MineArchiveCannock Chase Colliery shaft accident, 1868
On the morning of 15 May 1868 the flat wire winding rope at No. 4 Pit of the Cannock Chase Colliery snapped as eight men and boys were being lowered, dropping them to the bottom of the shaft. Six died. The inspector traced the break to a hemp 'token' wrapped round the rope that had hidden its decay.
| Date | 15 May 1868 |
|---|---|
| Type | Winding / Shaft Accident |
| Fatalities | 6 (Six of the eight in the skip died (five at once and a youth of 16 shortly after); two recovered. NMRS's heading says eight lost their lives and lists eight names: John Budlow (60), John Fox (20), Thomas Picken (21), James Dennis (13), James Pearce (15), William Dennis (18), Edward Green (16) and Thomas Richards (40).) |
| Injuries | Two seriously injured. |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
The flat wire winding rope broke at a point where a hard hemp wrapping, used as a marker for the engineman, had hidden corrosion and broken wires from examination.
Contributing factors
The engine had no indicator, which the law required; the hemp 'token' was the engineman's makeshift substitute, and the manager and engineer knew of it.
What happened
Eight men and boys, the number the colliery's special rules allowed, were descending No. 4 Pit when the flat wire rope broke about seven yards down. The banksman, John Thompson, felt the weight go off the engine. The skip fell to the bottom, killing five outright. A youth of 16 died soon after, and two others recovered from very serious injuries.
The inspector, Mr Baker, found that for about eighteen inches at the break the rope had been bound with hemp, which had set hard into a bolster on each side. The binding served as a 'token' to show the engineman when the skip was level with an inset where it had to stop. There was no indicator on the engine to do that job. Under the wrapping only about a seventh of the rope's wires remained unbroken.
Investigation & inquiry
The inquest jury returned accidental death but censured the engineman, the manager Mr M'Ghie and the colliery engineer Hargreaves Walters for not removing the wrapping. The manager admitted that it prevented examination of the rope.
Legal & regulatory aftermath
M'Ghie was summoned for not providing an indicator, pleaded guilty and was fined 10 shillings and costs. Mr Baker called it a very light penalty, given that an indicator would have made the token unnecessary.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- Eight lost their lives. (disputed) 1
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 15 May 1868 the flat wire rope snapped as eight men and boys descended the shaft. 1,2
- Five were killed outright, a youth of 16 died shortly after, and two recovered. 1,2
- Eight lost their lives. (disputed) 1
- At the break the rope had been wrapped in hemp as a 'token' for the engineman, hiding its condition; there was no indicator. 1,2
- The manager was fined 10 shillings and costs for not providing an indicator. 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Banksman (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…No. 4 Pit when the flat wire rope broke about seven yards down. The banksman, John Thompson, felt the weight go off the engine. The skip fell to…” - Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…1868 the flat wire winding rope at No. 4 Pit of the Cannock Chase Colliery snapped as eight men and boys were being lowered, dropping them to…” - Level (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…binding served as a 'token' to show the engineman when the skip was level with an inset where it had to stop. There was no indicator on the…” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…men and boys were being lowered, dropping them to the bottom of the shaft. Six died. The inspector traced the break to a hemp 'token' wrapped…” - Skip (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…The banksman, John Thompson, felt the weight go off the engine. The skip fell to the bottom, killing five outright. A youth of 16 died soon…”
Photographs & further reading
This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.
The inspector's findings on the rope, the inquest and the prosecution.
View sourceSources
- (secondary) Cannock Chase Colliery Shaft Accident - Cannock - 1868 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) Disasters - Names: Cannock Chase, 15th May 1868 — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 2 October 2026 · Last researched: 2 October 2026