The document summarizes details about the 1910 Pretoria Pit disaster in Westhoughton, England that killed 344 miners. It provides facts such as the pit opening in 1900-1901 and being nicknamed Pretoria. On December 21, 1910 an explosion occurred, killing 328 employees and 16 contractors. The causes were determined to be a damaged safety lamp igniting methane or sparks from passing coal tubs. Over 600 men were rescued but bodies were recovered until February 1911. The document lists various victims and rescuers who were awarded medals and compensation. It concludes with remnants of Pretoria pit today and memorials remembering the disaster.

1. 344 Victims of Pretoria Pit
Based on a booklet written by Pam Clarke for Westhoughton Local History Group and some
slides from a presentation by David Owen, former mining engineer.
Plus information from Alan Davies’ authoritative book “The Pretoria Pit Disaster” .
A watercolour painting by
Tom Newton MBE

3. Hulton Collieries No 3 and No 4

4. 344 Victims of Pretoria Pit – Some Facts
• Opened – The Shafts were sunk in 1900-01
• Official name of the pit – Hulton Colliery Bank Pits No’s 3 and 4
• Popular name was Pretoria because the shaft were sunk at the same time as,
during the Anglo Boer War, the British captured the South African republic’s
capital city “Pretoria” in June 1900
• Proprieters were the Hulton Colliery Company and the General Manager was
Alfred Joseph Tonge
• The disaster was caused by an explosion which occurred at 7.50am on
Wednesday 21st Dec 1910

11. Copied from Alan
Davies’ book

12. Location of the Disaster

13. 5 Coal Seams
Deepest – Arley Mine at 1300 ft worked from No. 4 shaft
Three Quarters mine – 1083 ft worked from Nos 3 and 4 shafts
Yard Mine – 918 ft worked from Nos 3 and 4 shafts
Plodder Mine – 822 ft worked from No 3 shaft
Trencherbone mine – 438 ft worked from No 4 shaft

14. These sketches of the
ventilation in the mine
are designed by David
Owen. It was essential to
have a continuous flow
of air to remove
poisonous gases and
inflammable gases and
dust which would make
any fire or explosion
much worse.
Considerable electricity
was required for the
large extraction fans and
forcing fans.

17. Cause of the Explosion
The official report into the disaster (Redmayne 1911) concluded that a damaged safety
lamp ignited gas (methane) pouring from an extensive roof fall.
Although there is another view, namely that some of the cables, pulling coal tubs, when
passing over metal pulleys sometimes sparked and this could have ignited gas.

21. Death Toll
The official total was 344 deaths, comprising 328 colliery employees and 16 contractors and their staff
Survivors
545 men were rescued from the No.4 pit ( out of the Arley and Trencherbone
Mines ), some suffering from the effects of gas. At least two from No. 4 pit
(J.Sharples and G.Partington) were badly gassed and taken to Bolton Infirmary
where they developed pneumonia but recovered. John Sharples appeared on a
postcard at the tine as one of three Pretoria survivors. William Davenport and
Joseph Stavely were the only survivors in No. 3 pit.

28. Bodies Recovered
• Although the official death toll was 344 only 343 bodies were recovered. 327
were registered in the name of a victim and 16 registered as unknown males.
• Cause of death by gas (Carbon Monoxide) = 91%
• Cause of death by explosion = 9%
• 205 died in the Yard Mine
• 95 died in Plodder Mine
• Last body recovered on 14th Feb 1911

29. Unidentified Dead
24 unidentified dead were buried in a vault in Westhoughton Cemetery, 8 were later identified
from clothing etc but not reinterred.

31. The oldest victim was aged 61.
There were over 30 of the victims aged 13 to 15!!

32. The Rescue
Mr A. J. Tonge, manager of the Hulton Collieries, is quoted as saying “ I’m not forcing anyone to go down, we
may come back and we may not, I’ll be the first”.
Mr Tonge and eight volunteers went down in the lift of No. 4 shaft but when they reached the mine they
couldn’t explore very far because of the poor condition of the air. There was destruction everywhere. They
were not equipped with breathing equipment.
The lifts in No 3 shaft had been badly damaged and were unusable and even the single workable lift in No 4
shaft was unstable and frequently contacted the sides of the shaft as it was lowered.
This was a very brave initiative because the party had no idea of potential dangers such as further
explosions or roof falls.

33. The Howe Bridge Rescue Team
The Howe Bridge Rescue Station was set up in 1908 and had trained men to use breathing
apparatus and do rescue work in mines. Several hundred men, mainly miners from adjacent
collieries, were involved with the rescue attempt over the following days and weeks.
Men rescued from the No. 4 shaft were alive but the work in No. 3 shaft was that of recovering
bodies.

37. Unloading Coffins at Pretoria Pit 21st December 1910

38. Photo shows the
parents and sister of
victim Enoch Arthur
Bates, all members of
the Salvation Army,
together with
mortuary attendants
and Father Adolphus L
Coelenbier of the
Sacred Heart Church.

44. Tragic Deaths
• Tyldesley Family at Wingates – Miriam Tyldesley lost her husband, four sons and two brothers. She
died in 1913. There is a memorial to the Tyldesley family in Wingates Churchyard.
• Houghton Family from Chequerbent – Mrs Annie Houghton lost her husband and three sons.
• Oldest victim was Thomas Greenhalgh aged 61.
• Youngest Victims – Five boys aged 13!!
• Lads aged 14 years old – seventeen of these.
• Lads aged 15 years old – thirteen of these.
• First Day down pit – Frederick Stanley Houghton, left school the week before
• Anthony Doxey aged 18 – his first day down the pit!!

45. Other notable victims
Seven members of Wingates Temperance band

46. Rescuers and Medals Awarded
160 Rescuers were awarded the Bolton and District Humane
Society Medal, specially designed to commemorate the
actions of rescuers.
27 Rescuers were awarded the Royal
Humane Society Medal (Bronze), which is
awarded to those who put their lives at risk
to save another.

47. Rescuers and Medals Awarded
Edwards Medal
10 Pretoria Rescuers received the Bronze Edwards Medal,
awarded for life saving in mines and quarries.

48. Rescuers and Medals Awarded
Life saving medal of the Order of St John of
Jerusalem.
Alfred Joseph Tonge was awarded the Silver
medal and 20 others were awarded the
bronze.
27 rescuers were awarded more than one medal.
Alfred Joseph Tonge was awarded four medals including two
silver.

49. Compensation
RATCLIFFE Thomas
Age 40. 2 Seddon Street, Westhoughton. Collier.
Born in Westhoughton birth registered Bolton 4th Q 1870.
Recovery No.317. Body position 130. Tally 1159.
Recovered 5 Jan 1911 from South Plodder District: West side face
down brow. Identified by Alice Ratcliffe (wife).
Cause of death: Explosion. CO. Burnt. Upper half.
Coroner’s Inquest: A report on the inquest in the Wigan Observer
stated that Alice Ratcliffe said “the only complaint he ever made
had been in relation to the weighing of the tubs”.
Buried: 7 Jan 1911 St John, Wingates, Westhoughton; Register
No.60. Grave 253. MI
Death registration: BRO 1911 HOR/33/124. GRO 1911 1st Quarter
Bolton 8c 277.
Family at home: Wife Alice 42; Children Agnes 20, Janet 17.
Relation to other victims: Brother of William Ratcliffe.
HCF Dependants: Alice, Janet & James Ratcliffe.
Compensation: LCM Widow’s annuity 4s./w. HCF 13s./w (includes
4s./w. for youngest daughter in weak health). WCA £216.9s. (£20
lump sum, balance of £164 invested to give 10s./w.).
Insurance: Prudential £30.
Income: Before 27s. 9d./w. After 27s./w.
Notes: Member of L&CMPRS. Named on the Wingates
Independent Methodist Chapel Memorial (Westhoughton Library).

50. RATCLIFFE William
Age 31. 20 Bolton Road, Westhoughton. Collier.
Born in Westhoughton in 1879.
Recovery No.315. Body position 129. Tally 1158.
Recovered 4 Jan 1911 from South Plodder District: West face. Identified by Herbert Hall
(brother-in-law) of 48 Leigh Road, Westhoughton.
Cause of death: Explosion. Fractured skull and left arm.
Coroner’s Inquest: A report on the inquest in the Wigan Observer stated that the witness said
that “so far as he knew, his brother-in-law had not complained of the condition of the mine”.
Buried: 6 Jan 1911 Westhoughton Cemetery, Section C New Cemetery, Unconsecrated
Ground, Grave 200; Register No.6004. MI
Death registration: BRO 1911 HOR/33/135. GRO 1911 1st Quarter Bolton 8c 278.
Family at home: Wife Sarah Alice [Pilkington] 32; Children Wilfred 5, Norman 3m.
Relation to other victims: Brother of Thomas Ratcliffe.
HCF Dependants: Sarah Alice, Wilfred, Norman & James Ratcliffe.
Compensation: LCM Widow and children’s annuity 8s./w. HCF 11s./w. WCA £206.1s. (£10
lump sum, balance of £193.11s. invested to give 8s./w.).
Insurance: Prudential £24. Rechabites £10. United Industrial £6.
Income: Before 26s. 5d./w. After 27s./w.
Notes: Member of L&CMPRS. Member of the Independent Order of Rechabites. Member of
Westhoughton Reform Club. Bolton & District Cricket Association. Named on the Wingates
Independent Methodist Chapel Memorial (Westhoughton Library).
Compensation

52. Remains of Pretoria today

53. Memorial placed in Ditchfield Gardens
in 2010 to commemorate the centenary
of the disaster.

54. Remembering the accident now
• Mural in Westhoughton Library showing people waiting for news
• Memorial services held every year in various places in Westhoug
Atherton to remember what happened.