1852

Coal Exports

Coal from Thomas North's pits in Nottinghamshire was sent to Boston via the railway link and loaded onto the Schooner Tiger. The destination was Nantes in France and had been arranged by Mr Herbert Ingham MP.

Collieries Sunk or Opened in 1852

• In 1850-1852 Campbell or Waterloo shaft was sunk to 250 yards (229m) deep near Barrow Hill by Richard Barrow (later Staveley Coal and Iron Co).
• Cottam No4 pit (Appleby and Co).
• Giltbrook (Company of Colliers) Hill Top.
• Kimberley (Thos North) began sinking.
• Matt’s Yard (Nadin and Co) Newhall.
• Pinxton Colliery Co sank Pinxton No6 pit close to No1 pit down to the Deep Soft seam. A Thornewill and Wareham winding engine and wooden double tandem headgear was erected to wind from both No1 and No6 shafts at Pinxton.
• A new shaft was sunk at the head of Ashby Canal, the atmospheric engine then dismantled and erected to sink Reservoir (Moira) (Leicestershire), same engine operated the 2 lift pumps in the Bassett or Bull pit. The pit was named after the large reservoir that fed the Ashby canal. It was opened in September with a 21 gun salute and there was a banquet for 450 men and boys.
• Spring Wood near Stanton and Swadlincote sunk (J and N Nadin), (South Derbyshire).
• Swadlincote Old or Heathcote colliery (Hall and Boardman).
• Thornsett Hey (SF Widdrington) Yard mine opened.
• Thorntree Lane in Newhall.
• James Oakes sank Underwood (Selston) colliery (1851-1852) to replace an old pit, 162 yards (148m) to Hard coal.
• Sinking Whitehouse to W of Newhall fault (Hall and Boardman).

Stanton Redeveloped

Stanton colliery was re-developed and new shafts sunk to Woodfield, Eureka and Stanhope and Darcy at 319 yards (291m).

West Hallam

No1 Engine and Bye pit at West Hallam sunk by Whitehouse 133 yards (122m) to Bottom Hard coal. No2 sunk 103 yards (94m) to Bottom Hard. Drowned out 12th March as No1 was, from 26th Feb 1872 to 1st Jan 1873 and again in 12th Mar 1875 by workings from this pit thirling into flooded workings.

Robert Stephenson

A 10 year lease was granted to Robert Stephenson at Lockoford colliery for the Blackshale seam @ £50 an acre (0.4 hectare).

Barber Walker Co

Robert Harrison, Manager of Barber Walker Co retired. His nephew was also named Robert Harrison.

Parliament

A Whig/Peelite Coalition followed the short Tory/Conservative Government of 1852-1855.

Prime Ministers: Earl of Derby (Tory) 1852. Earl of Aberdeen (Peelite) 1852-1855.

President of Board of Trade, Viscount Edward Cardwell (Tory), Feb 1852-1855.

Secretary of State Viscount Palmerston MP 1852-1855.

More Inspectors Appointed

Two more Mines Inspectors were appointed under the Mines Inspection Act of 1855, giving a total of 7 for the whole country. However there were still about 3,000 pits to oversee! Charles Morton Inspector advocated that Mine Managers should be tested and be granted a certificate. This would not happen for a further 17 years until 1872.

Collieries Closed in 1852

• Ashgate (Duke of Devonshire) Ashgate thin, worked up to JG Barnes’ pit workings.
• Ashgate Engine pit (John Mason and Co).
• An old pit at Bagthorpe was abandoned, (most probably Williamson’s).
• Bugsworth (Dolly pit) inc Cowpasture or Cupola pit, (Thos Gisbourne?) Whaley Bridge.
• Job’s New pit (Job Broughton) sunk in 1849 was abandoned at Michaelmas 1852.
• Walton (G Dawson and Co, Isaac Dawson up to 1845), thin coal wrought (worked), Ashgate or Threequarter, 11 shafts.
• Barber, Walker and Co closed down Old Watnall pit.
• Wideshaft colliery opened in 1848 was closed.

Hempshill Merged With Babbington

Hempshill shaft sunk in 1851 was merged with Babbington (Thomas North) in 1852. There was a problem at Babbington with faulted ground with 80 yards (73m) throw but it was found that the Top Hard seam was at almost the same depth at Hempshill so a cross-measures drift was driven level between the shafts about ¾ mile apart and was always referred to afterwards as the Hempshill Level. A cupola was built at Hempshill to house the furnace as the shaft acted as an Upcast and coal was not wound at the shaft.

Explosions in Coal Mines
Nottingham Guardian 26 Aug 1852

The select committee appointed last season to enquire into the causes of the frequency of explosions in coal mines, with a view to prevent the appalling loss of life arising therefrom, have considered the matter referred to them, and agreed to a report, which has been printed. The committee declare their opinion, in the first place, that defective ventilation is the chief cause of the calamities which occur; and state that of the two systems of ventilating mines now in use, the furnace system and the steam jet, the latter is decidedly to be preferred. As a means of guarding against danger, and of ascertaining when it is necessary to increase ventilation, the committee think that a differential barometer, a water gauge and at least three self-registering anemometers should be kept in every mine—a fall in the barometer always intimating the presence of danger, the water gauge indicating the power of the drag of the mine, and the anemometer recording for the inspector the rate at which the current of air has been passing through the mine in his absence. To ensure the adoption of these and other scientific antidotes to explosion, more efficient inspection, both with regard to the number and capability of government inspectors, and sub-inspectors, is deemed necessary, who under the authority of a vigilant board, should have ample power vested in them for compelling colliery proprietors to obey their instructions. This, combined with the establishment of schools for the better education of miners, the committee think would go far to diminish, and ultimately prevent, the dreadful explosions to which their attention has been called. The manner in which funds necessary for carrying out these suggestions shall be raised is left to the discretion of the House of Commons.

Fatal Accidents 1852

• Butterley Park (Butterley Co), John Barton, fall of roof 2 Mar 1852.
• Butterley Park, John Skerrimore (?) fell down shaft 12 Jun 1852.
• Butterley Park, John Barksby (boy) fell down shaft 1 Dec 1852.
• Coates Park (Seely), William Hind (?) explosion of firedamp 15 Mar 1852.
• Coates Park (Seely), James Taylor (boy) explosion of firedamp 26 Nov 1852.
• Codnor Park, (Butterley Co), John Barlow aged 26 was killed on 2nd Mar 1852 by a fall of bind roof from a bright slip whilst loading a skip. 
  
• Codnor Park, (Butterley Co), Jno Skermer aged 44 was crushed to death on 14th June 1852 when he felt giddy and fell between the chair and the side of the shaft.
• Codnor Park, (Butterley Co) William Barsby aged 15 died on 1st Dec 1852 from injuries by falling down the shaft. Due to the bell rope being broken and being impatient to get out of the pit the deceased went to another pit against all orders not to and by not knowing the layout at that shaft fell down to a lower working 20 yards below. 
• Cotmanhay (Barber Walker), Abraham Cook (?) and Abraham Bostock (boy) fall of ground 17 Jul 1852.
• Cotmanhay (Barber Walker), John Sisson, fell down shaft 10 Oct 1852.
• Grassmoor (Barnes and Co), Richard Wheatley powder blast 12 Oct 1852.
  
• Heage, (Messrs Mould),  Henry Swift aged 28 was injured in an explosion on 6th Aug when he took a lighted candle, without a safety lamp, into a part of the pit he had been ordered not to go to. He was dreadfully burnt but was able to walk home, a long distance, but died on the 8th Aug 1852.
  
• Ilkeston, John Sisson aged 33 who died on 14th Oct 1852 from injuries he received. He was in the company with two other men and 4 boys coming out of the pit. The deceased had given the usual signal to be drawn up and pulling the wire of the bell, the wire broke and after proceeding a short way up the shaft he suddenly fell out of the chair to the bottom of the shaft.
• Loscoe (EF Whittingstale), John Allen and Samuel Milward, winding rope broke 5 Oct 1852.
• Marehay (Butterley Co), John Bacon and Hamlet Smith both fell down shaft 19 Apr 1852.
• Morley Park (Messrs Mold), Henry Swift, explosion of firedamp 6 Aug 1852.
• Old Radford (Lord Middleton), on 27 Jul 1852 William Bonser (51) collier was ascending a shaft along with 3 others. They had got into the cradle ready and the engine man had been signalled in the usual way but when they had risen up the shaft about 30 yards (27m) the rope broke and they all fell to the bottom of the shaft and were frightfully injured. It was an hour and a half before they could be got out of the pit and treated for their injuries. The rope had broken before and been mended. A new rope had been delivered and the Overlooker Henry Taylor knew that the rope was defective and should have been changed. Had that been done then the accident would not have occurred. He was censured by the jury. Bonser had a leg amputated later in an effort to save his life but died 5 weeks later on 7 Nov 1852.
• Rutland (J Potter), John Lacey (?) fell down shaft, 16 Jul 1852.
• Shipley (Mundy), Francis Purdy, fall of coal 29 Sep 1852.
• Skegby (John Dodsley), a young man employed to pump at night was aroused from his sleep in his cabin at 3am a collier residing nearby and told to go and draw up Joe Wilson, a man advanced in age. This he did but unfortunately did not stop the engine until the balance at the end of the rope or chain had gone over the pulley wheel which instantly drew over the deceased. It was noted by the Coroner that great care should be taken winding men up in the dark and that signal bells should be kept in all winding houses to warn the worker of the approach of a man to the pit top. The neglect of these precautions has been the cause of many a man’s death, 26 Jul 1852.
• Sleights (Coke), John Gibson (?) explosion of firedamp 15 Jul 1852.
• Staveley, William Hodgkinson (?) fall of roof 10 Jul 1852.
• Staveley, Daniel Ridgway, fall of coal 13 Nov 1852.
• Staveley, William Lockie and John Whileman, winding rope broke 25 Dec 1852.
• Turkey Field, Strelley (T North), Stephen Bostock (45), was employed loading waggons at the base of an incline and was killed when a train of loaded waggons being pulled up the incline ran back when the rope broke and caught the deceased as he was passing over the gangway, 15 Jan 1852.
• Turkey Field (T North), James Webster (17) was killed when he tried to stop some runaway waggons by braking them and the run of waggons parted and he fell between the trucks as they ran into a set of full trucks. He was found still alive between the buffers of the first and second trucks that were leaning on the lower part of his belly and his legs hung down, however he expired, 15 Oct 1852.
• Upper Birchwood, John Warren, fall of coal 4 Nov 1852.
• West Hallam, Henry Sawyer, fell down shaft 17 Nov 1852.
• Whaley Bridge, Thomas Dewsnap (?) fall of roof 13 Jun 1852.

Incidents

• Brimington (George Steel), Edward Cocking aged about 14 was injured as he descended the 22 yards deep shaft when the rope broke, He was conveyed home and had a broken skull which was trepanned by Dr Black and a number of broken pieces of bone were raised from his brain and having recovered conscious was able to tell of his accident.
• Old Radford (Lord Middleton), whilst riding out of the shaft and only being raised about 16 yards (14m) the winding rope broke and 4 men fell to the bottom of the shaft and all were severely injured with various broken bones etc. A new rope was attached to the winder taking about half an hour and the injured men were brought out, William Banner (40), William Robinson (25) and William Bonser (60) who were Butty colliers holding the contract for working the pit. John Husbands (36) was a smith who had been into the pit to put shoes on the horses, mules and asses. It had been known that the rope was worn having been in use for the last 18 months and frequent remonstrations had been made regarding same. The accident was caused by reckless inattention.