Sunday 2 February 2014

Bentley Pit History Part 1 - 85 Years of Mining

Bentley Colliery 1911

Industry Comes To Bentley


By the end of the nineteenth century Bentley was still largely a rural village on the outskirts of Doncaster. Imagine then the feelings of horror which must have crept over the local inhabitants when it was announced that investigations would be made into sinking a deep coal mine in the village. On the plus side it would bring much needed work to the area, but it would also bring dirt, pollution and newcomers.

Opposed to it or not, it became a reality, and changed the face of this once pretty village forever.

In this post we look at how the colliery began, its impact on the village and its demise. In a follow up article we look at the two major disasters at the mine and how the people of Bentley were affected by them.

 

Contents

  • A Site For The New Colliery
  • Miners And Mining
  • Modern Mining
  • Above Ground
  • Bentley New Village
  • Facilities For The Workers
  • Royal Visitors
  • Dark Times In Bentley
  • The General Strike
  • Bentley Pit Disaster
  • Flooding
  • Paddy Train Crash
  • The Miners' Strike
  • Bentley After The Strike
  • A Black Day For Bentley



A Site For The New Colliery

Bentley Pit was first sited for sinking by Barber Walker & Company near Bentley Mill in 1887 but the site proved unsuitable and investigations were carried out to find a site north of the village. The new site at the corner of the Daw Lane Plantation was first investigated in 1895 and the Barnsley Seam was found at a depth of 615 yards. After negotiations with local landowners the sinking began in 1904. 

Sinking the first shaft in 1905

The difficulties faced by the workers became almost overwhelming; quicksand to a depth of 100 feet proved to be the most challenging obstacle facing the sinkers. A system of interlocking piles to bore through the quicksand proved to be unsuccessful and work was stopped in late 1905. Another attempt to sink two shafts was made in March 1906 and was successful. The problems didn't end there though, unstable surface clay meant that surface buildings had to be carried in on huge concrete rafts.


George Ashmore and family. 
Photo courtesy of Dianne Harvey-Marshall

George Ashmore pictured above with his family, moved to Bentley from the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire area to work at the pit. He was one of the many workers who helped with the sinking. Tragically George was killed in a mining accident in 1920. He was the first person to be buried in Arksey's 'New' cemetery.


Construction workers in 1908

Charles Senior Smith (1855-1923), a joiner during the construction, stands alongside an early model of the pit head buildings, which he probably made himself. The similarities of the model and the finished buildings are quite striking.

Charles Senior Smith, joiner.
 Photo courtesy of Elaine Spencer

The pit in 1911 looking very like Charles Senior's model

The pit was known as Arksey Colliery in those early days. Lying within view of the village, bricks from Arksey's Tuffield brickyard were used in the construction of the pit buildings.

1908, and the Union Jack is flying to show they had reached coal
 
By November 1908 the coal had been reached by both shafts and the workers were rewarded with a dinner organised by Mr Hildernby of the Bay Horse pub which was served in a large marquee erected in a field in Arksey Lane. 


The heap stead under construction 1910 - 1911


In 1910 the colliery 'heap stead' was built. This was a platform at the mouth of the shaft which was elevated above ground level, and allowed coal to be tipped on to screens or a conveyor. The Bentley heap stead was unusual as it was constructed from reinforced concrete. This material was considered lighter and more suited to the bad foundations on the site, and as there was no timber in the construction, it was more likely to withstand fire. The heap stead was built to a height of 45 feet up to the level where coal tubs would be lifted. A further 14 feet of concrete work was also built above that. At the same time, the wooden headgear was replaced by a steel lattice construction.


The heap stead


Miners And Mining 


By 1910 Bentley Colliery was employing around 1,000 men, 700 of whom worked underground. Working in three shifts the mine averaged around 2,000 tons of coal per day.

Bentley was said to be one of the most modern in existence, with all the latest equipment.


Bentley Colliery in operation.
Photo Courtesy of Dennis Canning


Coal was extracted using the 'longwall' method, where coal would be cut from a long seam and removed as it fell. Props were then used to control the fall of the roof behind; the cavity left behind the extracted face was called the gob. The coal was then hauled away in tubs by pit ponies and hoisted to the surface.

Electric cutters were used to undercut the coal face, while electric drills were used to blast the face and cause the coal to drop. By 1940 conveyor belts placed parallel with the coal face, carried the coal away continuously. 


Plan of the pit bottom in 1924


The mine was laid out using a system of 'gate roads', which formed an underground grid of roadways as each face was worked. Ventilation was provided by two Capell fans, but the mine had to be constantly monitored for the build up of dangerous gases, such as methane and carbon dioxide. Gases in the gob areas could spontaneously combust, so gases were often left to build up behind seals where oxygen could be excluded.

Bentley coal working became famous for experiments in gob fires and spontaneous combustion, and the work has gone down in mining history.  


Bentley Colliery canary
 
Miners were issued with an identification token and a lamp before starting work; typically the day shift would start at 6 a.m. and finish at 1.30 p.m., the afternoon shift would start at 2 p.m. and finish at 9.45 p.m., while the night shift would start at 10 p.m. and finish at 5.30 a.m. It was dirty and risky work; exposure to inhaled coal dust could cause lung diseases, and there were risks from gas leaks, explosions, collapses, vehicle accidents and injury from equipment. Unions were set up to assist miners in medical, legal or financial need.


Miners entering and leaving the lamp cabin


Coal production from the Barnsley seam was very successful, and reached its peak in 1924 when the yearly total exceeded 1,200,000 tons. After that yearly totals fell as the seam became depleted.

By 1945 the pit was fully mechanised with modern face machines and loco haulage. 


Loco haulage at Bentley Pit



Modern Mining


By 1968 the colliery was considered the 'sick man' of the area. It had the worst record for disputes and along with other industrial woes, it was threatened with closure. 
But just a year later, it was back from the brink in spectacular style due to increased efficiency. Bentley's future lay with the Dunsil seam when the two faces of the Barnsley seam had to be sealed off because of overheating. The number of faces was reduced from nine to three, and this meant that only one conveyor belt was needed to run the whole three mile length, from shaft bottom to face.

The three faces produced on average 17,000 tons of coal per week, and this productivity put the pit in the top ten in the country.

At a depth of up to a third of a mile underground, coal from the Dunsil seam had a long journey to the surface.

The coal was cut by huge power loaders, which cut and loaded coal automatically. The power loaders had a rotating drum with steel picks to cut into the face, then the coal would drop on to a steel conveyor, which had powered roof supports attached, these would move forward when the machine passed and support the exposed roof above.


Cutting coal at Bentley


Once on the conveyors, the coal would pass on to wider trunk conveyors on the roadways, then on to two 200 ton bunkers. From the bunkers the coal flowed to the pit bottom to a 330 ton bunker, which fed into eight ton capacity winding skips, from where it was wound to the surface.

With round the clock production and many miles of roadways underground, it was important to move shift workers and supplies speedily and efficiently. Descending the shaft 48 at a time, the men were then loaded on to small paddy trains and taken to the face. Supplies of materials would also be transported this way.




Above Ground


The colliery became a sprawling mass of buildings, stockyards, winding rooms, offices, control rooms and workers facilities which could be seen for miles around. The pit had its own branch line railway for shunting coal off to its various destinations, whether it be power stations, local industry, or to supply domestic heating. This map from 1966 shows just how much land the colliery occupied above ground.


1966 Colliery map
 

Bentley New Village

Bentley Colliery was a large operation, and needed over a thousand workers. Locals alone could not fill all the positions, so many men and families migrated from other parts of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and beyond to take up the jobs. These families needed housing, and so, a large housing estate was built near to the pit, and called Bentley New Village. 


1966 map of Bentley New Village


Facilities For The Workers

Apart from housing, social amenities were provided for the mining community. Bentley Colliery had its own football team (which still exists and is now part of the Central Midlands League). Founded in the 1920's, they reached the third round of the FA Cup in the 1956-57 season. 

Bentley Colliery Cricket Club was founded in 1912, and is also still in existence.

There were social clubs in both Bentley and Arksey, with more springing up in Scawthorpe and Toll Bar. The colliery had its own brass band, the Silver Prize Band, which won over 1,200 prizes and produced a number of gold and silver medal soloists.



Bentley Colliery Band 1958


More shops, public houses, a cinema, churches and a recreation park were all added to the growing township. This in turn led to better public transport, with trams, and then trolleybuses taking people to and from Doncaster.

The pit had brought prosperity to Bentley and a thriving community had sprung up in its wake, but the colliery and the community witnessed dark times with strikes, floods and disasters throughout the decades.



Royal Visitors


February 1944 saw a visit to the colliery by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The visit was included as part of a tour around some of the coalfields in the South Yorkshire area. The royal couple spent 45 minutes at the colliery, looking around the surface areas and offices. 

The King, seen here in duster coat and flat cap, with the Queen behind at Bentley Colliery

For more on the royal visit go to A Royal Visit To Bentley.



Dark Times In Bentley


The General Strike

The General Strike of 1926 affected the whole of the UK's coal mines, including Bentley. Coal production and exports had fallen since the end of World War 1, but mine owners wanting to maintain profits brought in wage reductions and longer working hours. In supporting the miners, the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) began negotiations, but when they failed the TUC announced that a general strike would begin on the 3rd of May 1926. 

The strike lasted for ten days and as well as mines, heavy industry and transport was also affected, leading the government to enlist middle class workers and volunteers to keep essential services running. The TUC finally called off the strike, defeated, on the 13th of May. The miners drifted back to work, having to accept that lower wages and longer hours could not be avoided.


Bentley miner's soup kitchen during the General Strike 1926


Bentley Pit Disaster

Five years after the General Strike came what must be the darkest day in the history of the pit. On the 20th of November 1931 there was an explosion underground which killed 45 men and boys. The full story is told in the next part of this article, but the memory of this terrible event cast a shadow over the whole community for many decades.



Burial of the disaster victims 1931.
Photo courtesy of Jill Lowe


Flooding

Just six months after this terrible disaster, Bentley was hit with another crisis when severe flooding inundated Bentley, Arksey and the surrounding area. The colliery was flooded up to the pit head, but narrowly avoided being flooded in the pit itself, which would have been disastrous for those relying on the pit for their livelihoods. That aside, it was still another blow for the hard working people of Bentley to deal with. 



The Avenue and pit in flood, 1932


Paddy Train Crash

Forty seven years after the disaster of 1931, almost to the day, another tragedy hit the colliery. On the 21st of November 1978, seven men were killed in an underground paddy train crash. This disaster is also covered in the next article. 

The victims of both disasters are remembered on a memorial in Arksey cemetery.


Bentley Disaster Memorial



The Miners' Strike    

Disasters aside, nothing can raise more emotion in the coal mining community than the strike of 1984-1985. This major conflict affected the whole of the UK coal mining industry, and effectively rang the death knell for almost every pit in the country.

At that time coal mining was a nationalized industry managed by the National Coal Board (NCB) under Ian MacGregor. The mines were heavily state subsidised and although a number of UK mines were profitable, the government insisted that investment and mechanisation were needed to return the mines to profit. This would also mean job cuts, something the unions resisted strongly.


NUM leader, Arthur Scargill


Events escalated in 1984 when the government announced plans to close 20 pits, with the loss of 20,000 jobs. The leader of the NUM (National Union of Mineworkers), Arthur Scargill claimed that the government were actually planning to close over 70 pits, and effectively destroy the industry completely. Macgregor vigorously denied this and wrote to all members of the NUM accusing Scargill of deceiving them with his claims. 


A popular slogan of the strike


Recently released government papers showed that Ian MacGregor had intended to close over 70 pits, and Arthur Scargill was finally proved right. It also transpired that the Tory government, led by Margaret Thatcher had colluded with MacGregor in this deceit.

On the 12th of March 1984, Arthur Scargill called for national strike action, and so began one of the most bitterly fought disputes in recent history.

Major clashes during the strike have been well documented. Bentley avoided being involved in any high level conflicts, but it wasn't immune from trouble.


A smashed bus outside Bentley Colliery


In October 1984, it was claimed by NUM officials at Bentley, that a man who was strikebreaking and going into work everyday was in fact a policeman, not a miner. NUM president Jock Nimmo said 'We know for a fact that this man is not a Bentley miner... the Coal Board is hoping some of the lads will go in if they think somebody else is working, but we know our members better than that.' A month later it was reported that the Bentley NUM committee had decided never again to represent any of the thirteen miners who had gone back to work. 




The strike ended without agreement on the 3rd of March 1985, but not before many mining families had suffered terrible hardship. Some miners had already returned to work for the sake of their children. It was a huge blow to NUM members and the mining industry was never the same again.



Bentley After The Strike


Things picked up once again for Bentley in the late 1980's by tapping into the Parkgate seam. Production hit one million tons annually, and in December 1989 the colliery celebrated three productivity and output records, by reaching a weekly best of 25,975 tonnes, and also lifting their individual tonnage record two thirds to 7.85 tonnes per man. They also achieved a new shift record high of 30.11 tonnes.


Celebrating a new output record, 1989

Despite this success, the threat of closure was looming. Collieries all over the UK had been closing at a steady rate since 1985, and by the early 1990's the closures were intensifying. 


A Black Day For Bentley

On the 16th of November 1993, British Coal announced its intention to close Bentley Colliery. The news was accepted with a sad air of inevitability. Bentley vicar Bob Fitzharris said 'We are being held hostage to fortune by this evil [Tory] administration that worships the false god of the market place... it is a sad and a black day for Bentley.'


Bentley Colliery during demolition
 

The colliery was demolished during late 1994 into early 1995. Redevelopment of the site began in 1998, and now forms part of the Bentley Community Forest.

The resilience of the community pulled Bentley through the crisis and the township remains a thriving part of north Doncaster in the twenty first century. 





In April 1995 a pit wheel memorial was unveiled at the former Bentley Colliery Cricket Club (The Jet). It was constructed from a winding headgear wheel, two emergency winding wheels and stone blocks from the colliery offices. Pictured at the inauguration are Councillor Gordon Gallimore and former miner Tommy Brett aged 83 who cut the ribbon, along with officials and former miners (see photo above).



Continue reading in Bentley Colliery Part 2 - Disasters.

For more photos go to Pit Photos
 



First written 2014, updated 2020




Saturday 1 February 2014

Bentley Pit History Part 2 - Disasters

Funeral procession on Arksey Lane, 25th November 1931


Bentley's Darkest Days


Coal mining has always been a dangerous occupation, working so far underground in cramped airless conditions amongst heavy machinery, it's no wonder that miners suffer injury or even loss of life. But every so often a major disaster occurs which leads to the loss of many lives and rocks the surrounding neighbourhood for years to come. Two such disasters have occurred in Bentley within living memory. This is the story of them both.


Contents

  • The Disaster Of 1931
  • The Inquest
  • The Funeral
  • Photos Of The Procession
  • The Burial
  • Honouring The Heroes
  • Those Who Lost Their Lives
  • Memorabilia
  • Memorial Card
  • Funeral Notice
  • Mine's Rescue Presentations
  • The Disaster of 1978
  • Before The Accident
  • The Crash
  • Aftermath
  • Investigation And Conclusion
  • Those who Lost their Lives
  • Those Seriously Injured
  • Bentley Colliery Disaster Memorial
  • Commemorations




The Disaster Of 1931


Friday the 20th of November 1931 must go down in history as the darkest day Bentley has ever known. At approximately 5.45 p.m on that day a huge explosion occurred deep underground in the North East District of the mine.

A sudden flash of flame shot across the workings and brought the roof and walls crashing down, while miners were thrown through the air by the force of the blast.

Some miners were overcome by flammable gas, known as 'firedamp', while others were trapped by roof falls blocking exit shafts.


Crowds gather in the aftermath of the disaster.

Rescue teams raced to clear debris while fires burned, threatening more explosions. During a second blast, five hours later, three rescuers were severely burned. A third blast occurred sometime later. Rescuers totalled 250 and they worked in stifling conditions, often driven back by heat, smoke and gas.

The dead and injured were stretchered to the shafts and brought to the surface, while at the pit-head a crowd of 2,000 men and women watched while the injured were brought out and placed into a continual procession of ambulances.




Kathleen Higson recalls how her father helped to alert the rescue services, and what she witnessed from her home nearby.

'He went into the time office, and was met by an anxious clerk who said, "Can you help me? they have just rung from below ground to say that there has been an explosion". Dad helped him to alert the rescue services, the Colliery Manager and the Colliery Agent.
When he came home to Mum, she rounded up the neighbours to fill and light their copper fires so that hot water would be available if needed. Word began to spread. The two grocers on Victoria Road sent free supplies of tea and sugar. I watched from my bedroom window as a crowd of anxious people built up, filling the road outside and spreading into the pay yard. It was a silent waiting crowd that sometimes parted to let a vehicle through. It was at school on Monday morning that I learned that the father of one of my friends had died.'

Terrible injuries meant that some of the men could not be identified. 43 men were killed instantly, four were brought out injured, and five were never recovered. Two later died in hospital, bringing the total number of fatalities to 45. 


The next day King George V sent the following message:
'The Queen and I are shocked to hear of the disaster which occurred last night at Bentley and send our heartfelt sympathy to the families of those who have lost their lives tragically.'

A policeman posts a notice on the pit gates.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty



The Inquest


An inquest on the victims of the disaster was opened three days later in the colliery office. The coroner Mr Carlile, opened by expressing sympathy for the relatives of the victims stating:
"We can only trust they will be given sufficient courage and strength to bear their loss and that the efforts of those who seek to provide for their welfare will meet with abundant success."
Colliery machinery was silent as a sad procession of witnesses came before the coroner, widows, some with seven or eight children, came to give their evidence. The men, in twos and threes, dressed in their Sunday clothes walked up to the colliery in near silence.

Throughout the hearing harrowing tales began to emerge:

Tragic scenes met the first men to arrive from workings nearby. Miners were scattered on the ground with their clothes burned away, while others appeared to have been blinded. 

The first rescue was carried out by Arthur Kirkland, despite being badly burned and having lost a hand, he was crawling to safety when he met T. Hannon, a pony driver, whose foot had become trapped under a tub. Kirkland managed to lift the tub off his foot and dragged the man 300 yards to safety. Arthur Kirkland did not survive, and the story of his strength and courage only became known later.

A miner working in another part of the mine before the explosion had returned to the surface, but on hearing of the disaster he immediately joined the rescue effort. He went down the pit and found his own son lying unconscious. He dragged him out, to be taken to hospital, but it was the last time he saw him alive.

Henry Womack (aged 44) was the first of the dead to be brought out, while Albert Edward Barcock was the youngest victim at age 17. 



Volunteer rescuers on their return to the surface.

Tales of great gallantry also emerged, and in tribute to those who had worked tirelessly to rescue the men, Mr Carlile said:
"It is always a matter of great satisfaction to know there are always plenty of men willing to risk their own lives to save the lives of others."
One of the proprietors of the colliery, Major Barber had also acted courageously in the rescue work, and speaking in a hushed voice shaking with emotion, he paid tribute to the volunteers' superhuman efforts, and the colleagues of the dead.

The general manager of the colliery, Mr Phillips made special mention of Mr Donald MacGregor, the agent, Mr Albert Longden, the manager, and those who were there from the first:
"They risked everything. It was not a question of getting volunteers, but preventing them from taking unnecessary risks to rescue the men."
Mr Joseph Jones was the secretary of the local branch of the Yorkshire Miner's Association, and he brought their attention to another unknown hero of the disaster:
"I should particularly like to mention Surveyor Temperley. Without rescue apparatus or anything to protect him, immediately he knew there were two men left and the likelihood that they might be alive, he dashed in and brought one out. This particularly courageous act stands out gloriously and shows the risks men were prepared to take."
It was the opinion of Sir Henry Walker Chief H.M.I. that the explosion was the result of a gob fire which had gone undetected due to the amount of air circulating in the underground roads.


The Funeral


Souvenir napkin listing those honoured at the funeral.
Photo courtesy of Janet Roberts

Wednesday the 25th of November 1931 was a damp, misty day, which must have added to the sombre atmosphere in Bentley New village, as people began to gather for the funeral procession and burial of 32 of the disaster victims. Five of the victims would lie entombed in a sealed off part of the pit where they perished, and others would be buried in their native places.

The Bishop of Sheffield (top hat) and wife, with Rev J Lynes of Bentley 
and Rev J Pierce Price of Arksey.
(Apologies for the poor quality photo)

The route from the church of St Philip and St James in the New Village, to the cemetery at Arksey, a mile and a half away, was packed with dumb-stricken crowds of people, ten deep in places. The police estimated there were 30,000 people lining the route. Hundreds of people had come from mining districts all over Yorkshire. First aid tents were set up at various points along the route, to treat the many fainting women and children. 

The funeral began at the church of St Philip and St James, with only close relatives allowed into the church. The coffins were laid in long rows beneath thousands of wreaths.

The coffins being carried out of church
(Apologies for the poor quality photo)

After the service the coffins were brought out by ambulance men and placed on lorries draped with purple. In front of these improvised hearses were three more draped lorries piled high with wreaths on triangular stands.

Family mourners followed behind, then came officials of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, and representatives of the colliery.


The procession turning on to The Avenue
(Apologies for the poor quality photo)

The procession passed from Victoria Road to the long stretch of The Avenue, from where it turned left on to Arksey Lane. On arriving at Arksey cemetery, some 2000 people were crowded around the large open grave, lined with evergreens. 


Photos Of The Procession


View from the corner of The Avenue / Arksey Lane

Crowds on Arksey Lane, Holly House behind the tree (centre left)

The crowds

The procession leaving The Avenue and joining Arksey Lane


The procession moving along Arksey Lane


The Burial

The victims to be buried at Arksey Cemetery were placed in a large communal grave while hundreds of onlookers stood in orderly fashion around the site.


The grave at Arksey Cemetery
Photo courtesy of Jill Lowe

 
Floral tributes were placed on the now covered grave.


A large memorial was erected to the victims buried there, and those whose remains still lie in the pit are also remembered here.


Erecting the Pit Disaster Memorial



The finished memorial.





Honouring The Heroes


In September 1932 it was announced that eight men who had performed heroic assistance in the rescue effort, were to be awarded for their special gallantry. Awarded the Edward Medal for Mines in Silver were Ernest Allport, Deputy, St John's Ambulance man and a member of the Colliery Rescue Brigade. Edgar Hamilton Frazer, Divisional Inspector of Mines. Samuel Jarrett Temperley, Assistant Surveyor, and John Ward, pony driver. Awarded the Edward Medal for Mines in Bronze were Richard Edward Darker, pony driver. Oliver Soulsby, haulage hand, Frank Sykes, Corporal; and Philip William Yates, haulage driver.



Left to right, Philip Yates, Richard Darker, John Ward, Frank Sykes and Oliver Soulsby
at their investiture.

The Edward Medal was established in 1907 for heroic acts, performed by miners and quarry-men who endanger their own lives in pursuit of saving others in peril. Silver was the First Class award, Bronze the Second Class.

Some of the heroic acts carried out by the Bentley heroes are described below.


Ernest Allport

Ernest Allport spent over three hours in breathing apparatus helping stretcher cases when his breathing apparatus needed replenishing. Following the second explosion, and a call for volunteers, he seized some breathing apparatus and joined a rescue party which pushed past a fire to rescue two other men.



Richard E. Darker

Samuel Jarrett Temperley volunteered to lead a rescue party into the return airway despite a fire being on their route. Making their way there an explosion occurred severely injuring three of the rescuers, who then turned back. However, Mr Temperley and one of the mines inspectors went on even though he had no breathing equipment, and managed to reach the airway entrance where he helped to carry an injured man past one of the fires.


Oliver Soulsby


Pony driver John Ward was in a nearby part of the coalface when he was blown off his feet by the blast and covered in a thick cloud of dust. When he recovered, he guided himself in the darkness by feeling for rails and tubs, to reach the face. He helped an injured man to safety and repeatedly returned to the face to help other injured men for the next three hours, until he was completely exhausted.



Frank Sykes


The Edward Medals were presented by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 24th of February 1933. The award was followed in 1977 by a Jubilee Medal which consisted of a George Cross and Jubilee dress miniature pair. These were presented by Queen Elizabeth II to the six surviving heroes at an investiture that year.

In 1996 the Bentley with Arksey Heritage Society managed to purchase, at auction, Frank Sykes collection of medals, following his death in 1982 in Cleckheaton.

There were many acts of gallantry that fateful night, but only a few were chosen to be honoured, speaking bluntly about this Sam Temperley is known to have said:
"I was embarrassed to get a medal. It was invidious to single out a few when there were 30 to 40 men in the rescue."
Another miner said a few days after the disaster:
"Every chap the explosion hit was one of our pals. They're dead, most of them, and it's no time for us to pose as heroes."



__________


Those Who Lost Their Lives 



AGNEW, William
Age 34,
of Halmshaw Terrace, Bentley,
Burial place, unknown.



ALLSOPP, James Edward
Age 27,
of The Avenue, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.


James E Allsopp



ATKINSON, Charles
Age 37,
of Asquith Road, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Charles Atkinson



BARCOCK, Albert Edward
Age 17,
of Denby Street, Bentley
Burial Place, Arksey.

Albert E Barcock



BEASTALL, Henry
Age 58,
of The Avenue, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Henry Beastall


BENTLEY, George Robert
Age 46,
of Arthur Street, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

George R Bentley


BRETT, John J
Age 37,
of New Street, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

John J Brett


BROCKLEHURST, William
Age 45,
of Coney Road, Toll Bar,
Burial place, Arksey.

William Brocklehurst


BROWN, John Baden Powell
Age 31,
of Wainwright Road, Doncaster,
Burial place, unknown.

John Brown


BUXTON, Stanley
Age 28,
of Tilts Lane, Toll Bar,
Burial place, Arksey.

Stanley Buxton


CALLADINE, Albert
Age 31,
of Winnipeg Road, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Albert Calladine


CALLAGHAN, John
Age 37,
of Milton Street, Doncaster,
Burial place, unknown.

John Callaghan



CAWOOD, Ernest
Age 50,
Of Askern Road, Bentley.
Burial place, Arksey.

Ernest Cawood



CHEETHAM, Herbert
Age 30,
of Victoria Road, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Herbert Cheetham

Jessie Thompson and Herbert Cheetham pictured possibly at their engagement in 1930/31.
Herbert lost his life in the pit disaster before they could be married.
Photo courtesy of Bob Lord.


DERRICK, Richard Thomas
Age 53,
of Frank Road, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Richard T Derrick


DOVE, Thomas
Age, 42,
of Asquith Road, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Thomas Dove


FARNSWORTH, William
Age 29,
of Cromwell Road, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

William Farnsworth


GRAIN, Joseph William
Age 35,
of Hawthorne Grove, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Joseph W Grain


GREAVES, James Roland
Age 33,
of Balfour Road, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

James R Greaves


GREEN, Thomas
Age 42,
of Arthur Street, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Thomas Green


GUY, Leonard
Age 34,
of High Street, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Leonard Guy


HAYES, Clifford
Age 25,
of Cross Street, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Clifford Hayes


HIBBERT, Alfred
Age 44,
of New Street, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Alfred Hibbert


HOPKINSON, Thomas
Age 33,
of Daw Lane, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Thomas Hopkinson


HUCKERBY, Albert Edward
Age 29,
of Arksey Lane, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Albert E Huckerby


JONES, Leonard
Age 24,
of Marsh Gate, Doncaster,
Burial place, Arksey.

Leonard Jones


KIRKLAND, Arthur Howard
Age 44,
of West End Avenue, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.


LAWTON, Harold
Age 31,
of Winnipeg Road, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Harold Lawton


LEYLAND, Arthur James
Age 49,
of Hall Gate, Doncaster,
Burial place, Arksey.

Arthur J Leyland


LLEWELLYN, John
Age 47,
of Cromwell Road, Bentley,
Burial place, unknown.



MALONEY, Daniel
Age 35,
of Grove Street, Adwick,
Burial place, Arksey.


Daniel Maloney


MASON, Samuel
Age 47,
of The Avenue, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Samuel Mason


MIDDLETON, Wilfred
Age 36,
of Fisher Street, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Wilfred Middleton


PECK, John Ernest
Age 31,
of Tilts Lane, Toll Bar,
Burial place, unknown.



PRITCHETT, Joseph
Age 53,
of The Avenue, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Joseph Pritchett


PRITCHETT, William
Age 46,
of Balfour Road, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

William Pritchett


ROE, James
Age 56,
of Coney Road, Toll Bar,
Burial place, Arksey.

James Roe


SINGLETON, George
Age 29,
of Raymond Road, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

George Singleton


SLEATH, Lancelot Oliver
(sometimes listed as Lawrence or Leonard)
Age 27, 
of Hawthorne Grove, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Lancelot O Sleath


SMITH, John Hamilton
Age 24,
of Wheatley Park Road, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.


John H Smith


TEMPLEMAN, Samuel William
Age 47,
of Cross Street Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.


Samuel W Templeman


WARD, William
Age, 41,
of Hawthorne Grove, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.


William Ward


WILCOCK (or Wilcox), Clifford
Age 25, 
of Beaver Street, Goldthorpe,
Burial place, unknown.


Clifford Wilcock


WINDLE, Horace
Age 36,
of Acacia Road, Skellow,
Burial place, unknown.


Horace Windle


WOMACK, Henry
Age 44,
 of Fisher Street, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.
Henry's was the first body to be brought out of the 
pit following the disaster.


Henry Womack
Photo of Henry Womack courtesy of Dennis Canning.




This list has been compiled from various sources. Given that some older records had mistakes, I have carried out additional research to verify and correct the mistakes wherever possible.


__________


Memorabilia


Photos and memorabilia sent in from readers regarding the 1931 Pit Disaster.

Memorial Card


Front of card.

Names of those who lost their lives, part one.


Names of those who lost their lives, part two.


Thanks to Bob Lord for these images.


Funeral Notice

Funeral notice
Thanks to Dennis Canning for this image.



Mine's Rescue Presentations

Plaque from a canteen of cutlery given to Alfred Clay for services to the Mines Rescue. Alfred was on duty on the day of the explosion. 


Mines Rescue pin belonged to Alfred Clay.
Engraving on the back of the above pin.



Doncaster Mine's Rescue team


Thanks to Chris Clay for these images.

__________


The Disaster of 1978


Forty seven years, almost to the day, after the terrible disaster at Bentley Colliery which saw the deaths of forty five miners, another tragedy occurred at the colliery, resulting in the deaths of seven men, while nineteen others were injured. This was no explosion though, instead it was an underground train crash which brought sadness to the village. This is what happened.



Before The Accident

 

Introduced in 1939, manriding diesel locomotives, or 'paddy trains', were used to shuttle the miners and haul coal underground. A fleet of twelve locomotives were operated at the pit, and varied in age from 22 to 33 years. A garage near the pit bottom serviced and controlled the trains.

Manriding paddy train

On Monday the 20th of November 1978 the night shift got under way as normal at 10.15pm. Some men boarded a train to their working district, and others boarded two trains to a paddy station.

Train drivers usually worked with their regular conductor, and on this night the No 13 locomotive was driven by R L Wade, with his conductor H A Wells. This train had four carriages. The other train on the journey to the paddy station was the No18 locomotive, with two carriages, driven by G Shone, however, his conductor was not working that night. The pit bottom deputy looked down his list of trained conductors and nominated Allott as a substitute conductor for the night. However, he had confused the name Allott with the name Aylott, who was also listed. So Allott was sent to work for which he had not been trained.

Three trains left the garage at about 4.00am in readiness to shuttle the men out at the end of the shift. Train No 13, driven by Wade, with Wells, the conductor, hauled two carriages which had been repaired during the shift. 

Heading towards the coalface, the track climbed on a gradient of 1:16, so, to prevent runaway trains, the track was fitted with 'arrestors', designed to provide a shock absorbing 'brake' to bring out of control trains to a safe stop. The arrestor is fitted between the main rails, on auxilliary rails. It has an impact head which protrudes above the rails to make contact with runaway trains. It has an operating lever to lower the impact head, which must be held down  to allow trains to pass over it normally.


A Godwin arrestor

Wade stopped his train at the arrestor and Wells lowered the lever on the impact head, and bolted it in place. The train passed over the arrestor, but Wells left the impact head bolted down as he'd seen the lights of a following train, and assumed it would follow him, but it actually turned off onto another route.

The No 18 locomotive, driven by Shone, was the next to approach the bolted down arrestor. He saw that it was pinned in place, and decided to leave it that way, and continued to the top of the incline.

Both trains arrived at the top of the incline, and after some shunting, the repaired carriages and two others were coupled to Shone's locomotive. Wade and Wells assisted the untrained Allott (the substitute conductor) with this operation.

Shone's No 18 train now had four carriages, and would travel down first, followed by Wade's No 13 train, consisting of two carriages. Men already occupied all the carriages waiting to take them out of the mine. Allott was told to sit in the rear of the last carriage (No 6), as was usual for a conductor, and was subsequently left behind in the next event.


The Crash

 

Once the No 18 train had been coupled together, it was required to move forward a short distance to allow the No 13 locomotive to be brought out and coupled to the remaining two carriages.

Shone set off intending to drive about 20 - 30 feet, but his train accelerated down the incline with 65 men aboard.

The train was now travelling at excessive speed and Shone applied the mechanical brakes causing the locomotives wheels to lock. He carried out an anti-skid manoeuvre, but it had no effect on the speed of the train.

By now, the speed of the train was apparent to the passengers, who began to assume crouching positions for the impending impact with the arrestor. 

However, the impact head of the arrestor was still pinned down, and Shone realized this as he approached. All he could do was hope that the train would negotiate the curve in the track.

The locomotive passed around the curve, as did the front of the first carriage, but the rear and the front of the second carriage left the track, parted, and crashed into the roadway supports. The front wheels of the locomotive were derailed, while the first carriage was completely derailed, but remained upright. The second and third carriages were some 67 feet behind, derailed and tilted, the fourth carriage was derailed but upright.


The wrecked carriages

 

Aftermath


Men who had been travelling in the third carriage, and were not physically injured in the crash, rushed to assist with recovery operations. They were soon joined by those waiting on the second, No 13 train, and more from a third train which had just returned with men from another district. One man ran back to the junction to alert the controller and request medical assistance.

During the recovery it was noted by two men assisting, that the arrestor lever was still pinned in the down position. 

A doctor and nursing sister were transported to the accident site on a quickly assembled train. At the site some men were trapped between the last three carriages and the roadway. These carriages were uncoupled and rolled over to release the men. Stretcher cases were taken out by the train used earlier by the doctor and nurse, while those who were able walked out. All were brought out within two hours. Eighteen were taken to hospital, where four of them were temporarily detained. Forty men were treated for shock at the colliery medical centre, and the seven deceased were brought up by 9.00am. 

Ambulance leaving the colliery after the accident

Seperate funerals were held for the victims, and a dedication was added to the Bentley Colliery Disaster memorial at Arksey Cemetery (see photo at foot of page).


Investigation And Conclusion


An investigation was carried out to find the cause of the accident. This consisted of an examination of the locomotive, the arrestor, and testimonies from those involved.

The locomotive was found to be in a good condition and level of maintainance, and did not contribute to the accident.

The arrestor was in good working order, although the impact head did not always return to its operative position, and sometimes needed slight pressure on the lever to return it. However, that night the arrestor had been deliberately pinned down, and could not operate as it should. The arrestor was fitted with red and green lights to indicate the position of the impact head, but these had not been properly maintained for some time, leading to trains passing over a permanent red light.


Bill Askew, chief engineer for Doncaster, with an arrestor, 21 Nov 1978


It was concluded that the drivers and conductors had not been properly trained; driver Shone had only been authorised to drive 23 days before the accident, and his inexperience led to him being unable to cope with the situation which developed. Allott had been placed on conductor duties in error, without training or authorisation.

L to R Jack Wood (Area Director), Arthur Scargill and Derek Ezra (NCB Chairman) after the accident

A number of recommendations were made following the investigation, including, strict adherance of transport rules, certification of drivers linked to the type of locomotive they had been trained on, and drivers to have reasonable post training experience before being allowed to drive manriding trains. Recommendations also extended to replacing elderly locomotives, and fitting speedometers, and the design of new carriages to be given extra strength. Finally, the design of the arrestor should be developed so that it automatically retracts for trains operating at normal speeds, but remains in the operative position for trains travelling at excessive speeds.


Arrestor rules

_________

Those Who Lost Their Lives



AITCHESON, Robert 
age 54,
of Rosslyn Crescent, Bentley,
Ripper.


BOX, Donald
Age 39,
of Petersgate, Scawthorpe,
Ripper.


GREEN, Kenneth
Age 38,
of Balfour Road, Bentley,
Faceworker.


HALL, David R
Age 21,
of Melford Drive, Balby,
Fitter (trainee).


HENDERSON, Geoffrey
Age 39,
of Bentley Road, Bentley,
Ripper.


HICKMAN, Michael Edward
Age 18,
of Jossey Lane, Scawthorpe,
Faceworker (trainee).


MITCHELL, James
Age 55,
of Arthur Street, Bentley, 
Machine man.


Those Seriously Injured



ACORN, Thomas
Age 30,
Shoulder injury.


ASHAMAN, Dennis
Age 23,
Rib injury.


BARNES, Brian
Age 39,
Head and back injury.



BUTCHER, John
Age 57,
Rib injury.


CHAMBERS, Geoffrey
Age 23,
Head injury.


FLINT, Geoffrey
Age 48,
Head injury.


FORCE, David
Age 23,
Head injury.


GOLDING, Michael
Age 26,
Head injury.



HOLGATE, Vin
Age 48,
Head injury.


LINEY, Andrew
Age 28,
Back and head injury.


MOORE, Alfred
Age 24,
Head injury.


PORTER, Alec
Age 48,
Head injury.


RITCHIE, Dennis
Age 57,
Back injury.


RUSH, Thomas
Age 26,
Head injury.


SIDDOWS, Ian
Age 24,
Scalp lacerations.



STEADMAN, David
Age 24,
Hand injury.


THOMPSON, Paul
Age 26,
Head injury.


WATERFALL, Ralph
Age 43,
Head and rib injuries.


__________

  

Bentley Colliery Disaster Memorial


Bentley Pit Disaster Memorial

 

The inscription reads:
In memory of the forty-five men and boys who lost their lives in the Bentley Colliery explosion on the 20th November 1931.
And of the seven men who lost their lives in the Bentley Colliery Disaster on the 21st November 1978.


Commemorations 

Every year a commemorative service is held at the site of the disaster memorial in Arksey cemetery. It is held every November on the Sunday closest to the 20th.


50th anniversary memorial service 1981


Each year the service is well attended by council officials, dignitaries and families. The photos below are from the 2018 service.











A commemoration booklet is produced each year for those attending to follow the service and keep afterwards. This one below is from 2003.

















__________


This article is dedicated to all those who lost their lives in the two disasters at Bentley Colliery.

Thanks Go To


George Harriman for funeral procession photos.

Colin Hardisty for forwarding Mr Harriman's photos, and other information.

Sean Brennan for photos.

Janet Roberts for photos.



Keith Wilburn for photos.

 



Alison Vainlo 

First written 2014, updated 2018 and 2020