SOMERSET MINE DISASTER - the headline appeared in a local newspaper on November 7th 1913 to report that three miners tragically drowned at the Bromley colliery near Stanton Drew.

This was the worst single incident in the history of the Pensford and Bromley collieries. Incidents of deaths of miners ran through the duration of the collieries’ lifespan from 1910 to 1957.

As of February 2021, records of 37 miners’ deaths have been discovered, but there may well be more. Hopefully residents can help us with this research.

The death of the three miners in 1913 must have had a huge impact on the mining community in the Pensford area.

About 250 men were employed at the Bromley pit and about 100 of them were leaving at mid-day when the accident happened.

The three men died when their cage fell to the bottom of the shaft causing them to drown in a pool of water. Apparently, a cotter pin in the reversing gear worked itself out, causing the cage to crash 60 yards down the shaft.

John Crick, aged 35 from Farmborough, was married with two young children. Herbert Hillier was just twenty and lived in Clutton. Samuel Urch was aged 36 and lived in Pensford with his wife and seven children.

A major cause of death at Pensford and Bromley Colliery was lung disease. New cutting machinery introduced in the late 1920’s and mid 1930’s, led to more coal particles in the air. The colliery owners were at first reticent to blame the new machinery for the higher incidence of lung disease.

Mine owners only allowed fully fit miners to be accepted for work, after inspection by the mine doctors and anyone suffering from lung diseases may well have been laid off.

This practice was shown with Edward Harding from Paulton. Edward died April 8th 1941 aged 49. He left Pensford colliery in February 1941, having worked underground for 26 years. The company refused to give him light work on the surface, when certified by his doctor, as suffering from Silicosis.

The extent of lung diseases in chronic illness and deaths, sometimes became apparent many years later. From 1950 to 1959, six of the last eight miners’ deaths were from emphysema or pneumoconiosis.

Another major cause of one in three deaths was falling large stones or collapsed roofs.

Sambourne Treasure died 10th February 1923 aged 45. He died from a fractured skull caused by a roof collapse. His wife had died a year earlier, so after Sambourne’s death, four children were left without parents.

The following two deaths were just as tragic, because of the family connection. In 1932 Fred Elms of Stowey Bottom was killed at Bromley colliery. Just three years later, his son, Fredrick Kenneth Elms, of West Harptree, aged just twenty, died at the same colliery.

There were other causes, included being killed by drams or trucks. Melbourne Parfitt, of Farmborough, aged 29 died on 14th February 1929 when he was crushed by a haulage truck at the Bromley colliery.

Three miners were leaving early, and as they walked up the incline a returning tub crushed Parfitt. At the inquest, it was stated that his death was caused because he was leaving early!

In summary, out of every three deaths, two occurred at Pensford colliery and one occurred at Bromley colliery; although more miners were employed at Pensford colliery.

Virtually every village surrounding the Pensford and Bromley colliery lost at least one miner who was killed at the colliery. The villages of Pensford and Stanton Drew suffered the highest number of deaths in the earlier years of the mines.

Every miner killed in the Pensford and Bromley colliery was tragic and each death would have had a huge impact on the colliery, surrounding villages and their families.

My research pays tribute to all the miners and their families who gave the Pensford area its industrial and community heritage.

The Pensford Local History Group are looking into the possibility of creating a book on mining in the Pensford area, which will include the Pensford and Bromley Collieries, and this research will be part of that.

They are looking for stories from ex-miners and/or their families. So, if you have anything to share then please

contact: [email protected] or Tel: 01761 490418.

Garry Atterton