncliffe was chargeman under the deceased.  On Tuesday last they were working at 3.30pm.  He prepared engine ready for power being turned on and then returned to machine.  Sid Hawes. was sent to turn power on when deceased said so.  Black thirty yards away setting a derrick when Beckwith tells him to tell Sid to switch on power.  When eight yards from machine hears deceased cry out with pain and runs to turn off power.  Finds deceased on back on cutter wheel head towards the coal with feet cut off under machine.  Place about 1yard 6inches high. Would have to lean over bracket wheel to put cutters on.  Smith argues with coroner about relevance of witness’ competance, Smith ‘said his object was to find a remedy to prevent the killing of people at the colliery.’  Sid Hawes said he was told by Black to switch power on then immediately shout to turn it off.  Deceased said ‘Sid lad, it’s not your fault,’ George Pickering of Skelmanthorpe, ripper heard words to that effect.

W 22 Jul; “Another Colliery Accident at Emley” tuesday afternoon, Thomas Barker,22, of Queen street Skelmanthorpe trapped between corves at Stringer & Jaggar’s Standback Pit. Badly crushed legs and lower body.

W.4 Mar: Whiteley Clough and Lepton Edge collieries lockout. Public tea to raise funds organised by Lepton and Grange Moor branches of the YMA. 300 present at lepton Church School along with Grange Moor brass band.  500 at evening meeting.  £5.11s collected in advance.  Councillor Elliott in chair. Herbert Smith, president of YMA speaks.W. 29 Apr: lockout now in ninth month by Cardwell to impose 1s. a ton reduction, a 50% cut in wages. But offered 6d. a ton more to try and induce blacklegs.  They say they could still only earn 5s. a day and when dispute explained to them stop work.  Cardwell offers to amend reduction to 3d. a ton but men stick by 1900 agreement of 2s a ton plus percentages.  90 men out on 9s strike pay plus 1s for each child.  Contributions to W Kaye secretary and George Booth treasurer, grange Moor.  Cardwell refused to go to arbitration although a member of the Coalowners Association.

W.20 May. Dispute ended after 44 weeks.  Strike committee invited to colliery office to meet Cardwell and Mr Scott of Coalowners’ Association..  Agree on 1s.9d. a ton plus percentages, 2s.6d. per yard plus percentages on clod to width of 5 feet and any falling below average wages to be made up to 6s.9d. a day. 20 of lockouts working at other pits or casual jobs but it was expected they would return to work

W 29 Jul: Lodge Colliery,Lepton, Ben Elliotts. Employing 28 miners and 18 hurriers. Day after coronation the manager Charles H. Hinchcliffe manager arrives at colliery at 6.25pm to find no one there and no work had been done. James Taylor hurrier and Fred Dutton collier both of Clough Terrace Hopton summonsed for absenting themselves from work.  Average tonnage per man 3d a day, standing charges 1s.6d. a ton, royalty 6d. a ton, rates 2d, pumping 3d. and other taxes 3d.

Fred Raney, head banksman said that at 6 in morning some hurriers said they intended going home because there was no lampman.  He advises against it and asks another man to attend to lamps, but hurriers go home and colliers follow.  Work due to start at 6.30am and the lampman supposed to be there at 5.00 am.  He thought that the men came with the intention of working.  Ernest Kilner asked to see to lamps said he did not know that one of lamps had no plug in place and had not tested ropes and cages, but that would only have took him five minutes.  Manager says there were three competant enginemen or fireman and sufficient plugs.  Deputy James English says that nothing had been said to him about shortage of lead or ropes.  Lampman Sam Lockwood said he had overslept but he had left lamps ready for lighting and Kilner knew drawer where plugs were kept.  Dutton said he went to lamp room at 6.05 but it was locked so waited until 6.25 then went home. Taylor also said lamproom locked.  The checkweighman, Elliott Shaw said he wasn’t aware that the banksman and enginemen were lampmen and that some lamps did not have plugs.  Magistrates order against Dutton 6s.9d. damages and 14s.3d. costs and 2s.6d. and 14s.3d. cost in the case of Taylor.

HEW 21 Oct: Shuttle Eye Colliery – Thomas Gibbs, head banksman finds ‘lunatic’ in pit yard – Chas Walshaw former miner there. Removed to workhouse where he dies 24 hours later from fractured skull.

1912

HEW 27 Jan: Hazlehead Collieries, Tinker Bros Ltd, George Haigh miner charged by manager Fred Robinson with breach of Coal Mines Regulation Act on 20 November last. Summonsed to Holmfirth police court. Seen by Henry Moor Hudspeth of Leeds, junior inspector of mines in man hole in area beyond door with sign ‘No naked light to pass this point’ hurriedly putting object in pocket. Whif of tobacco in air.  Says first that it was a dog (rail nail) used for signalling (forming contact on signal wires to complete circuit and set off bell at haulage engine c.f use of broken hacksaw blades) defendent acknowledging that he had a copy of the rules.  Safety lamps had been in use for four years.  The mine was not dangerous but the prosecution had been brought as a warning. Fine of 10s plus 16s costs.

1912: Strike begins 1 March and lasts five weeks.  ‘The Coal War’.

HEW 2 Mar: All mines in Clayton West, Emley Moor and Lepton districts on strike.  Two months stocks at gasworks and electricity stations.

YFT 7 Mar: Worsted manufacturers lay of workers due to coal strike.  Brook’s pit at Shelley, St Helens colliery at Highburton and day-holes in Cumberworth still working.

Grange Moor branch of MA nominates Lunn for PPC in Holmfirth but (YFT 27 Jun) Silkstone miners pro-Arnold (Lib). “Textile workers are more ahead with politics than the miners…” .

HEW 9 Mar: Eastwood Bros, Honley, mill closed as a result of coal shortage – 200 laid off., Broadfield Mill on short time, Slaithwaite Spinning Co. stopped.  Engine coal fetching £1.16s a ton.

Linfit Lane Colliery Co, wednesday. about 300 following hounds notice wheels turning at pit.  Small group, mainly lads break away and demand that non-unionists stop work, about a dozen in pit.  A few pains of glass broken and although blacklegs offer to try and drive off the attacker the manager agrees to stop work. Company does not belong to Coal Owners federation.

HEW 16 mar: ‘The Coal War’ mills and rail services affected. One colliery asking £2 a ton.  At Shelley, where most colliers employed at Emley Moor pits ‘They look quite happy and spend most of their time at the club’.

GUWTW pay out of work benefits to around 600 in Huddersfield and 600 in Colne Valley.

HEW 30 Mar: Surface coal being worked to supply some firms including at Bradley.  Huddersfield least affected of large manufacturing towns according to Charity Commissioners.  Tanfield Mills, Glendenning Bros, restarts after a fortnight stoppage, 400 employed.

HEW 8 April: Honley Cliff Wood, above railway, coal being got. two loads on Saturday.  A field further up valley cleared two or three feet down to seam.  Lockwood, Spa Top, dayhole, produces stuff that will burn if paraffin added.

PHOTO ‘Amateur Coal Mining at Damside.

W. 23 Mar. Read Holliday & Sons Ltd, Turnbridge buy colliery at Skelmanthorpe to carry on work. Some firms fetching coal refuse from 20 year old tip at the Ainleys 2s.6d. a load.

W.8 Jun: Denby Grange colliery, application under Workmen’s Compensation Act by proprietors for diminution of 12s.3d. paid to Irvine Moorhouse, Middlestown, for nystagmus. Doctors claim that patient could produce symptoms of nystagmus, reduced payment to 1d. a week.  In another case against the firm, John T.Preston  collier had worked for there  19 years, finding in 1907 that he had nystagmus put on surface work for seven months and then returned to face, but found illness was getting worse. Compensation of 13s.6d. (half wages) stopped in February when Dr says he could find no trace of nystagmus.  Other Drs testify that once a man had nystagmus he should not go again down pit as it was likely to recur.  Compensation restored.

1913

HEW 11 Jan: Victoria Colliery, Netherwoods. Douglas Egglestone , 15, hurrier, lodging at Spa Bottom with handloom weaver, John Allen Bentley. From London only began work in pit 28 November, killed by half ton stone from roof when trying to clear earlier fall to get tubs past. Had not informed deputy about roof or sounded it.  Gladstone Whittaker undermanager sounded roof that morning, says falls rare. Coroner recommends that regulations should be posted more clearly.  Rooffalls should not be approached until roof examined.

HEW 18 Jan: Fatal Pit Accidents – Second death at Lepton within a week.Throstle Nest Pit. Working 20 years, first fatal accident. (Ben Elliott’s). ’ Inquest Primitive Methodist Chapel , Lepton, Inquest. Arthur Scaife, hurrier, 20, Thornes Fold, Lepton, crushed by stonefall. Father Ephraim says sone worked down pit nearly ten years, last 18 months at Throstle Nest.  Had complained about bad roof. William Dyson, Greaves House, Lepton, road driven about 12 months ago – 9’x4’ high. Roof tested every day, some bad pulled down, no timbering where accident occurred. Three large stones on deceased.  William Briggs, Road End, Cowms, hurrier says taking empty tubs back to face.  E H Hill district Coroner. No blame attached to owner, but curious two similar accidents in two adjacent pits with no previous accident within ten days.

HEW 1 Feb: Lodge Mill Pit, Ben Elliott proprietor, Alf Sykes, 51, ‘byworkman’, Hagg farm, Kirkheaton overcome by gas searching for deputy James English who also killed while altering brattice on night shift to clear air so rails could be got out.  Chas Henry Hinchliffe, manager, says if gas more than 2 ^1/2 % should be reported and men removed. Area abandoned due to fault and gas.

Supplement: Lodge Mill worked in conjunction with Throstle nest Pit where a hurrier recently killed. Worked 20 yearstogether  employing around 300 men.  Lodge Mill 80 yards deep, 3 foot Black Bed seam.  Sykes went looking for English with two other datalers.  rescue party led by Hinchliffe and George (son of Ben) Elliott.  Wakefield rescue team summoned from Altofts Colliery.  Arrive in motor car with Weg Apparatus. (named from inventor  W E Garforth.)

            HEW 8 Feb: Lepton house to house canvas for subs for widow and and 6 children, Examiner supports appeal and has rep on committee.

            Ibid: Swift & Netherwood, colliery Lepton, officials and workpeople present silver mounted, inscribed walking stick to G Whittaker, Kirkburton Evening School teacher since all students pass Home Office gas testing exam introduced in 1911 Mines Act.

HEW 15 Feb: Relief Fund – subs include Ben Elliott, 310 and H R Beaumont JP, £10.10s.  15 Marc: more subs, including colliery collections.

YFT 10 Apr: Lodge Mill Colliery – Syke’s widow’s compensation claim..  started in pit Feb 1910, averaged £1.5s 6d a week. Not farmer only rented house there 3s week.  Not taken in lodgers only adopted boy for whom receive 12s month and nephew from S. Africa – 10s week.

W 11 Oct: Lepton YMA secretary J.H.Radley.

HEW 18 Oct; W 25 Oct: Swift & Netherwood’s Colliery Lepton. Day hole 25inch seam. Henry Micklethwaite, collier (50) at Huddersfield left foot and ankle broken in roof fall in October 1912, seven weeks in bed and then on crutches.  £1 week  compensation paid until May.  Continued until he is able to work.

*Letter from ‘Safeguard’ re. warning relayed underground by telephone when Mines Inspector visits.

W 8 Nov: Farnley Iron Co. pit, Colne Bridge, Bradley miner found at meeting station with matches in waistcoat, fined 10s. plus 10s. costs at Co. police court. Small explosion in pit at 1911.

            Ibid. FN Waterhouse, mnager of Grange Moor collieries, presides at dinner of Yorks branch of National Association of colliery managers, now in existence 27 years.

1914.

HEW 14 Mar, YFT 19 Mar: Sledbrook colliery, Hepworth (Hepworth Iron Co)- Deputy  Arthur Kaye, 27, killed by shot firing explosion.

HEW 18 Mar: Emley Moor colliery, Stringer & Jaggar, Walter Dyson, collier, 23, machine filler, King St, Skelmanthorpe, filling into tub being cut by machine two or three yards from face, killed by stone fall. Stone – yard 6 inches long, 30 inches thick. Working with Jospeh Radley of Skelmanthorpe. Had worked in pit since 14.

  HEW 4 Apr: South Yorkshire miners’ strike.  Rise in coal price.  Miners of Kirkburton and Emley Moor on strike since belong to S Yorks Union, but issue causing strike, certain terms in minimum wage agreement, does not affect them. Their award under W Yorks area.  ‘simply standing by the orders of their union.’

YFT  7 May:Worker 9 May: Joe Mallinson of Little Lepton and Chas Jessop of Grange Moor summoned for breach of contract arising from coal strike – fined 10s each and 13s costs. Employed at Throstle Nest and Lodge Mill pits by Ben Elliott

Refuse to return to work till deputy Mountain reinstated.

HEW 4 Jul: : Linfit Lane pit, Alfred Sykes’,  Thos Rose and Richard Firth, Yew Tree Farm, Kirkburton, missing. Found gassed.  Recover in Infirmary.

Management provided tools but men had to pay for missing ones out of wages.

HDC 20 Aug:  Henry Brook, 60, Coronation Terr, Clayton West, killed at Stringer & Jaggar’s colliery.  Worked there for 30 years.  ‘Park Silkstone Pit’.  Clearing roof fall and retimbering, hit by falling stone, back injured, dies following day in infirmary.

W 24 Oct:  Lodge Mill Colliery fatal roof-fall accident.

HEW 28 Nov: Grange Moor, Lockwood & Elliott summons seven colliers for leaving work without notice. Sec of Grange Moor branch of YMA requests prosecution adjourn for one week.

W 26 Dec: Lepton miner killed.

HE 19 Dec: Shuttle Eye, Lockwood & Elliott, undermanager, William Shaw of Lepton hit by corve while working in crouched position.  Spine injured, police ambulance summonsed

HE 24 Dec: Fred Macdonald, 22, Lepton miner died at Crosland Moor workhouse from injuries sustained at Throstlenest Colliery, 16 Nov 1913.  Crippled with broken back caused when tram flung off rails by haulage rope. Should not have been tramming on engine road when ropes in motion.

1915   

HEW 10 Apr: Lodge Mill Colliery, gas ignites miner burnt.

 HEW 2 Oct: Swift & Netherwood’s colliery, Lepton, Charlie Stead, 40, killed by roof fall.

1918  

HEW 2 Feb: Lepton Edge, Tom Wortley, Holmebridge, 29, killed by stonefall while setting prop on face.

POST WAR  DEVELOPMENTS

 1921    HEW 12 Feb: Lodge Mill Colliery, B. Elliott & Sons, inquest on Alfred Parkin (55) collier, Highgate Lane, burnt by gas explosion, 20 Dec 1920 – dies in HRI – deputy always tested for gas after shot firing – if  more than 2 % then men withdrawn and haulage engine stopped. Gas not known in that drift before.

1924    HEW 9 Feb: Victoria Colliery Lepton, Frank Berry, 23, Rowley Hill, back severely injured in earthfall in drift.  Taken to HRI in police ambulance.

1923    HEW 23 Jun, 7 Jul; Emley Moor Colliery. Arthur Smith, 30, coal cutter operator, Greenside, Lower Cumberworth . Electric shock from faulty machine, falls and is injured in eye socket by revolving pin in machine rod.  Wife says he had worked at Emley for 6 and a half years and a month or tow ago told her he did not like working with machinery. Willie Mountain, Outlane, Emley, says machine not used for two months. Casing damaged.Electrician says machine should not have been used.  Deputies said not aware of danger.

1925 HEW  27 Jun: Hazlehead Miner’s Institute opened at Jackson Bridge by Herbert Smith, president of Miners’ Federation.  Cost £961 paid for out of Miners’ Welfare Fund, every colliery paid 1d/ton levy [result of Sankey Commission]. Fred Robinson sec and treasurer, deficit of £53.4s. 1d remained. 200 preent at tea in Wesleyan Schoolroom, gala and dance in grounds at Meal Hill with Hade Edge Brass Band.

1926    HEW 10 July: Whitleley Colliery, Messers Daniel Wood Ltd, alleged damage by five Lepton men, released some corves. ‘We will stop the blacklegs at this one-eyed show.’  After previous damage under police protection, five seen by PC. Blacklegs working. Normally 30 men employed.

HEW  17 Jul: Linfit Colliery, three colliers case against John Arthur Oates, colliery deputy and magistrate for intimidation.  Connected to Grange Moor branch of Miners Federation, chair of Whteley Upper UDC (therefore JP) – case dismissed.

HEW 24 Jul: Jennie Payne, 32, wife of James Payne, miner, buried while picking coal from outcrop near Royd House, Shelley, dug out unconscious.

1927    HEW 4 Jul: Kirkburton colliery owner, Alf Sykes, fined for 13 breaches of regulations.

1929    HEW  26 Jan: Emley Moor Colliery – fire in lamp room. Used for charging electric lamps as well as cleaning and replenishing oil lamps.   About 700 miners at pit head.

1935    HEW 8 Jun: Lepton Edge Colliery, owned by W & J Cardwell, acquired by B Elliott & Sons, new plant installed.  120 men employed. Visit by Examiner party.   Blocking, New Hards and Beeston seams. Shafts 216 and 370 feet.

HEW  28 Dec: Lepton Edge, Dyson Kitson, engine winder, arm torn off by pumping engine, dies of gas gangrene.  Walks into road and calmly asks someone to fetch his arm.

1937    [???] Emley Moor,  4 March, George Bradshaw of Longroyd Bridge killed by roof fall. Working with coal cutter.  Roof only 19 inches high.

1937    HEW 6 Nov: George Edward Stringer obit:

1937    HEW 27 Nov: Meeting Stringer’s Employees, Officials and Men’s Society, Skelmanthorpe Liberal Club.  G F F Eager, manager in chair.

Ref to death of G E Stringer. Park Mill and Emley Moor Collieries accident statistics. Greater issue of hard hats, boots and gloves not had affect. Emley Moor change to intensive face conveyor system had taken place year earlier than Park Mill.  c. 1933.  At Emley increased accident rate 1936.  Takes about three years for men to become used to new system. That point now passed.

1938    HEW 12 Feb: Emley Moor miner, forced retirement due to ‘miners knee’.

HEW 7 May, Sally Wood Pit, ponies, day hole, two miles to coal face.

HEW 20 Aug: Emley Moor Colliery photo,

1945   HEW 27 Jan;  ‘Mottying’ case at Lockwood & Elliott’s Shuttle Eye colliery.  James H Hey of Newsome fined 40s and 24s costs.