MineArchiveLangton Colliery air receiver explosion, 1908
On 10 April 1908 an air receiver burst at the surface of Langton Colliery, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, as men stood near it waiting to go down the shaft, killing two datallers and injuring a third man.
| Date | 10 April 1908 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Langton Colliery |
| Region | Nottinghamshire |
| Type | Machinery |
| Fatalities | 2 (William Watson (41), of West End, Pinxton, and George Caulton (33), of Selston, datallers. Another man was injured.) |
| Injuries | 1 |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An air receiver (part of the colliery's air-compressing plant) burst on the surface.
What happened
On 10 April 1908 a group of men stood near the air receiver at Langton Colliery waiting to descend the shaft when it burst. William Watson, 41, and George Caulton, 33, both datallers, were killed, and another man was injured.
Investigation & inquiry
The inquest was held at the Church Institute, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, on 13 April 1908.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- George Caulton (33) and William Watson (41), datallers, were killed on 10 April 1908 by the bursting of an air receiver at a time when they and others stood near it waiting to descend the shaft; another man was injured. 1
- William Watson, 41, of West End, Pinxton, and George Caulton, 33, of Selston, were killed when a compressor burst on the surface. 2
- The inquest on both men was held on 13 April 1908 at the Church Institute, Kirkby-in-Ashfield. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “On 10 April 1908 an air receiver burst at the surface of Langton Colliery, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, as men stood near it waiting to go down the…” - Dataller (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…as men stood near it waiting to go down the shaft, killing two datallers and injuring a third man.” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…Kirkby-in-Ashfield, as men stood near it waiting to go down the shaft, killing two datallers and injuring a third man.”
Photographs & further reading
This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.
The colliery's fatalities, with addresses and inquest places, including the 1908 receiver burst.
View sourceSources
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum - Langton Colliery (UK) — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Langton Colliery - Healey Hero — Healey Hero
Record created: 1 October 2026 · Last researched: 2 October 2026