Hi

I wonder if you could please help me?

I'm looking for some information on my GGUncle John Hall Gaskell, John lived in Bulwell Nottingham & worked in Bestwood Pit......Details below

It was in 1940 that John died in a tragic mining accident at the Bestwood Pit. On the day of Johns death, John had been working as normal underground at Bestwood Pit, he had finished his shift & the machinery had been turned off, It was as he and a co worker were leaving for the night that they heard the machinery restart & John went back to investigate.

Due to the War Time blackout there were no lights to help John see to investigate the machinery, and John fell into the Creeper a moving mechanical steel conveyor, John sadly lost his life.

John was buried at Bulwell Cemetery at the top of Hempshill Lane a stones throw from the family house.

On the morning of Johns death his children had watched him awaiting the Pit bus in Bulwell High St, Granville Gaskell "Derrick & I saw dad squatting waiting for the Pit Bus in Bulwell market place, as we went to the allotment to collect some vegetables from his allotment"

Story also confirmed by his son Jack.

Please could you tell me if there was any newspaper coverage of this accident or indeed a coroners report. Perhaps someone might have memories of John Gaskell and his family.

Kind regards Judi

I am Looking for Any old photographs of Bestwood pit, its railways etc or information on the above pit, or if you could point me in the right direction.

Not doing too badly. I have failed on the Bentinck Engine and the only reference to anything preserved is your site’s reference to the sale of the wheels. Presumably to the Apedale Heritage Centre there. Their website is actually pretty naff. Too little information on what they have got in their collection to make you think “I want to see that” and go on a visit.

However I think the preserved engine they probably mean is the surviving one at Bestwood. Various references found on websites of that engine (Site now moved or gone). That one is to the Council information so probably a good place to start. Newcomen Society have a mini-Conference in Nottingham in July so it ties in with the request for information on visiting. Hope this helps.

John New

Can anyone help with details of a supposed accident at Bestwood Colliery 1911 to 1912 in which my Grandfather William Grainger was killed.

Glenda

Hello Fionn

I hope you don’t mind me emailing you – I came across your website because I am trying to find out more about my great grandfather – Walter Cook. My aunt told me that he invented a safety brake which she thought was for trains. But the only likely Walter Cook I can find on censuses was a mechanic at Bestwood Colliery outside Nottingham.

But that’s all I have found so far – I don’t know whether you can help at all – I thought you might have some ideas about where to find colliery records for example.

Any suggestions gratefully received!

Many thanks

Robert