Bulwell Colliery

Inquest Reports From Newspapers - Re Nottinghamshire Fatal Accidents

Nottingham Evening Post - Friday 20 March 1908

William Shipstone

The shocking accident which occurred in the Bulwell mine of the Babbington Coal Company on Monday night, and by which a contractor named William Shipstone was killed was the subject of an inquest held by Mr. C.L. Rothera, the City Coroner at the Nottingham General Hospital this afternoon. The proceedings were watched by Mr. A. H. Stokes, Inspector of Mines, Mr. G.T. Simpson, of Messrs, Acton and Marriott, for the colliery company;  Mr. G. Carrington Fowler, manager of the mine, Mr. Griffin Walters, under manager, and Mr. T.K. Knox, assistant manager, and Mr. W. Bunfield, Notts Miners Association. A man named George Housley, of 77, Henrietta Street, Bulwell, who is a deputy in the mine, said he was there when the accident happened late on Monday night. The days coal getting was over, and preparations were being made for future work. Shipstone having descended at nine o’ clock. A new stall had been opened, and steel girders were being taken down to it on a drift, or train, of eighteen trucks, which were let down the incline on a steel wire, worked off a revolving drum. The girders were not put on at first but were to be picked up on the way down, and Shipstone who was in charge of the drift, had to signal to witness who was superintending the trams if he wanted to slow up or stop. After the trucks had run about one hundred to one hundred and twenty yards witness got the signal of one ring on the bell to apply the brake, He did so, stopping the drum, and then turned round to the indicator to see from what part of the workings the signal had come. Just as he did so, the wire rope snapped near the couplings, the result being that the drift was released and allowed to run on. Witness followed immediately, and on coming up to it he found that the central trucks were all jumbled up together at a sharp turn. Shipstone who had been riding on the drift, was jammed between the truck he was riding and the one behind it, and had received terrible injuries. Bennett another man on the drift, had escaped injury, Witness did not know how long the rope had been in use. The end of the rope, and the coupling from which it had broken were now produced, and it was seen that the end of it had pulled out of the damaged end of the coupling, all the rope strands being frayed.  The Coroner: You said in your evidence that you applied the bake gradually, Now if it were applied suddenly would it have the effect of snapping the rope. Witness, I don’t think so. Can you tell me how frequently or by whom this rope is tested? Once every twenty four hours by the man on the day shift who attends to the drum. To what extent have you been called upon to work the drum? Occasionally, as circumstances have required. The witness added that this was the first time the rope had been used that evening. The incline was not a perfectly smooth one, and there was regularly a jerk over a second brow or rise when the tubs were being lowered over it. Replying to Mr. Stokes, witness said that it was just on the brow that that the drift broke loose. Mr. Fowler here informed Mr, Stokes, that the rope was seventeen months old, and was recapped five months ago. Housley said that just after he got the signal to stop and before he applied the brake the rope had wound itself of the drum and onto the axle. The drum was fourteen feet in diameter and the axle two feet. Mr Stokes: So that when it went off the drum it would fall onto the axle with a big jerk? Yes sir, In the course of subsequent cross examination, Housley said that the deceased man had the undermanager’s permission to ride on the drift. Mr Stokes: Do you think it a proper thing to allow men to ride on tubs down an incline like this? I think it’s a proper thing for one man to do so. Mr Stokes pointed out that in clamping the coupling on the end of the rope the rivet which held it was so large that it had broken half the strands in being forced through. The Coroner: You are sure the rope got off the drum onto the axle before the break? Yes sir. The Coroner: Then it’s quite easy to see what made it break. Housley added that there was a four inch flange on the drum to keep the rope on it. A youth named Edward Bonser, an attendant platelayer in the mine, said he was helping Shipstone with the train. They were both riding on it, witness being on the last truck and deceased on one of the central vehicles in the drift. The Coroner: Why were you riding of it at all? I was going down to help Shipstone to get the girders on. Continuing he said they were going pretty fast when there was a jerk, and the rope broke. Witness jumped off, and the drift ran on without him. After the accident, witness came up to the spot and found all the middle trucks jumbled up, and Shipstone doubled up between his truck and the seat. Replying to Mr Stokes, witness said he had not official permission to ride, but Shipstone had told him to come with him. Dr. Kenneth Black, house surgeon at the hospital, said Shipstone was admitted at midnight on Monday suffering from a fracture of the spine, and died twenty four hours later from a blood clot on the brain, attributable to the accident. The Coroner said the question was whether the working of the drum was carried out by Housley with ordinary care and skill, or whether he had been guilty of carelessness or negligence, The foreman of the jury asked the undermanager whether the method of fastening the rope to the coupling was the one in general use. Mr Fowler replied that it was and had been in use for fifty years. The foreman then asked if Housley was qualified to work the drum, and to this Mr. Fowler replied in the affirmative, The Foreman: Then we find that the affair was a pure accident for which nobody was to blame; but we think that greater precautions and stricter supervision should be taken on regard to the rope. Mr Fowler promised that the matter would be attended to, and sympathy of the relatives of deceased was expressed by Mr, Simpson. Mr, Bunfield, and the Corner concurring. The verdict was of “Accidental death”

Nottingham Evening Post - Monday 27 October 1913

Joseph Davis

While working in the Bulwell Pit early on Saturday morning Joseph Davis, fifty nine, of 11, China Street, Bulwell, was caught by a fall of roof and killed. The inquest was held this afternoon at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Commercial Road. Mr. E.H. Fraser, Inspector of Mines. Mr. W Carter, Notts Miners Association, and Messrs. Treece and Walters, representing the colliery company, being present. Arthur Naylor, of 3, Stone Row, who was working with deceased on Friday night, said they were on their knees engaged in shifting bind, when suddenly a large piece of roof fell and struck Davis, As the pack they were building with the bind neared completion the props were gradually removed, but witness did not think the last prop which was taken away was supporting a piece that fell. The roof was tested with a pick when the final prop was withdrawn, and it then sounded alright. In answer to questions, witness said the man was just reaching forward with his shovel when the fall caught him on the head. Had a bar been set when the prop was taken away it might have prevented the fall for a time, but it would have to come sooner or later. Another Witness said he attributed the fall to a sudden break or weight, and it was an occurrence which could not have been foreseen. Deceased had been a careful workman of lifelong experience. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.

Nottingham Evening Post - Wednesday 07 July 1915

Thomas Allington

Injured by a fall of stone at the Bulwell Colliery on Thursday, Thomas Allington, forty three, of Turton Street, Bulwell, a miner, was removed to Nottingham General Hospital where death took place on Monday, the inquest being held this afternoon. Mr. W. Carter was then present for the Nott’s Miners Association, and Mr. Treece, manager for the Colliery. The evidence supplied by various witnesses’ went to show that deceased, a butty, was engaged with a number of others holing out at the pit, when there was a sudden fall of bind, of about a ton, which struck him, but did not prevent him crawling along on his hands and knees for a distance of six or seven yards. His head was injured, however, and he had to be taken to the hospital. Later, on account of his tools being found under the fall, it was surmised that he must have been drawing some of the back timber, thus causing the bind to descend. Frederick William Cook, of Vernon Road, Basford, a deputy, gave it as his opinion that the accident was caused by the deceased neglecting to put up temporary props while taking out the timber. Dr. Crooks, of the hospital said death was due to a fracture of the base of the skull. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

Nottingham Daily Guardian - Tuesday 11 September 1917

William Henry Marlow

“Accidental death” was the verdict returned at an Inquest held at Bulwell last evening, on a miner named William Henry Marlow, forty four, of 42, Scott Street, Bulwell. The evidence showed that, on Friday last, deceased who was a stallman at the Bulwell Colliery, was following his usual occupation, when a fall of bind occurred, crushing him and causing his death. A deputy giving evidence said he told Marlow to clear his buttock end first. Instead of following these instructions the man must have removed the sprags and there being a slip in the roof, the accident took place.

Nottingham Evening Post - Thursday 13 January 1921

Arthur Woodward

The Nottingham City Coroner, held an inquest to-day, on Arthur Woodward, thirty four, a widower, of 212, Commercial Road, Bulwell, who died on Monday. On August 1st 1916, deceased and Horace Simpson were working together in preparing a stall in the pit for the coal cutter. Deceased pulled a piece of coal from the face and this liberated a portion of the roof weighing about two tons, which fell and pinned him to the ground. He was taken to the Nottingham General Hospital, where he remained for twenty one weeks, and it was found he was suffering from a fractured spine. The result of which was that both legs were paralysed. Dr. Woods certified that death was caused by the injuries, and the Coroner returned a verdict accordingly. Mr W. carter. M.P. represented the Notts Miners Association at the inquiry.

Nottingham Journal - Saturday 11 August 1923

Charles Burrows

After the long interval of twelve and a half years an accident which occurred in one the Babbington Colliery Co. pits at Bulwell, had a fatal sequel, and an inquest on the victim, Charles Burrows, fifty two, a miner, of 275, Commercial Road, Bulwell, was held yesterday by Mr. C.L. Rothera, City Coroner. The widow, Mary Elizabeth Burrows, said her husband met with an accident on January 4th 1914, when he was going down in the cage. He sustained a violent injury in the back, and was unable to work again until a year last January when he resumed work on a light job at the pithead. About Christmas time last year however, he began to lose use of his left leg, and this caused him to have a nasty fall. He was taken to the General Hospital, where he was detained a month, but became completely paralysed on the left side. The Duchess of Portland had him sent to a London Hospital, but he was found incurable, and died at home on Thursday. Dr. Cavendish said he had been attending the deceased off and on for eleven of twelve years and continuously lately. He suffered from a form of paralysis. Lateral cirrhosis, due to the injury to the spinal cord. Witness was given to understand that the injury was caused by the snapping of a rope in the cage. The deceased’s condition was directly attributable to that accident, and the cause of death was creeping paralysis, which eventually affected the respiratory system. The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

Nottingham Daily Guardian - Wednesday 13 October 1926

Harold Shacklock

It seems that a miner always takes great risks every time he goes down a pit to his stall. Falls of roof cause more accidents than anything. This statement was made by the Nottingham City Coroner, Mr. C. L. Rothera, at an inquest yesterday morning on Harold Shacklock, aged thirty three, of 65, Merchant street, Bulwell, who was injured in an accident at Bulwell Colliery. While working as a coal cutter, a piece of roof gave way and struck him on the back. He was removed to hospital, and was found to have fractured his spine. He was taken home and died on Friday. Mr. Rothera returned a verdict to the effect that Shacklock died from a fractured spine and consequent paralysis.

Nottingham Evening Post - Monday 28 December 1936

Leonard Grocutt

The inquest on Leonard Grocutt, thirty four, haulage hand, aged eighteen, of Longford Crescent, Bulwell Hall Estate, who died in Nottingham General Hospital last Wednesday, after being admitted two days earlier, following injuries received at Bulwell Pit, took place this afternoon. Ernest Grocutt, miner, 28, China Street, Bulwell, brother of the deceased, said the latter had been employed at Bulwell pit since he was a boy. On the way to hospital he said the draw bar had broken, and that the wagons had run over him. Frank Charles Starr, 125, Cinderhill Road, Bulwell, said the accident happened at around 9.10 p.m. Deceased’s duty was to take the train halfway down and witness then took it on to the pit bottom. When the he left deceased at the turn out, his train of ten wagons was stationary. The road on which deceased’s train was standing was on the incline, and the train was held by a rope. I had gone about fifty yards from where I was added witness when I heard a crash. I found nine wagons all off the rails in between the two roads, and the last three were down the empty road. Deceased was pinned by the leg under the last wagon but one of the three. Witness added the next day he saw that the eye of the coupling between one wagon and the other was broken. Dr. D.G.W. Brown said that when admitted to hospital deceased was suffering from shock, and fractures of the pelvis, and right thigh, he died from these injuries. George Reek, of Highbury Road, Bulwell, who was in charge of the engine operating the wagons at the time of the accident said, deceased was in charge of the wagons, and it was his duty to go down to the turn out to see if everything was alright, and if so to give him a signal, He received the signal on this occasion and proceeded to lower, The wagons had gone thirty of forty yards when the engine which was being braked, stopped, indicating something untoward had happened. He went to investigate and found that the drawbar had broken on the last tub.

Nottingham Guardian - Thursday 02 February 1939

John William Thompson

How a fall of roof caused the death of a Bulwell miner was described to-day at the Leenside inquest on John William Thompson, forty eight, of 115, Cinderhill Road, conducted by the Nottingham City coroner, Mr. W.S. Coroner. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned. The jury said they attached no blame to anyone and that every precaution was taken. Mr. C. Knowles, represented the colliery company, and Mr. Val Coleman, watched the proceeding for the Notts Miners Federation. The widow grace Elizabeth Thompson, said her husband had been employed as a miner for twenty five years, and had been in good health. She saw him in the Nottingham General Hospital following the accident. Dr. J.P. Lane, of the Hospital said that Thomson was admitted with a compound fracture of the left thigh bone and from this septic infection spread to the knee. He died on January 28th from Toxaemia, following infection from the injury. Edgar West, of Bulwell, deputy in charge of that section of the mine at the time of the accident said that they were removing dirt which had been blown down to make a roadway. The coal had been taken out and they were getting the dirt out from above the coal seam to make the height of the roadway which was supported by steel arches. Before they started work he examined the roof and provided additional supports. So far as he could judge everything was perfectly safe. He left about 3 15 a.m. to go another part of the pit and was called back again at 4. 30. He found that a portion of stone weighing about one hundredweight had pulled out from the timber supports and come down. He rendered first aid, to the man and saw that he was removed to the hospital.

Nottingham Guardian - Thursday 26 January 1950

Frank Smith

A verdict that he died from pulmonary tuberculosis associated with an old injury to the spine was recorded by the City Coroner, Mr. W.S. Rothera, at an inquest yesterday on Frank Smith, forty five, of Holewood Terrace, Downing Street, Bulwell. In January 1942. Mr Smith met with an accident at Bulwell Colliery yard. He had been on compensation, and died on 10th of January this year.

Nottingham Journal - Friday 19 February 1952

George William Martin

Injuries suffered while working in a pit in 1928, caused the death of George William Martin, forty eight, of 29, Mulberry Street, Bulwell, it was stated at an inquest in Nottingham yesterday. He sustained multiple injuries in the accident at Bulwell Colliery, and continued to suffer from them. Six years ago they resulted in a leg amputation.