MineArchivePriestners Colliery cage accident, 1881
Two miners were killed at Priestner's No. 2 pit, Westleigh, on 13 October 1881 when, through a banksman's mistake, a tub fell down the shaft onto the cage in which they and six others were riding up.
| Date | 13 October 1881 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Priestners Colliery |
| Region | Greater Manchester |
| Type | Winding / Shaft Accident |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two miners: John Croft, 43, and David Williams, 32. Six others were in the cage.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A banksman's mistake let a tub fall down the shaft onto the ascending cage.
What happened
On 13 October 1881 eight men were riding up the shaft of Priestner's No. 2 pit at Westleigh, worked by the Wigan Coal and Iron Company, when, through a mistake by the banksman at the top, a tub went down the shaft onto the cage. John Croft, 43, and David Williams, 32, both miners, were killed.
Investigation & inquiry
Joseph Dickinson, inspector for the Manchester district, recorded the accident in his report for 1881 (C 3241).
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- John Croft and David Williams were killed at Priestner's No. 2 pit on 13 October 1881. 1,2,3
- Through a banksman's mistake a tub fell onto the cage in which they and six others were ascending. 1,2,3
- The pit was worked by the Wigan Coal and Iron Company. 2,3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Banksman (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Priestner's No. 2 pit, Westleigh, on 13 October 1881 when, through a banksman's mistake, a tub fell down the shaft onto the cage in which they and…” - Cage (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…through a banksman's mistake, a tub fell down the shaft onto the cage in which they and six others were riding up.” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…October 1881 when, through a banksman's mistake, a tub fell down the shaft onto the cage in which they and six others were riding up.” - Tub (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Westleigh, on 13 October 1881 when, through a banksman's mistake, a tub fell down the shaft onto the cage in which they and six others were…”
Sources
- (primary) Priestners Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: John Croft, Priestner's No. 2, 1881 — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) 1880s C5: Ian Winstanley's alphabetical list of mining victims — Healey Hero
Record created: 2 October 2026 · Last researched: 6 October 2026