MineArchivePeelwood Colliery inrush, 1895
The undermanager and a fireman were killed at Peelwood Colliery, Tyldesley, on 2 November 1895 when water they had tapped by borehole in old workings broke through.
| Date | 2 November 1895 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Peelwood Colliery |
| Region | Greater Manchester |
| Type | Flooding / Inundation |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two killed: the undermanager James Howcroft and the fireman Isaiah Aldred.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Water from abandoned workings, tapped by borehole, broke through two feet of coal.
What happened
On 2 November 1895 the undermanager of Peelwood Colliery, James Howcroft, and the fireman Isaiah Aldred tapped water lying in abandoned workings with a borehole. Three hours later the water broke through, killing them both. Only two feet of coal had separated the new place from the old.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 2 November 1895 the undermanager James Howcroft, 54, and the fireman Isaiah Aldred, 50, were killed at Peelwood Colliery when water broke through from abandoned workings. 1,2,3
- They had tapped the water in the abandoned workings by a borehole; three hours later it broke through, and only two feet of coal were found to have separated the new place from the old. 1,2,3
- The colliery belonged to the Tyldesley Coal Company. 1,3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Coal (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “…abandoned workings, tapped by borehole, broke through two feet of coal.” - Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “The undermanager and a fireman were killed at Peelwood Colliery, Tyldesley, on 2 November 1895 when water they had tapped by…” - Fireman (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “The undermanager and a fireman were killed at Peelwood Colliery, Tyldesley, on 2 November 1895 when…”
Sources
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames A (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
- (primary) Peelwood Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames H part 6 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026