Huskar Colliery

Huskar Colliery was a coal mine in the South Yorkshire Coalfield, sunk to work the Silkstone seam. It was located in Nabs Wood, outside the village of Silkstone Common, in the then West Riding of Yorkshire. Huskar was the scene of a notorious pit disaster in 1838.

Huskar pit disaster

In 1838 Huskar was connected to Moored Colliery, and used for ventilation. It had a vertical shaft to the surface and a drift shaft leading to Nabbs Wood. On 4 July 1838 heavy rainfall struck the area, disabling the engine on the vertical shaft and flooding the drift shaft. A number of children working there - boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 17 - were trapped, and 26 drowned. The disaster shocked public opinion, and the resulting inquiry led to the 1842 Mines Act which sought to introduce some protection for child miners.[1]

There are memorials in Silkstone churchyard to those who died,[2] as well as at the mine site in Nabs Wood.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Huskar Mining Disaster: D Holland, healeyhero.co.uk
  2. ↑ article at silkstone reflects.co.uk
  3. ↑ article, bbc.co.uk

External links

Coordinates: 53°31′47.0″N 1°33′28.1″W / 53.529722°N 1.557806°W / 53.529722; -1.557806

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