MineArchiveGidlow Colliery roof fall, 1895
On 27 December 1895 a fall of roof buried two dataliers building a pack wall near the face at the Wigan Coal and Iron Company's Gidlow Pit, Standish, killing Denis Boyle and Edward Hanley. The roof was full of slips, though the fireman had found nothing wrong an hour before.
| Date | 27 December 1895 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Gidlow Colliery |
| Region | Greater Manchester |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Denis Boyle, 57, and Edward Hanley, 34, both dataliers.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A fall of ley roof that capped seven props near the wide work face where the men were building a pack wall.
Contributing factors
The roof was very bad and full of slips. The fireman had examined the place about an hour earlier and failed to detect any danger.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 27 December 1895 two men were killed by a fall of roof at Gidlow Pit, Standish. 1,2
- They were building a pack wall near the wide work face when a fall of ley roof capped seven props and buried them. 1
- The roof was very bad and full of slips; the fireman had examined the place an hour before and had not detected any danger. 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Coal (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…buried two dataliers building a pack wall near the face at the Wigan Coal and Iron Company's Gidlow Pit, Standish, killing Denis Boyle and…” - Fireman (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…Boyle and Edward Hanley. The roof was full of slips, though the fireman had found nothing wrong an hour before.” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “On 27 December 1895 a fall of roof buried two dataliers building a pack wall near the face at the Wigan…”
Sources
- (primary) Disasters - Names: Gidlow, 27 December 1895 (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Wigan World: Local Chronology, 1895-96 — Wigan World
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Gidlow Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 25 October 2026 · Last researched: 25 October 2026