MineArchiveAshton's Green Colliery roof fall, 1896
Two colliers walking down the haulage downbrow to their work at Ashton's Green Colliery, St Helens, were buried on 25 September 1896 when the roof gave way at an untimbered joint.
| Date | 25 September 1896 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Ashtons Green Colliery |
| Region | Merseyside |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (2 killed, both colliers: William Cunliffe (25) and James Pennington (20).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A sudden crush of the roof over the haulage brow at an untimbered joint, probably caused by the wide work approaching from the lower side.
What happened
On 25 September 1896 William Cunliffe, aged 25, and James Pennington, aged 20, colliers at Ashton's Green, were walking down the haulage downbrow to their work when part of the roof, nearly a foot thick, gave way and buried them. There was a joint in the roof at that point that had not been timbered; the officials had seen no sign of it giving way. The inspector's view was that the wide work approaching this part of the brow from the lower side must have caused a sudden crush of the roof over it.
Investigation & inquiry
The inspector made an inspection and attended the inquest, at which it was recommended that the roadway be barred or timbered at that point.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 25 September 1896 William Cunliffe (25) and James Pennington (20), colliers, were killed by a fall of roof on the haulage downbrow at Ashton's Green Colliery. 1,2
- The roof, nearly a foot thick, gave way at a joint that had not been timbered; the approaching wide work probably caused a sudden crush. 1,2
- At the inquest it was recommended that the roadway should be timbered at that point. 1,2
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: “…walking down the haulage downbrow to their work at Ashton's Green Colliery, St Helens, were buried on 25 September 1896 when the roof gave way…” - Haulage (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Two colliers walking down the haulage downbrow to their work at Ashton's Green Colliery, St Helens, were…”
Sources
- (primary) Ashton's Green Colliery (UK) — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Ashton Green Colliery Accidents — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 16 October 2026 · Last researched: 16 October 2026