MineArchiveRockingham Colliery roof fall, 1884
Two rippers were caught by a fall of roof at Rockingham Colliery, Birdwell, on 20 March 1884: J. Berresford was killed and G. Rooke died of his injuries four weeks later.
| Date | 20 March 1884 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Rockingham Colliery |
| Region | South Yorkshire |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two rippers: J. Berresford, 38, killed on 20 March 1884, and G. Rooke, 44, who died of his injuries on 18 April 1884.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A fall of roof.
What happened
On 20 March 1884 a fall of roof at Rockingham Colliery, then worked by Newton, Chambers and Co., caught two rippers. J. Berresford, 38, was killed. G. Rooke, 44, was injured and died on 18 April. Frank N. Wardell, inspector for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, entered both deaths in his report for 1884.
Investigation & inquiry
The accident is recorded in the Mines Inspector's report for 1884 (C 4429), Yorkshire and Lincolnshire district, by Frank N. Wardell.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- A fall of roof on 20 March 1884 killed two rippers, J. Berresford and G. Rooke. 1,2,3,4
- G. Rooke died of his injuries on 18 April 1884. 2,3
- The colliery was worked by Newton, Chambers and Co. 2,3,4
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: “Two rippers were caught by a fall of roof at Rockingham Colliery, Birdwell, on 20 March 1884: J. Berresford was killed and G. Rooke…” - Ripping (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two rippers were caught by a fall of roof at Rockingham Colliery, Birdwell, on…” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Two rippers were caught by a fall of roof at Rockingham Colliery, Birdwell, on 20 March 1884: J. Berresford…”
Sources
- (primary) Rockingham Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) 1880s R (4): Ian Winstanley's alphabetical list of mining victims — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's list of mining victims)
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Colliery Accident 1884 (Rockingham) — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) 1880s B3: Ian Winstanley's alphabetical list of mining victims — Healey Hero
Record created: 2 October 2026 · Last researched: 6 October 2026