MineArchiveLow Laithes Colliery shaft accident, 1890
On 23 September 1890 two sinkers widening an old shaft for the Low Laithes Coal Company at Gawthorpe, Ossett, fell to their deaths when the platform they were working on, 100 feet down, tilted as one of its chains was being re-attached.
| Date | 23 September 1890 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Low Laithes Colliery |
| Region | West Yorkshire |
| Type | Winding / Shaft Accident |
| Fatalities | 2 (Michael Glynn, 51, of Manor Road, Ossett, and John Murray, 40, of New Street, Wakefield, sinkers (DMM: M. Glen and J. Murrey).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
The circular wooden platform was hung by four heavy iron chains. One chain was being re-attached when Michael Glynn slipped, tilting the platform to a precarious angle; he tried to hold on to John Murray but pulled both of them off.
What happened
In 1890 the Low Laithes company was widening existing shafts, probably those of the defunct New Lodge Colliery at Gawthorpe, closed in 1889, from 9 feet to 13 feet in diameter for what opened in 1892 as New Low Laithes. Glynn and Murray, local pit sinkers, were working on the platform about 100 feet down the shaft. When it tipped, the two men fell about 150 feet to the bottom of the old shaft and were killed instantly.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 23 September 1890 two sinkers of the Low Laithes Coal Company fell to their deaths from a scaffold in a shaft at Gawthorpe, Ossett. 1,2
- They were widening an existing shaft from 9 feet to 13 feet in diameter, working on a circular wooden platform about 100 feet down, hung on heavy iron chains. 1
- One of the platform's four chains was being re-attached when Michael Glynn slipped and tilted it; he caught hold of John Murray and both fell about 150 feet to the bottom of the old shaft. 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…widening existing shafts, probably those of the defunct New Lodge Colliery at Gawthorpe, closed in 1889, from 9 feet to 13 feet in diameter for…” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “On 23 September 1890 two sinkers widening an old shaft for the Low Laithes Coal Company at Gawthorpe, Ossett, fell to their…” - Shaft Sinking (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “On 23 September 1890 two sinkers widening an old shaft for the Low Laithes Coal Company at Gawthorpe,…”
Sources
- (secondary) Ossett coal mining (Ossett - the history of a Yorkshire town) — ossett.net
- (primary) Colliery disaster, 23 September 1890: Low Laithes (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 21 October 2026 · Last researched: 24 October 2026