Spindle Point Colliery

near Clifton, Lancashire

1847 'Dreadful Colliery Explosion.—Loss of four lives.— A melancholy and fatal accident occurred at Spindle Point, near Clifton, on the evening of Tuesday last, in consequence of an explosion of foul air or gas, in a coal-pit there now sinking by the trustees of the late Ellis Fletcher, Esq. The particulars of the melancholy accident will be best gleaned from the evidence of the witnesses at the inquest, which was before Mr. Rutter, at the Unicorn Inn, at Spindle Point, on the bodies of four unfortunate men, on Thursday, when it was stated that the deceased James Cowsill, aged 40, William Cowsill, his son, Peter Harrison, aged 38, and William Johnson, aged 30, all bricksetters, had been engaged, with other workmen to sink the new pit. The pit had been excavated to the depth of sixty-one yards; and two sets of workmen were employed alternately, the miners in the day time, and the brick setters the night. On Tuesday evening the latter workmen descended the pit, and continued to work till half-past nine, when they suspended their employment half an hour for refreshment, and resumed their work about ten. At that hour it was expected that the miners would renew their work, but in consequence of the dreadful storm of thunder, lightning, and wind which was then raging, they were compelled to return home. The bricksetters therefore were lowered down into the pit by William Howarth, the banksman, and nothing occurred till half-past one o'clock, when Howarth heard a loud rumbling noise, like thunder, from the bottom of the pit. Immediately afterwards, an immense flame issued from the mouth of the pit, ascending from six to eight yards above the surface of the pit-bank. Such was the force of the flame that Howarth, who was standing near to the pit-mouth, was thrown three or four yards distant. ....'

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