Shildon Colliery shaft accident, 1902

On 7 May 1902 two shaftsmen at Shildon Colliery, County Durham, were fixing ladders in the upcast shaft when the engineman lowering them lost control of the engine and ran the kibble hard on to the bottom; both men died of their injuries.

Cause

The engineman lost control of the engine while lowering ladders, and the kibble struck the bottom of the shaft at speed.

What happened

George Askew, 46, and John O'Hagan, 29, shaftsmen for the Shildon Coal Co. Ltd, were at work putting ladders into the upcast shaft, with the engineman lowering the ladders to them. He lost control of the winding engine and the kibble, the bucket used in shaft work, ran hard on to the bottom. Both men suffered broken legs and internal injuries. Askew died on 16 May and O'Hagan on 10 June.

Recorded claims

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

• Two shaftsmen, George Askew and John O'Hagan, were fatally injured at Shildon Colliery on 7 May 1902. ^1,2,3
• The engineman lowering ladders into the upcast shaft lost control of the engine and ran the kibble hard on to the bottom. ^2,3
• Askew died on 16 May and O'Hagan on 10 June 1902. ^1,2,3
• The colliery belonged to the Shildon Coal Co. Ltd. ²

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Downcast Shaft and Upcast Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…at Shildon Colliery, County Durham, were fixing ladders in the upcast shaft when the engineman lowering them lost control of the engine and ran…”
• Kibble (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…the engineman lowering them lost control of the engine and ran the kibble hard on to the bottom; both men died of their injuries.”
• Ladders (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…1902 two shaftsmen at Shildon Colliery, County Durham, were fixing ladders in the upcast shaft when the engineman lowering them lost control of…”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “…while lowering ladders, and the kibble struck the bottom of the shaft at speed.”
• Winding Engine (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…the engineman lowering the ladders to them. He lost control of the winding engine and the kibble, the bucket used in shaft work, ran hard on to the…”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Shildon Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: George Askew, Shildon, 7 May 1902 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: John O'Hagan, Shildon, 7 May 1902 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 10 October 2026 · Last researched: 10 October 2026