Residents of a Bolton town are keeping alive the memory of 43 men and boys who died in a mining disaster.
The Unity Brook Colliery disaster took place in Kearsley on March 12, 1848, where an explosion in the pit claimed 43 lives.
Accidents and fatalities in the mines were commonplace, but the explosion at Unity Brook devastated a community, with many of those killed buried in the grounds of local churches.
The Unicorn Pub, which no longer exists, was used as a makeshift chapel of rest as bodies were pulled out of the rubble.
Since 2018, Kearsley Festival Group have held an annual memorial service for those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
Read more: It was Kearsley's darkest day and those who died will never be forgotten
This year’s service will take place on March 13 from 1pm at the Unity Brook Colliery Memorial off Manchester Road.
Stephen Tonge, one of the organisers of the service, said: “It’s very important, and this is one of the reasons we had the memorial up in the first place.
“We started in 2018, as it was the 140th anniversary. Some people who worked in the coal mine industry, myself included, I thought it would be a good idea to put a memorial in this place.
“Anybody going through Kearsley or visiting Kearsley before 2018 wouldn’t know that 43 miners died in Kearsley in the 19th century.”
He continued: “Now it’s a part of the curriculum and local history.
“I’m a local lad and never knew much about it other than children were involved and were victims.
Read more: Unity Brook Colliery disaster: Memorial unveiling ceremony
“It will only be a short service. Children from St Stephen’s and Spindle Point will read out the names of the victims.”
Cllr Tracey Wilkinson of Kearsley said: “The main focus is for people to remember. That’s why we did the memorial in the first place in 2018.
“I didn’t know about it, and I’m a Kearsley girl, I don’t recall being taught it in school.
“Two schools are involved, Spindle Point and St Stephen’s as they are the two closest schools. It’s good to get them involved as the next generation need to know about it.
“We hold a minute’s silence at 1.07pm, as that’s when we believe it happened, due to a watch being found with that time on it.”
Read more: A memorial to the 43 who lost their lives in mining disaster restored
The memorial off Manchester Road was recently restored by local Stephen Shaw, with the company he works for, Heightvale Ltd, donating all the materials for the repair work.
The memorial replica coal tub and plaque displayed with names of all those who lost their lives was restored last Autumn.
To keep updated with the memorial, visit its Facebook page at Unity Brook Colliery Disaster.
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