MineArchiveLowca Colliery roof fall, 1911
A fall of roof on an engine plane at the Workington Iron and Steel Company's Harrington pit at Lowca killed two young stonemen from Distington on 15 January 1911.
| Date | 15 January 1911 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Lowca Colliery |
| Region | Cumbria |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (2 killed, stonemen: Robert Anderson Allen (21) and Arthur Dempster (28).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A fall of roof on an engine plane.
What happened
On 15 January 1911 the roof fell on an engine plane, a main haulage road, at the Workington Iron and Steel Company's Harrington colliery at Lowca, the No. 9 pit, killing two stonemen, Robert Anderson Allen, 21, and Arthur Dempster, 28, both of Distington.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 15 January 1911 a fall of roof on an engine plane killed two stonemen at the Harrington colliery, Lowca. 1,2,3
- The dead were Robert Anderson Allen, 21, and Arthur Dempster, 28. 1,2,3
- The colliery was owned by the Workington Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. 1,2
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: “…haulage road, at the Workington Iron and Steel Company's Harrington colliery at Lowca, the No. 9 pit, killing two stonemen, Robert Anderson…” - Haulage (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “On 15 January 1911 the roof fell on an engine plane, a main haulage road, at the Workington Iron and Steel Company's Harrington colliery…” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “A fall of roof on an engine plane at the Workington Iron and Steel Company's…”
Sources
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Harrington, 15 January 1911 — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Robert Anderson Allen, Harrington, Lowca, 1911 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Arthur Dempster, Harrington, Lowca, 1911 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum - Harrington Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 18 October 2026 · Last researched: 18 October 2026