MineArchiveDearham Colliery shaft accident, 1844
On the morning of 24 August 1844 two men and three boys were being lowered together in the basket at Ostle and Dunglinson's pit at Dearham, near Maryport, when the rope broke not more than three feet from the top and all five fell about fifty yards to the bottom of the shaft. A sixth boy had turned back, afraid to go down with so many. The inquest blamed the bad material of a rope that was comparatively new.
| Date | 24 August 1844 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Dearham Colliery |
| Region | Cumbria |
| Type | Winding / Shaft Accident |
| Fatalities | 5 (5: Thomas Ostle (24), married with three children; William Murray (39), married with five; the brothers Wilfred (8) and Benjamin (12) Lister; and William Callthorpe (17), Ostle's brother-in-law. Two breathed once or twice after being brought up; the others died instantly.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
The winding rope broke. Comparatively new and thought sound enough that an experienced colliery owner said he would have gone down on it himself, it was rated to bear 60 cwt, and the load, five people and the basket, did not exceed 5 cwt; the jury found it had failed through 'the bad and imperfect material of which the rope was composed'.
What happened
Another boy had tried to get into the basket with them but turned back, afraid to go down with so many. The five were buried in Dearham churchyard on the Sunday, followed by a large concourse of people.
Investigation & inquiry
The inquest sat from six in the evening until midnight. A report that the rope had been maliciously cut was investigated and set aside; the verdict was accidental death, caused by the bad and imperfect material of the rope.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- One report placed the accident on the Sunday morning. (disputed) 3
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 24 August 1844, at Ostle and Dunglinson's pit at Dearham, near Maryport, the rope broke as two men and three boys were being lowered and all five fell about fifty yards to the bottom of the shaft. 1,2,3
- The inquest returned a verdict of accidental death, caused by the bad and imperfect material of which the rope was made. 2,3
- The rope was comparatively new, rated to bear 60 cwt, while the five people and the basket did not exceed 5 cwt. 2
- One report placed the accident on the Sunday morning. (disputed) 3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “…Comparatively new and thought sound enough that an experienced colliery owner said he would have gone down on it himself, it was rated to…” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…the top and all five fell about fifty yards to the bottom of the shaft. A sixth boy had turned back, afraid to go down with so many. The…”
Sources
- (primary) Dearham Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) Dreadful Miscalculation (The Times, 26 August 1844; Durham Mining Museum transcript) — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) Welsh Newspapers: North Wales Chronicle, 3 September 1844, Dearham pit accident — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)
- (primary) Another Coal-pit Accident (Illustrated London News, 24 August 1844; Durham Mining Museum transcript) — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 9 October 2026 · Last researched: 16 October 2026