Collieries Pages
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1902 Bag Muck Strike
1912 Cadeby Main Colliery Disaster
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Cadeby Main Colliery Disaster Fund
Cadeby Main Colliery Memorial Group
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Activities
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Cadeby Week at Conisbrough’s Station Road School
Cadeby Week at DeWarrene Academy
Conisbrough Christmas Fair
Memorial Day – July 8th
Cadeby Pit Disaster 1912 – The Story
Debate in the House of Commons
Eye Witness Stories
Heroes Honoured
Heroes of the Pit
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Section 1 Description of Colliery and Method of Working
Section 2 Description of the South Plane District
Section 3 Conditions prevailing in the South District
Section 4a The First Explosion
Section 4b The Second Explosion
Inquiry into the Disaster
King and Queen’s visit to Cadeby Main
King and Queen’s visit to Conisbrough
The People who lost their lives
Victims and Heroes of the Disaster
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Ackroyd, William
Alderson, Charles
Beech, James
Berry, Willie
Boycott, Joseph
Bungard, Robert Peel Ivema
Burdekin, James
Burns, James
Burns, Thomas
Bury, Charles
Cain, Hugh
Carlton, John William
Carroll, Arthur
Chambers, Douglas
Chapman, Robert William
Cody, Thomas
Croxall, Eli
Cusworth, Herbert
Davis, William Charles
Denton, George Royds
Dove, William
Dungworth, Arthur
Eddington, Robert Neil
Ellis, Sydney
Evans, Phillip George
Evans, Thomas Emrys
Fleck, Thomas
Fletcher, Charles William
Fletcher, John
Flynn, Arthur
Fox, Joseph Benjamin
Frankland, William
Gascoyne, Richard
Godsmark, William H.
Green, William
Green, William (2)
Hancock, Tobias
Hayden, Michael
Henderson, Edward
Heptinstall, George
Hewitt, Henry Richard
Hindson (Hinton), George
Horsfall, Frederick William
Humphries, William
Hunt, Charles Albert
Jackson, Samuel
Johnson, Charles
Jordan, Matthew
Kelsall, John William
Lambert, William
Marrow (Marsden), John
McDonagh, James
Mulhearn, John
Mulrooney, Martin
Neal, Herbert
Nicholson, Percy Edgar
Phillips, Jarrett
Pickering, William Henry
Prince, Charles Edward
Radley, Charles William Phillip
Richardson, Frederick
Rodgers, Cyrus
Roodhouse, Joseph
Ross, Joseph
Rowell, Arthur Edward
Sanders, Samuel Thomas
Shuttleworth, Joseph
Smith, John
Springthorpe, James
Springthorpe, James (Junior)
Springthorpe, James (Senior)
Springthorpe, James (Senior)
Springthorpe, James (Senior)
Springthorpe, James (Senior)
Steadman, (Young) George
Stone, Frederick
Stribley, Thomas
Summerscales, William
Talbot, Timothy Smith
Tarbrook, John William
Thompson, Henry (Harry)
Thompson, James
Tickle, Gilbert Young
Tuffrey, Charles Edgar & Edmund Jesse
Turner, Joseph
Wallace, William Henry
Walsh, Thomas
Walton, Frank
Ward, Benjamin
Waters, William David
Webster, Samuel
Whitton, George
Williams, Thomas Samuel
Wimpenny, Richard
Wood, Frank
Wraithmell, Thomas
Accidents and Fatalities at the Collieries
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1. Denaby Main Accidents and Fatalities
Explosions and other Incidents at the Colleries
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1879 Outburst of Gas
1887 Denaby Main Great Fire
1887 Denaby Main Great Fire – The Aftermath
1899 Fatal Explosion at Denaby Main
1905 Destructive Fire at Denaby
1912 Gas Explosion at Denaby
1913 Fire at Denaby Main
1914 Cadeby Canards
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Strikes and Disputes 1878 to 1881
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1878 – 27% Reduction in Pay
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04 – April 19th – Miners Meeting – 200 Men Present
05 – May 10th – Meeting at Denaby – Mr Rymer’s Accident
08 – August 30th – Great Meeting at Mexborough – Men given Notice
09 – September 6th – Dispute Settled
10 – October 11th – Mass Meeting – Lock Out at Denaby
10 – October 25th – Denaby Dispute – State of Families and Businesses Sad
11 – November 1st – Workmen’s Circular
11 – November 8th – Whisky Jug Discussions
12 – December 13th – Dispute Settled for 5% – Another Dispute
12 – December 20th – Dispute continues – Policemen at Pit
1879 – Dispute Settled – Another 5% Reduction
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01 – Jan 3rd – Tommy Tickets
01 – Jan 17th – Dispute Settled 5% Reduction
03 – March 21st – Forcible Ejections – Pigs turned Out
05 – May 16th – Miners Association 500 Attend Public Tea
07 – July 18th – Proposed Reduction – Mechanics Quit
1880 – Request for the return of the 5% and 1000 Out of Work
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01 – Jan 30th – Excellent Repast – Request for 5%
02 – Feb 6th – The Five Percent Question – The Sliding Scale
10 – Oct 15th & 22nd – Wages Reduction – Banksmen Strike
12 – Dec 10th – 800 men given notice
12 – Dec 17th – 1000 Hands out of Work
12 – Dec 24th – Indignation – What is the Cause?
1881 Black Sheep, Sliding Scales & Pony Drivers Strike
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01 – Jan 07th – Appeal for Support
01 – Jan 14th – Letter from Buckingham Pope
01 – Jan 21st – The 5% , Packing Pay and 3 Meetings
01 – Jan 21st – The Railway’s Response
01 – Jan 28th – The Crisis at Denaby – Chuck ’em into t’Cut !
02 – Feb 04th – Decision of the Council
02 – Feb 04th – How Matters now Stand
02 – Feb 11th – A ‘Scene’ at the Colliery
02 – Feb 11th – Manager’s Desire to Settle Matters
02 – Feb 11th – Miners to Return to Work
02 – Feb 18th – ‘Scene’ with Visitors
03 – March 18th – Sliding Scale
03 – March 25th – Sliding Scale
04 – April 15th – Proposed Reduction In Wages At Denaby Main Colliery.
04 – April 22nd – Meeting with Manager
07 – July 1st – Pony Drivers Walk Out
07 – July 29th – Return to Work
Strikes and Disputes 1884 – 1885
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1884 – The Denaby Main Lockout & Evictions
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07 – July 18th – Support for Grievances – House of Lord’s Condemnation
12 – December 19th – Men given Notice – 25% Reduction demanded
12 – December 26th – Miners Unanimously oppose Reduction
1885 – The Denaby Main Lock out and Evictions
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01 – January 2nd – A Meeting with Mr. Chambers
01 – January 2nd – Bringing out the Tools – Strike Confirmed
01 – January 2nd – Effects of Strike
01 – January 2nd – Nothing more to add
01 – January 9th – Distress amongs Miners
01 – January 9th – Employers View – Colliery Guardian
01 – January 16th – Distress from Cold, Hunger and Disease
01 – January 16th – Impending Evictions – Outbreak of Smallpox
01 – January 16th – Letter from Pope – Delegation to meet
01 – January 16th – Unsuccessful Attempt To Settle The Difficulty
01 – January 30th – Kiveton Park – Barrow – Distribution of Bread – Denaby Men Misrepresented – Black Sheep – Small Pox – Interference from Colliery – Doncaster Meeting
01 – January 30th – Latest News
01 – January 30th – Startling Conditions – Overcrowding and Infection
02 – February 6th – More Smallpox cases
02 – February 13th – Dispute into Sixth Week
02 – February 27th – Meeting & Calculation of Proposed Reduction
03 – March 6th – Dispute now 2 Months – Attempt to Re Open Pit
03 – March 13th – Ejection Notices Issued
03 – March 13th – Meeting with Buckingham Pope
03 – March 20th – Application for Ejectment Orders
03 – March 27th – Expected Encampment Of EjectedFamilies
04 – April 3rd – Miners Meeting – Dispute with Mr Chappell
04 – April 10th – 50 Families Evicted
04 – April 10th – Ministers Distress
04 – April 17th – 700 Persons Turned Out
04 – April 17th – The Aftermath
04 – April 24th – Decision to Join Barnsley Association – Stormy Meeting
04 – April 24th – Denaby Curate relieves Distress
04 – April 24th – Great distress among the Miners
04 – April 24th – Meeting with Mr Chambers – Strangers to Start Work
04 – April 24th – Miners Demonstration at Brampton Bierlow
04 – April 24th – Mr Chappell answers the Charges
05 – May 1st – Arrival of New Workmen – Unprecedented Scenes
05 – May 1st – Exciting Scenes – Arrival of New Workmen
05 – May 8th – Great Distress amongst Families
05 – May 8th – No Black Sheep – More Distress
05 – May 8th – Question in the Commons
05 – May 8th – Sad Scene – More Evictions – The Encampment
05 – May 15th a – Arrival of New Workmen
05 – May 15th b – Looking after the new Workmen
05 – May 15th c – More New Arrivals – Attempted Interview
05 – May 15th d – Summonses issued for Compelling
05 – May 15th e – Deputation Requested
05 – May 15th f – Rev T.J. Leslie – Barnsley Association
05 – May 15th g – Fresh Batch of Workmen
05 – May 15th h – Buckingham Pope in the Daily Telegraph and replies
05 – May 15th i – Mr Leslie and the Rotherham Bench
05 – May 22nd a – Delegation meets with Mr Pope
05 – May 22nd b – Refusal of Employers Terms
05 – May 22nd c – More Cornish Workmen
05 – May 22nd d – An offer from Mr Pope
05 – May 22nd d – Scene on the River Don
05 – May 22nd e – Address by Benjamin Pickard
05 – May 22nd f – House of Commons question
05 – May 22nd g – Probable Closing of the Colliery
05 – May 22nd h – The Men and the Proposed Closure
05 – May 22nd i – Reply from Mr Burt
05 – May 22nd j – More new Workmen
05 – May 22nd k – Rev T.J.Leslie’s Work Continues
05 – May 29th a – The Cornishmen go back
05 – May 29th b – Another Interview with the Manager
05 – May 29th c – Threatened Collapse Of Negotiations
05 – May 29th d – Correspondance – They all have a say
06 – June 5th – Decision to close Pit
06 – June 5th – Meeting of the Topmen
06 – June 12th – Alleged Intimidation
06 – June 12th – Sale of Pit Ponies
06 – June 19th – Colliery still recruiting – Ponies out to Grass
06 – June 26th – Mexborough Feast – Arrival of new Workmen
06 – June 6th – Return of the Staffordshire Men
07 – July 3rd – New Terms offered by Men
07 – July 10th – Arrival of more Staffordshire Men
07 – July 10th – Commencement of Disturbances
07 – July 17th – The Battle of Denaby Main
07 – July 17th – Retreat of the Staffordshire Men
07 – July 17th – Gathering Of Denaby Main and Staffordshire Miners
07 – July 17th – More New Hands – Men Return to Work
07 – July 17th – Rake & Pan system
07 – July 17th – The Disturbances At Denaby Main.
07 – July 24th – The Recent Riot at Denaby Main
07 – July 24th – Return to Work – History of the Lock Out
07 – July 24th – The Riotous Proceedings at Denaby Main
07 – July 31st – Pit slowly returning to Normal
08 – August 7th – New Arrivals
. From Wikepedia: Around 1700 poor quality coal was found, close by the surface, just over the River Don from Mexborough and this, in time, led to the sinking of two shafts, in 1863, for Denaby Main Colliery Company, owned by Messrs Pope and Pearson. The Barnsley bed was reached in September 1867 at a depth of more than 422 yards. In 1893 the company also opened out Cadeby Main Colliery.
Around the time the miners were reaching the Barnsley bed the colliery company began building housing to accommodate its workers and their families. A church, schools and a store were also company owned. The company pub, The Denaby Main Hotel, (locally known as “The Drum”) is one of the few properties from that era still standing. However It is now (2008)a Balti restaurant.
The layout of the village was pure `Industrial Revolution´, parallel streets of terraced houses running away from the Mexborough to Conisbrough road which ran through the village, with, in its centre the library and park. It was possible from almost every street to look down to the colliery.
The village gained notoriety at the close of the nineteenth century as a result of a characterisation as “The Worst Village in England” in an edition of the magazine ‘Christian Budget’ This pejorative piece described somewhere,
…so repulsive that many who have never been near it will probably refuse to credit the story…[where]…nearly all the men, and most of the women, devote their high wages to betting, where religion is forgotten, home life is shattered where immorality and intemperance are rife, where wives are sold like cattle, and children are neglected.(1899 ) [1]
The village miners became famous for their fortitude in the face of hard and ruthless employers who had proven their willingness to take risks by sinking the shafts to their required depth. Although there were no major accidents at Denaby (unlike its neighbour Cadeby Main) by the time of the closure of the mine in 1968, 203 miners had been killed. It was company policy to evict a dead miner’s family from the company owned housing within weeks of bereavement. There is a long history of disputes at Denaby. In 1869 a six month strike over union recognition was ended by negotiation. In 1903 there was a strike because the mining company refused to pay miners for the muck that they had to get out in order to get at the coal. This became known as “ The Bag Muck Strike “. It lasted for weeks and the mine owners started to evict strikers and their families. Many of those evicted had to spend January 1903 in tents on open ground with only sheets and blankets for comfort and soup kitchens for food.
Other disputes in 1877 and 1885 also led to evictions. All of the coal at Denaby was “hand got”, meaning that no machinery or conveyor belts were used. The Barnsley Seam coal was shovelled into corves for man handling along a track using pit ponies.
In 1863 alternative employment became available when Kilner Glass opened a factory in Denaby adjacent to the mine. This closed in 1936.
The village was served by two railway stations bearing its name, Denaby , some distance away on the Dearne Valley Railway and Denaby and Conisbrough , the southern terminal of the South Yorkshire Junction Railway . The nearest station nowadays is Conisbrough