MineArchiveAshton's Field Colliery roof fall, 1901
Two colliers at the Bridgewater Trustees' Ashton's Field Colliery, Little Hulton, were killed on 21 March 1901 by a fall from two slips, after an hour's talk about putting up a prop.
| Date | 21 March 1901 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Ashton's Field Colliery |
| Region | Greater Manchester |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (2 killed, colliers: James Gorton (26) and Samuel Jackson (58).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A fall of roof from two pronounced slips near the face, where a prop had been discussed but not set.
What happened
On 21 March 1901 two colliers at the Bridgewater Trustees' Ashton's Field Colliery, Little Hulton, James Gorton, 26, and Samuel Jackson, 58, were killed by a fall of roof in the roadway of their working place, near the face. The stone came away from two pronounced slips. They had had several warnings of the danger and had talked for an hour about putting up a prop.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 21 March 1901 a fall of roof killed two colliers at Ashton's Field Colliery. 1,2,3
- The dead were James Gorton, 26, and Samuel Jackson, 58. 1,2,3
- The fall came from two pronounced slips; the men had several warnings and had talked for an hour about putting up a prop. 1,2,3
- The colliery was owned by the Bridgewater Trustees. 2,3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two colliers at the Bridgewater Trustees' Ashton's Field Colliery, Little Hulton, were killed on 21 March 1901 by a fall from two…” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “A fall of roof from two pronounced slips near the face, where a prop had been…”
Sources
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Ashton's Field Colliery — Durham Mining Museum, from the Lists of Mines
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: James Gorton, Ashton's Field, 1901 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Samuel Jackson, Ashton's Field, 1901 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 18 October 2026 · Last researched: 18 October 2026