MineArchiveOn 2 December 1891 four men were suffocated by gases while s
On 2 December 1891 four men were suffocated by gases while shutting off an underground fire at Agecroft Colliery, near Pendlebury in Lancashire.
| Date | 2 December 1891 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Agecroft Colliery |
| Region | Greater Manchester |
| Primary type | Gas / Asphyxiation |
| Associated types | Fire |
| Fatalities | 4 (G. H. Borton (38), fireman; James Hughes (47), underlooker; and John Neild (28) and Charles Watkin (27), miners.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
The men were overcome by gases while sealing off a fire in the mine, thought to have started by spontaneous combustion.
What happened
G. H. Borton, a fireman of 38, James Hughes, an underlooker of 47, and two miners, John Neild (28) and Charles Watkin (27), were suffocated by gases as they worked to shut off a fire underground, believed to have begun by spontaneous combustion. The colliery belonged to Andrew Knowles and Sons; the accident was followed by an inspection and inquiry.
Sources
- (primary) Agecroft Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Agecroft Colliery suffocation, 2 December 1891 — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 22 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026