Rose Bridge Colliery

at Wigan

1847 'Death from the Explosion of a Boiler.— Verdict of Manslaughter.- On Saturday last, and by adjournment, on Monday, an inquest was held before Mr. Rogerson, the borough coroner, at the Crown and Anchor, Queen-street, on the body of a youth, James Heaton, aged 18 years, drawer in a coal-pit, who met with his death from the explosion of a boiler at Rose Bridge Colliery, on Friday morning last. From the evidence, it appeared that the deceased had, unknown to the engineer and fireman, laid himself down between two boilers, and was there supposed to be asleep, about half-past ten o'clock in the morning, when one of the boilers exploded. A lengthy inquiry was made into the conduct of John Ashurst, the engineer, and Lee Ashurst, the fireman, both of whom were in charge of the engine and boilers at the time of the explosion, from which it appeared that the accident had been caused entirely by neglect. The jury, at the close of the inquiry on Monday, returned a verdict of " Manslaughter" against both engineer and fireman, and they were committed on the coroner's warrant take their trial on the charge.'

1872 The Rose Bridge Shaft was the deepest working for coal in England, and it is presumed, the World

1894 Mine closed. The colliery was re-worked from time to time on a relatively small scale.

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