MineArchiveBamfurlong Colliery roof fall, 1899
Two colliers working coal left beside a fault at Bamfurlong Colliery were buried by a roof collapse on 25 August 1899.
| Date | 25 August 1899 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Bamfurlong Colliery |
| Region | Greater Manchester |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two killed: the colliers Thomas Gerrard and George Pennington.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Weak roof beside a fault collapsed over coal being worked out.
Contributing factors
The coal had been left next to a fault, where the roof was very weak.
What happened
On 25 August 1899 two colliers at Bamfurlong Colliery, near Ashton-in-Makerfield, Thomas Gerrard, 22, and George Pennington, 30, were almost finished working a piece of coal that had been left back next to a fault. The roof there was very weak, and it collapsed, capping the bars and props over five yards square and burying both men.
Investigation & inquiry
The Inspector of Mines made an inspection and attended the inquest.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 25 August 1899 two colliers, Thomas Gerrard, 22, and George Pennington, 30, were killed at Bamfurlong Colliery. 1,2,3
- They were nearly finished working a piece of coal left back next to a fault when the very weak roof there collapsed, burying them and capping the bars and props over five yards square. 1,2,3
- The colliery belonged to Cross, Tetley and Co. Ltd. 1,2,3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Coal (contextual relationship)
Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “Two colliers working coal left beside a fault at Bamfurlong Colliery were buried by a roof…” - Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two colliers working coal left beside a fault at Bamfurlong Colliery were buried by a roof collapse on 25 August 1899.” - HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s investigation: “The Inspector of Mines made an inspection and attended the inquest.” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…coal left beside a fault at Bamfurlong Colliery were buried by a roof collapse on 25 August 1899.”
Sources
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Bamfurlong Colliery — Durham Mining Museum, from the Mines Inspectors Reports and the Lists of Mines
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames G (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames P part 2 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026