KINGSWOOD. Bristol, Gloucester. 7th. June, 1851.

The colliery was owned by George Brain and Co. and eight men were lost when a steam boiler exploded. The colliery was known as the Starve-all coalpit at St George, Gloucester.

Those who lost their lives were:

  • Francis Bryant aged 62 years, married with a grown up family.
  • Joseph Long aged 46 years married with one child.
  • William Burchell aged 22 years, married who left two very young children.
  • James Ricketts aged 49 years who left eight children, four of whom were not old enough to work
  • John Burchell, married with five girls; three grown up and the others young.
  • John Burchell jnr. aged 17 years, unmarried.
  • Daniel Mountain aged 36 years, married with eight children, the oldest 15 years.

The two younger Burchells were sons of the engineer, John Burchell. In all cases their deaths were by scalding. It was commented at the time that:

Had the unfortunate man, John Burchell been alive, he would have been tried for manslaughter but he is one of the victims of his own recklessness.

 

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report, 1855. Mr. Mackworth.
Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal p.4.

Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.

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