[Kenni]

First post on here so please go easy

****Wikipedia****
The Pretoria Pit disaster was a mining accident that occurred on 21 December 1910, when there was an underground explosion at the Hulton Bank Colliery No. 3 Pit, known as the Pretoria Pit, in Over Hulton, Westhoughton, then in the historic county of Lancashire, in North West England.

At 7:50am, there was an explosion in the Plodder Mine, which was thought to have been caused by an accumulation of gas from a roof collapse the previous day.

That day 345 workers descended the No 3 pit shaft to work in the Plodder, Yard and Three Quarters mines. Of those, only four survived to be brought to the surface. One died immediately and one next day. The two survivors were Joseph Staveley and William Davenport. In addition one man died in the Arley Mine of No. 4 Pit and one rescuer died in No. 3 pit, giving a total of 344 fatalities. The men who were working the other mines in the pit worked from No.4 shaft were unharmed.

This was the second worst mining accident in England, and the third worst in Britain. Many of the fatalities were from the same family. The worst affected was the Tyldesley family in which Mrs Miriam Tyldesley lost her husband, four sons and two brothers. A relief fund was established for the families and dependents and a total of £145,000 was raised.
****Wikipedia****

I visited this site with my girlfriend - yes, I was quite shocked when she asked to come along - but never again!! Moan moan moan....

I only live a few miles from the site but never been before, it was quite a moving experience as it is a major part of our local history.

More info - http://www.boltonrevisited.org.uk/s-pretoria-pit.html http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Westhought...ria/index.html

Enjoy the pictures.

At the beginning of the trail approx half a mile from the shafts.


Glad I had my wellies on!






















First capped shaft - No 3








Second capped shaft - No 4
















The original steam train which took the bodies of the dead and wounded away from the site on the Bolton to Leigh Railway. It is stored at a local recycling company next to the remains of the railway.