Holland Colliery roof fall, 1912

Two timbermen at Holland Colliery, Upholland, were buried on 1 November 1912 when the first roof bar they released brought down a 25-foot stretch of roof; one died outright, the other a month later.

Cause

A fall of roof when a heavily loaded bar was released during work to heighten the road.

What happened

On 1 November 1912 two experienced timbermen at Holland Colliery, Thomas Ashcroft, 53, and William Lyon, 63, were taking out roof bars to raise the height of a wide road where it met another. The first bar they released had been carrying a great strain. As soon as it came loose an area of roof about 25 feet by 20 feet collapsed, bringing down several long bars and the stone above them, and buried both men. One was killed on the spot; the other lived a month longer. The inspector found that both had acted on their best judgment.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• On 1 November 1912 the timbermen Thomas Ashcroft, 53, and William Lyon, 63, were buried by a fall of roof at Holland Colliery, Upholland; both died. ^1,2,3
• They were taking out bars to raise the height of a wide road at a junction, and the first bar they released had been carrying a great strain; once it was loose an area about 25 feet by 20 feet collapsed, bringing down several long roof bars and the stone above them. ^4,1,2
• One man was killed on the spot and the other lived a month longer. ^1,3
• The inspector found that both were experienced men who had acted on their best judgment. ^1,2
• The colliery belonged to the White Moss Coal Co. Ltd. ^1,2

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two timbermen at Holland Colliery, Upholland, were buried on 1 November 1912 when the first roof bar…”
• Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “A fall of roof when a heavily loaded bar was released during work to heighten the…”

Sources

1. (primary) Colliery accident, Holland, 1 November 1912 — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Accident record: Thomas Ashcroft, Holland, 1912 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (secondary) Accident record: William Lyon, Holland, 1912 — Northern Mine Research Society
4. (primary) Durham Mining Museum - Holland Colliery (UK) — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 1 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026