Pemberton Colliery screens accident, 1910

Two boys were dragged into an unguarded revolving shaft at the surface screens of Pemberton Colliery, Wigan, on 2 February 1910.

Cause

Clothing caught on a stud of an unboxed revolving shaft at the screens.

What happened

On 2 February 1910 two boys were killed at the screens on the surface of Pemberton Colliery, Wigan: Henry Fogg, a screener of 14, and George Hill, an engine boy of 18. A revolving shaft at the screens was not boxed in, though there was a fence some distance back. Hill is supposed to have gone to inspect the shaft because it was heating, when his clothes caught on a small stud on it; either he grasped Fogg, or Fogg tried to free him and was dragged in.

What's uncertain

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

• Hill's clothes were caught by a small stud on the shaft while he was inspecting it for heating; he grasped Fogg, or Fogg tried to free him. (uncertain) ^1,3

Recorded claims

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

• On 2 February 1910 two boys were caught by a revolving shaft at the surface screens of Pemberton Colliery and killed. ^1,2,3
• They were Henry Fogg, 14, screener, and George Hill, 18, engine boy. ^4,2,3
• The shaft was not boxed in, though there was a fence some distance back. ^1,2
• Hill's clothes were caught by a small stud on the shaft while he was inspecting it for heating; he grasped Fogg, or Fogg tried to free him. (uncertain) ^1,3

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: “…an unguarded revolving shaft at the surface screens of Pemberton Colliery, Wigan, on 2 February 1910.”
• Screens (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…boys were dragged into an unguarded revolving shaft at the surface screens of Pemberton Colliery, Wigan, on 2 February 1910.”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “Two boys were dragged into an unguarded revolving shaft at the surface screens of Pemberton Colliery, Wigan, on 2 February…”
• Spontaneous Combustion (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…Hill is supposed to have gone to inspect the shaft because it was heating, when his clothes caught on a small stud on it; either he grasped…”

Sources

1. (primary) Pemberton Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Henry Fogg, Pemberton, 1910 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: George Hill, Pemberton, 1910 — Northern Mine Research Society
4. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Pemberton, 2 February 1910 — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 18 October 2026 · Last researched: 18 October 2026