MineArchiveMosley Common Colliery haulage accident, 1881
Two young miners at the Bridgewater Trustees' Mosley Common Colliery were killed on 20 September 1881 after apparently jumping onto moving tubs on a gig-brow and overturning them.
| Date | 20 September 1881 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Mosley Common Colliery |
| Region | Greater Manchester |
| Type | Haulage / Transport |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two killed: Edward Halliday and George Swanton.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Riding moving tubs on a gig-brow, which overbalanced.
What happened
On 20 September 1881 two miners of 24 in No. 2 pit at Mosley Common Colliery, Edward Halliday and George Swanton, were killed on a gig-brow, a self-acting incline, at the Bridgewater Trustees' pit near Tyldesley. They appeared to have jumped onto tubs that were moving down the brow and overbalanced them.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 20 September 1881 two miners of 24, Edward Halliday and George Swanton, were killed in No. 2 pit at Mosley Common Colliery, Tyldesley. 1,2,3
- They had apparently jumped onto tubs moving on a gig-brow and overbalanced them. 1,2,3
- The colliery belonged to the Bridgewater Trust. 2,3
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 young miners at the Bridgewater Trustees' Mosley Common Colliery were killed on 20 September 1881 after apparently jumping onto…” - Incline (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…Edward Halliday and George Swanton, were killed on a gig-brow, a self-acting incline, at the Bridgewater Trustees' pit near Tyldesley. They appeared to…” - Tub (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…killed on 20 September 1881 after apparently jumping onto moving tubs on a gig-brow and overturning them.”
Sources
- (primary) Mosley Common Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) Colliery accident, Mosley Common No. 2, 20 September 1881 — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1880-1889, surnames S, part 6 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026