MineArchiveBlackleyhurst Colliery arch collapse, 1865
On 5 May 1865, eleven days after a boiler explosion at the same pit, an arch near the eye of the shaft at Samuel Stock's Blackleyhurst Colliery, near St Helens, fell on three men who were taking it down to rebuild it, killing all three.
| Date | 1865 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Blackleyhurst Colliery |
| Region | Greater Manchester |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 3 (William Cunliffe, 43, collier; Thomas Foster, 43, bricklayer; Edward Walsh, 27, labourer.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An arch near the pit eye collapsed while it was being taken down for rebuilding.
What happened
Thomas Foster, a bricklayer, and Edward Walsh, a labourer, had been set to take down and rebuild an arch near the pit eye, the junction of the shaft with the workings. William Cunliffe, a collier, was showing them how to go about it when the arch fell on them, killing all three.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Three men were killed at Blackleyhurst Colliery on 5 May 1865 when an arch near the pit eye fell. 1,2
- Foster and Walsh were taking down and rebuilding the arch, with Cunliffe showing them how, when it fell on them. 1,2,3
- The colliery belonged to Samuel Stock. 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: “…an arch near the eye of the shaft at Samuel Stock's Blackleyhurst Colliery, near St Helens, fell on three men who were taking it down to…” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…a boiler explosion at the same pit, an arch near the eye of the shaft at Samuel Stock's Blackleyhurst Colliery, near St Helens, fell on…”
Photographs & further reading
This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.
The three men killed by the fall of the arch.
View sourceWilliam Cunliffe's entry, with the circumstances.
View sourceSources
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1860-1869, surnames C, part 6 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Blackeyhurst, 5 May 1865, fall of an arch — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Ian Winstanley, alphabetical list of mining victims: 1860-69, W (Walsh) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley collection)
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 10 October 2026