MineArchiveKiveton Park Colliery shotfiring accident, 1933
A deputy firing shots at the face of Kiveton Park Colliery on 1 February 1933 and the young assistant charging a hole eight yards away were both fatally injured by a loud concussion.
| Date | 1 February 1933 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Kiveton Park Colliery |
| Region | South Yorkshire |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 2 (2 killed: John Thomas Luton (42), deputy, and William Biggin (19), his assistant.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A shotfiring accident at the face; what caused the concussion is not recorded.
What happened
On 1 February 1933 John Thomas Luton, a deputy of 42 at the Kiveton Park Coal Company's colliery, was firing shots at the face. Eight yards from him his assistant, William Biggin, 19, was helping to charge another hole. A loud concussion was heard, and both men were found fatally injured.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 1 February 1933 a shotfiring accident at Kiveton Park killed two men. 1,2,3
- They were the deputy John Thomas Luton, 42, and his assistant William Biggin, 19. 4,3
- The deputy was firing at the face eight yards from Biggin, who was helping to charge another hole, when a loud concussion was heard. 4,1
- The colliery was owned by the Kiveton Park 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: “A deputy firing shots at the face of Kiveton Park Colliery on 1 February 1933 and the young assistant charging a hole eight…” - Deputy (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “A deputy firing shots at the face of Kiveton Park Colliery on 1 February 1933…”
Sources
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Kiveton Park, 1 February 1933 — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: William Biggin, Kiveton Park, 1933 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: John Thomas Luton, Kiveton Park, 1933 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) Kiveton Park Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 18 October 2026 · Last researched: 18 October 2026