Allanton Colliery roof fall, 1905

On 29 August 1905 two miners named McLaren, John, aged 45, and Richard, aged 19, were killed by a fall of roof in their working place in No. 1 Pit of William Barr and Sons' Allanton Colliery, Ferniegair.

Cause

A fall of roof in the working place, where it was doubtful whether props had been set as the regulations required.

What happened

The two McLarens were working together when the roof came down on them. The record of the accident notes that it was doubtful whether the props had been set as required by the regulations.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• On 29 August 1905 a fall of roof in a working place at No. 1 Pit, Allanton Colliery, killed two miners, John McLaren and Richard McLaren. ^1,2
• It was doubtful whether props had been set as the regulations required. ^1,2
• The colliery belonged to William Barr and Sons. ²

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “…their working place in No. 1 Pit of William Barr and Sons' Allanton Colliery, Ferniegair.”
• Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…named McLaren, John, aged 45, and Richard, aged 19, were killed by a fall of roof in their working place in No. 1 Pit of William Barr and Sons'…”

Sources

1. (primary) Allanton Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Scottish Mining Website: fatal accidents 1905 — Scottish Mining Website

Record created: 21 October 2026 · Last researched: 21 October 2026