MineArchiveGrassmoor Colliery Roof Fall, 1914
On 4 June 1914 two young men were killed at a junction by a heavy fall of unsupported roof at Grassmoor Colliery, in Derbyshire.
| Date | 4 June 1914 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Grassmoor Colliery |
| Region | Derbyshire |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (John Peers (19), driver, and Eli Taylor (20), corporal; another driver was injured.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A heavy fall of unsupported roof at a road junction; the rock was several yards thick and had been left exposed for ten years.
What happened
John Peers, aged 19, a driver, and Eli Taylor, aged 20, a corporal, were killed at a junction by a heavy fall of unsupported roof. The rock was several yards thick and had been exposed for ten years. Another driver was injured and a stallman had a narrow escape. The Inspector remarked that the accident showed the advisability of setting bars at such places even where the roof is strong rock.
Sources
- (secondary) Durham Mining Museum: Grassmoor Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Grassmoor Colliery fall of roof, 4 June 1914 — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 9 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026