Clifton Hall Colliery
Encyclopedia
Clifton Hall Colliery was one of two coal mines in Clifton
(the other was Wet Earth Colliery
) on the Manchester Coalfield
, historically within Lancashire which was incorporated into the City of Salford
in Greater Manchester
, England in 1974.
The colliery, owned by Andrew Knowles and Sons
, was located in the Irwell Valley
, just off Lumn's Lane and had extensive railway sidings on the London and North Western Railway
's Clifton Branch. It was connected to the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal by a ¼-mile long tramway.
In the 1880s the colliery had two mine shafts with wooden headgear
, one for winding men and materials and a furnace ventilation shaft
, and a brick engine house. Ventilation
by furnace was replaced in 1886. Production of coal ended 9 November 1929 but a shaft was retained for ventilation at Wheatsheaf Colliery
.
in Pendlebury
where 64victims were buried. It is thought that the explosion was caused by firedamp
igniting on contact with a candle
.
Underlooker Thomas Worrall, blacksmith
16 year old George Hindley and fireman George Higson were part of a team who descended into the mine immediately after the explosion. They received the Albert Medal
in recognition of their heroism. Worrall received a first class medal and the Salford Humane Society Gold Hundred Medal. This award and Mine Rescue medals belonging to R. Johnson and F. Burtonwood and a Gold Chain inscibed to George Hindley were stolen from Lancashire
Mining Museum in Buile Hill Park, Pendleton
, Salford
.
Clifton, Greater Manchester
Clifton is a small town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies in the Irwell Valley in the northern part of the City of Salford....
(the other was Wet Earth Colliery
Wet Earth Colliery
The Wet Earth Colliery has a unique place in British coal mining history, apart from being one of the earliest pits in the country; it is the place where the engineer James Brindley made water run uphill...
) on the Manchester Coalfield
Manchester Coalfield
The Manchester Coalfield is part of the South East Lancashire Coalfield. Its coal seams were laid down in the Carboniferous period and some easily accessible seams were worked on a small scale from the Middle Ages and extensively from the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th...
, historically within Lancashire which was incorporated into the City of Salford
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England in 1974.
The colliery, owned by Andrew Knowles and Sons
Andrew Knowles and Sons
Andrew Knowles and Sons was a coal mining company that operated in and around Clifton, Greater Manchester, then in the historic county of Lancashire. England....
, was located in the Irwell Valley
Irwell Valley
The Irwell Valley extends from the Forest of Rossendale in North West England, through to the cities of Salford and Manchester. The River Irwell runs through the valley, along with the River Croal.-Geology:...
, just off Lumn's Lane and had extensive railway sidings on the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
's Clifton Branch. It was connected to the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal by a ¼-mile long tramway.
History
It is thought that the colliery was operating by 1820 and its tramway is shown on a parliamentary plan from 1830 and on an 1845 map.In the 1880s the colliery had two mine shafts with wooden headgear
Headgear
Headgear, headwear or headdress is the name given to any element of clothing which is worn on one's head.Headgear serve a variety of purposes:...
, one for winding men and materials and a furnace ventilation shaft
Ventilation shaft
In subterranean civil engineering, ventilation shafts, also known as airshafts or vent shafts, are vertical passages used in mines and tunnels to move fresh air underground, and to remove stale air....
, and a brick engine house. Ventilation
Underground mine ventilation
Underground mine ventilation provides a flow of air to the underground workings of a mine of sufficient volume to dilute and remove noxious gases . The source of these gases are equipment that runs on diesel engines, blasting with explosives, and the orebody itself...
by furnace was replaced in 1886. Production of coal ended 9 November 1929 but a shaft was retained for ventilation at Wheatsheaf Colliery
Pendlebury Colliery
The Pendlebury Colliery or Wheatsheaf Colliery was a coal mine operating on the Manchester Coalfield after 1846 in Pendlebury, Greater Manchester, then part of the historic county of Lancashire, England....
.
Disaster
On 18 June 1885 an explosion in the Trencherbone mine killed 178 men and boys, to whom there is a monument in St. Augustine's churchyardSt. Augustine's Church, Pendlebury
St. Augustine's is a High Anglican church in the Diocese of Manchester, once called "The Miners' Cathedral" due to its almost "cathedralesque" stature in the heart of a one time coal mining community. Also sometimes called "Gussie's" by locals....
in Pendlebury
Pendlebury
Pendlebury is a suburban town in the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies to the northwest of Manchester city centre, northwest of Salford, and southeast of Bolton....
where 64victims were buried. It is thought that the explosion was caused by firedamp
Firedamp
Firedamp is a flammable gas found in coal mines. It is the name given to a number of flammable gases, especially methane. It is particularly commonly found in areas where the coal is bituminous...
igniting on contact with a candle
Candle
A candle is a solid block or cylinder of wax with an embedded wick, which is lit to provide light, and sometimes heat.Today, most candles are made from paraffin. Candles can also be made from beeswax, soy, other plant waxes, and tallow...
.
Underlooker Thomas Worrall, blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
16 year old George Hindley and fireman George Higson were part of a team who descended into the mine immediately after the explosion. They received the Albert Medal
Albert Medal (lifesaving)
The Albert Medal for Lifesaving was a British medal awarded to recognise the saving of life. It has since been replaced by the George Cross.The Albert Medal was first instituted by a Royal Warrant on 7 March 1866 and discontinued in 1971 with the last two awards promulgated in the London Gazette of...
in recognition of their heroism. Worrall received a first class medal and the Salford Humane Society Gold Hundred Medal. This award and Mine Rescue medals belonging to R. Johnson and F. Burtonwood and a Gold Chain inscibed to George Hindley were stolen from Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
Mining Museum in Buile Hill Park, Pendleton
Pendleton, Greater Manchester
Pendleton is an inner city area of Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It is about from Manchester city centre. The A6 dual carriageway skirts the east of the district....
, Salford
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
.