Mining

The life of a miner has always been risky.  The effects of the damp and gas below ground took its toll. Coal dust and poor working conditions were also a hazard. Mining itself, the removing of minerals and leaving a hole in the ground, is also perilous and often led to the collapse and flooding of pits. Miners would often work 12 or 14 hours below ground, so accidents often occurred through fatigue.

There have been many mining disasters across the East-Shropshire coal field. One such accident occurred on Tuesday 27th September 1864. Nine miners were killed at the Brick Kiln Leasow pit in Madeley.

This disaster was horrific as four of the victims were below the age of 16 and a further two were just 18 years old.

Those who died were:

Edward Wallett who was aged 52 and left four children
John Tranter, aged 37, who was married with five children
Benjamin Davies, aged 35
Joseph Maiden, aged 18
William Jarrett, aged 18
John Jones, aged 14
John Farr, aged 14
Francis Cookson, aged13
William Onions who was the youngest of the nine at only 12 years old

The miners were buried at Madeley Church in a single grave below by a cast-iron slab.On the day of the funeral all the works owned by the Madeley Wood Company, who also owned the Brick Kiln Leasow pit closed early. Around 2,500 miners, furnace men and their families attended the funeral.

The Madeley Living History Project has recently received a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to restore the grave and promote greater awareness of it. You can find out more by visiting their website; www.madeley.org.uk