New Cottam Colliery shaft accident, 1853

At about seven in the morning of 21 January 1853, as men were lowered down Appleby and Co.'s New Cottam Colliery near Chesterfield, a newly fitted iron link in the chain at the rope's end snapped and they fell to the bottom. Seven died. The link had been put in the evening before and never properly tested.

Cause

A new iron link in the short chain at the end of the winding rope, fitted the evening before and not properly tested or welded, snapped.

Contributing factors

Overloaded cage; chains and ropes rarely examined; no guides in a badly walled shaft; fast winding; no written rules.

What happened

The engineman, George Hodkinson, had gone about six yards when he felt the weight go. Eight or nine men often rode at once although the cage held six safely, and with only forty men below there was no need to send down more than two at a time. The inspector, Charles Morton, found that the cage was not run up and down loaded before men rode, as at better-managed pits; ropes and chains were examined only now and then, signals were uncertain or ignored, the engineman wound men too fast, and the shaft was badly walled with no conductors. The steward was old and infirm and seldom went below, and there were no written rules.

Investigation & inquiry

The inspector Charles Morton set out the colliery's failings and advised side chains on the cage and wooden conductors in all drawing shafts; the proprietor, Mr Appleby, seemed anxious to comply.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

The jury at the Rose and Crown found the deaths were caused by the breaking of the iron ring, cause undiscovered, and recommended more regular working and no more than two persons riding at a time.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• Eight people were being lowered when the link snapped. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• Seven persons were killed when the link snapped on 21 January 1853. ¹
• Eight people were being lowered when the link snapped. (disputed) ²
• The link was new, inserted the previous evening, and its strength had not been properly tested. ^2,1
• Eight or nine men frequently descended at once although the cage would safely hold only six. ^2,1
• The jury recommended that no more than two persons ride at a time. ²

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Cage (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the contributing factors: “Overloaded cage; chains and ropes rarely examined; no guides in a badly walled…”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…January 1853, as men were lowered down Appleby and Co.'s New Cottam Colliery near Chesterfield, a newly fitted iron link in the chain at the…”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the contributing factors: “…cage; chains and ropes rarely examined; no guides in a badly walled shaft; fast winding; no written rules.”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (primary) Colliery Disaster: New Cottam, 21 January 1853 — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) New Cottam Colliery Shaft Accident - Chesterfield - 1853 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 3 October 2026 · Last researched: 3 October 2026