MineArchiveHabergham Colliery sinking-shaft fall, 1872
On 9 December 1872 three men bricking a sinking shaft at Habergham Colliery, near Burnley in Lancashire, were killed when a tub of bricks was pushed down the shaft onto them.
| Date | 9 December 1872 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Habergham Colliery |
| Region | Lancashire |
| Type | Winding / Shaft Accident |
| Fatalities | 3 (George Cronkshaw (48), banksman, and John Salkeld (32) and Richard Starkie (39), sinkers.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
The banksman, apparently not noticing that the lurry was off the shaft, pushed in a tub of bricks, which fell down the shaft with him among the men bricking it.
What happened
George Cronkshaw, aged 48, the banksman, John Salkeld, aged 32, and Richard Starkie, aged 39, both sinkers, were killed. Not noticing that the lurry was off the shaft, Cronkshaw pushed in a tub of bricks and fell down with it among five men who were bricking the sinking shaft.
Sources
- (secondary) Habergham Colliery shaft accident, 9 December 1872 — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Habergham Colliery — Durham Mining Museum — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 12 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026