MineArchiveSneyd Colliery manriding accident, 1949
Two men were killed in a manriding accident at Sneyd Colliery, Burslem, on 4 October 1949, in the National Coal Board's third year.
| Date | 4 October 1949 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Sneyd Colliery |
| Region | Staffordshire |
| Type | Haulage / Transport |
| Fatalities | 2 (2 killed: Ernest Clewlow (42), cutter man, and Harold Grocott (28), ripper.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A manriding accident: men riding a haulage system underground.
What happened
On 4 October 1949 two men at the National Coal Board's Sneyd Colliery, Burslem, in the North Staffordshire coalfield, were killed in a manriding accident: Ernest Clewlow, 42, a cutter man, and Harold Grocott, 28, a ripper.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 4 October 1949 two men were killed at Sneyd Colliery. 1,2,3
- The dead were Ernest Clewlow, 42, cutter man, and Harold Grocott, 28, ripper. 1,2,3
- They were killed in a manriding accident. 1
- The colliery was owned by the National Coal Board. 2,3
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: “Two men were killed in a manriding accident at Sneyd Colliery, Burslem, on 4 October 1949, in the National Coal Board's third year.” - Haulage (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “A manriding accident: men riding a haulage system underground.” - National Coal Board (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “On 4 October 1949 two men at the National Coal Board's Sneyd Colliery, Burslem, in the North Staffordshire coalfield,…” - Ripping (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…Ernest Clewlow, 42, a cutter man, and Harold Grocott, 28, a ripper.”
Sources
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Sneyd Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: E. Clewlow, Sneyd, 1949 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: H. Grocott, Sneyd, 1949 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 18 October 2026 · Last researched: 18 October 2026