How many coal miners died of work related accidents, and how many miners were employed in the UK (or England if that’s easier) in 1933 and 1953? It’s probably somewhere on your website but my eyesight isn’t very good.
Thanks if you have the data, but thanks for the website even if you’ve not.
Robin Keen
When gathering purely statistical information, disasters give these numbers but there are normally a lot more individual deaths, and unfortunately there is not a central source for these fatalities although Alan Beales and Robert Bradley have gathered information about a large number of individuals who have died in the East Midlands and Yorkshire including their names, ages, collieries and often what happened. Ian Winstanley has a large online database but you cannot find deaths purely by date (so far as I know) you need to search for the individuals by name. The Durham Mining Museum also has a large database but again you search by name.
In 1933 there were 2 disasters resulting in 20 deaths but there were at least 122 individual deaths in the East Midlands:-
16th May 1933, West Cannock Colliery, Hednesford, Staffordshire, explosion, 6 killed
19th November 1933, Grassmoor Colliery, explosion, 14 killed
In 1953 there was an improvement, only 1 disasters resulting in 8 deaths and at least 56 individuals:-
24th Aug 1953, Lingdale Mine (Ironstone), Skelton-in-Cleveland, explosion, 8 killed
Using Alan's detailed database we can see that in the East Midlands and Yorkshire:-
For individual miners who died you would need to know their names although Alan Beales has some on the site:-
1933
At least 54 died in Derbyshire
At least 2 died in Leicestershire
At least 19 died in Yorkshire
At least 47 died in Nottinghamshire but Alan's names here are by pit, not year
In 1953
At least 10 individuals died in Derbyshire
At least 1 died in Leicestershire
At least 19 individuals died in Yorkshire
At least 26 died in Nottinghamshire but again Alan's names here are by pit, not year
The only answer is to get the Inspectors reports for 1933 and there is one for each division or Colliery Guardian and find the Guide to the Coalfields 1953. Could be in a library. Try Amazon tell him. They are for sale on occasions.
Bob
Interesting Fionn, wonder why two particular dates.
Question 1. impossible to be exact, Figures were only officially kept from July 1852 I have seen estimates from ranging from 160,000 to 180,000 as final figures. Further complications, before compensation payments could be won in courts the Year and a Day rule applied. This meant that anyone dying from an accident after a year and a day from the accident was considered to be cured, this applied to all accidents so a coroners jury had to agree that the accident contributed to the death. Not all mines inspectors included these figures in their annual reports. Many men died several years from the date of accident i/e. spinal injuries some as much as 20 plus years. Though not officially accepted as accidents possibly thousands died as a result lung conditions from inhaling coal dust.True figures are unlikely to be ever known.
Question 2. In 1933 total employment for UK mines was 809,745 persons, there were 1014 fatalities underground and 75 on the surface a total of 1089 deaths.
In 1953 total employment 716,900 persons, there were 344 fatalities underground and 48 on the surface a total of 392 deaths.
These figure are from HMI annual reports so will possibly exclude deaths under the year and a day rule.
Also
- Highest employment in any year for UK Coal Mines - 1920 - 1,269,547 persons
- Most deaths in any year for UK Coal Mines - 1910 - 1,818 - 1,659 under ground - 159 surface
Total includes 501 deaths from methane or coal dust explosions
Hope this is of help
Alan
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