MineArchivePewfall Colliery roof fall, 1871
Two colliers named Twist were killed together by a fall of roof at Richard Evans and Company's Pewfall Colliery, near Ashton-in-Makerfield, on 29 July 1871.
| Date | 29 July 1871 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Pewfall Colliery |
| Region | Greater Manchester |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (2 killed, both colliers: Thomas Twist (25) and James Twist (28).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A fall of roof.
What happened
On 29 July 1871 Thomas Twist, aged 25, and James Twist, aged 28, both colliers at Pewfall, were killed by a fall of roof. The colliery then belonged to Richard Evans and Company of Haydock, and the deaths were returned in the inspector's report for the West Lancashire and North Wales district. The same month another Pewfall collier, John Hardman, was killed by a fall of roof; the accounts differ on whether that was on 19 or 29 July, and give his age as 24 or 29.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- John Hardman, a collier aged 24, was killed by a fall of roof at Pewfall on 19 July 1871. (disputed) 1
- John Hardman, a collier aged 29, was killed by a fall of roof at Pewfall on 29 July 1871. (disputed) 3
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 29 July 1871 two colliers were killed by a fall of roof at Pewfall Colliery. 1,2
- The dead were Thomas Twist, aged 25, and James Twist, aged 28. 3,1,2
- The colliery was owned by Richard Evans and Company. 3,2
- John Hardman, a collier aged 24, was killed by a fall of roof at Pewfall on 19 July 1871. (disputed) 1
- John Hardman, a collier aged 29, was killed by a fall of roof at Pewfall on 29 July 1871. (disputed) 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: “…together by a fall of roof at Richard Evans and Company's Pewfall Colliery, near Ashton-in-Makerfield, on 29 July 1871.” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “Two colliers named Twist were killed together by a fall of roof at Richard Evans and Company's Pewfall Colliery, near…”
Sources
- (secondary) Pewfall Colliery (accidents and incidents) — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Pewfall fall of roof, 29 July 1871 — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Pewfall Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 16 October 2026 · Last researched: 16 October 2026