Remembering victims who died in Kearsley's worst mining disaster

Workers walked their usual way to the cotton mills and coal mines, unaware of the tragedy that would unfold at 1.07pm which would lead to the devastating loss of 43 lives — men and boys .

They were working in Unity Brook Colliery when an explosion ripped through the pit.

The Unicorn Pub, which no longer exists, was used as a makeshift chapel of rest as bodies were pulled out of the pit.

Their deaths had a devastating impact on the community and now, on March 18, 140 years after the disaster, the victims will be remembered at a special service before a permanent memorial is unveiled near to the site of the tragedy on Manchester Road in June.

Poignantly, children from five schools — who have taken part in a commemoration project — will read aloud the names of those who died, along with emotional excerpts from the 1878 inquest reports at the service in St Stephen’s Church, Kearsley.

Children chosen to do the readings are from St Stephen’s CE, Kearsley, St Saviour’s CE, Ringley, Spindle Point, Kearsley, St Peter’s CE, Farnworth and St Gregory’s RC, Kearsley.

Artwork by schoolchildren commemorates the lives lost in Kearsley's worst mining disaster

Quotes read out will include:”Eliza Hobson said James Hobson was her husband, and lived at Kearsley Moor. He was turned 30 years of age and was a collier. He had worked in the mine eight years and had always spoken of it as safe” and “Solomon Tonge said, I reside in Kearsley and work as a collier at Unity Brook. The deceased Charles Tonge is my son and was 16 years of age. He worked in the mine for only a fortnight. I worked with him and considered the pit quite safe, for I have never seen or heard any gas.

“I did not feel well on the morning of the accident and did not go down that day. I was at work the day before.”

Kearsley Youth Brass Band will also be taking part in the service. There will be hymns and prayers will be said while historian Simon Colley will give a presentation about the disaster and the impact it had.

The service was the idea of Billy Kelly, secretary of the National Union of Miners, from Farnworth ,who approached Stephen Tonge, community officer for Churches on the Mount, to remember those who died in Kearsley’s worst mining disaster.

The victims are are buried in the grounds of local churches.

Mr Tonge, who also worked in the mining industry said: “The service and remembering those who died is tremendously important from the point of view that many people do not know the heritage of the place they live and what their community is built on. Mining and cotton mills were where the people of Kearsley would work.”

“Those who died are buried in church grounds including St Stephen’s, St Saviour’s , St John’s and reading what is written is very moving and emotional.

“It was very tragic.”

It is hoped a service remembering those who died will now be held annually.

Mr Tonge said: “We had so much support from the community in this project, relatives of those who died in the disaster have also got in touch.”

A banner, in the style of an old-style miners' banner, is also being created and will be unveiled in June.

The service starts at 2pm at St Stephen’s Church in Kearsley and members of the public are invited. For more information visit Unity Brook Colliery Disaster Facebook page.