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Mining has always been a dangerous occupation.There were many fatal mining accidents reported in local papers. Below are just a few:

Dreadful Accident at Swanwick Colliery.

Reported in the Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald 7 November 1863

On Friday morning week the inhabitants of Alfreton, Greenhill Lane, Riddings, and Swanwick, were alarmed by the appalling news that water had burst into the Swanwick Colliery, from an old working, which had been disused for many years. As it was known that at least two hundred men and boys must be employed down the pit at the time, the most dreadful forebodings were entertained of their safety. The collier portion of the population were instantly emotioned, especially those who had friends or relations in the pit. But we are truly thankful to be able to record that the sacrifice of life has not been so great as was at first supposed. All the men have been got to the bank alive, with two exceptions - that of a man named Charles Bramley, of Greenhill Lane, who has left a widow and four small children, the oldest not quite six years old, and man named Samuel Calladine, who cannot be found, although the most diligent search has been made. We have just visited the pit-bank, and found that Calladine was discovered on Tuesday morning at two o'clock, quite dead. From the best information we are able to collect, we will lay before our readers the account of the accident. On Friday morning, about 215 men and boys were employed down the pit, when the two deceased men, Bramley and Calladine, and another man named John Steeples, who were all working near each other, gave the alarm that water was coming from an old working close to where they were at work. This was about half past seven. Every man hurried to the bottom of the shaft, as fast as the rushing water would allow them, some with their clothes under their arms, others with nothing on but the clothes in which they had been working. These left all their tools in their several places of work. Those who had the charge of the horses (18 in number) and the asses (5 in number) down the pit left them where they had been at work; but they were afterwards collected in the stables by men less frightened than the drivers. One of these men gave a vivid picture of one of the levels as the men were hurrying along. Some of their faces exhibited the marks of the greatest terror. Two or three old men, who trousers were wide in the legs, were impeded in their flight by the quantity of water their unmentionables took in, and the great rush of water, which rendered them almost exhausted ere they reached the shaft bottom. Directly the rush of water was heard at the top, the engines were set in motion, both to pump out the water and to draw out the men. The men were speedily brought to the top, when it was discovered that three were missing, Chas. Bramley, Samuel Calladine, and John Steeples, who were said to be two of the most powerful and best workmen in the pit. The first rush of  water was so great that it was determined to send down the horse box and save the horses; but it was soon seen that the water did not increase, that it gradually got lower, as it went into the other levels and was pumped out; it was thought necessary to bring them up. A diligent search was commenced for the missing men. After some time Charles Bramley was discovered quite dead. On Saturday a search was conducted under the superintendence of Messrs. Woodhouse and Jeffcock, of Derby, the engineers of the proprietors. From eight to ten men were down at once, and were relieved every six hours, a plentiful supply of brandy, bread and cheese, and ale being furnished to the explorers. On Saturday afternoon at three o'clock, Steeples was heard shouting, and he was discovered jammed on the top of some backings. As soon as possible he was released, and it was nine o'clock before he was brought to the bank, in a very exhausted state; but he was able to walk home, and it now quite recovered. A renewed search was made for Calladine all Sunday, Monday, and Monday night. He was found as before stated, about two o'clock on Tuesday morning, in one of the old workings. He was traced into a boot-hole, but he left this, and after wandering about he appeared to have got through the hole made by the water into the old working and seemed to be making his way to another exit from the pit when death overtook him. His body now awaits a coroner's inquest. An inquest was held upon Bramley's body on Saturday, and he was interred at the Independent Chapel, Riddings, on Tuesday. Mr. Hedley, Government Inspector, was over the pit on Monday, and work recommenced on Wednesday morning.

Death Form Falling Down a Shaft

Reported in the Derbyshire Courier 16 November 1861

An inquest was held before Mr. Busby, at the Royal Tiger Inn, Somercotes, on Saturday last, on the body of David Godfrey, a miner, who was employed at the colliery of Messrs. Seeley, of Birchwood. Deceased and a man named Joseph Simmons were engaged in deepening an old shaft, which was from 90 to 100 yards deep. They had bricked it, and had sunk a few yards. On Friday, deceased and Simmons were being drawn up the shaft in a skip, which swayed to and fro as it was drawn up, and caught a stay in the shaft which supported some air pipes. The jerk threw deceased out, and he fell to the bottom of the shaft, and was killed instantaneously. The stay also caught Simmons' arm, but he maintained his hold, and was landed in safety. There were no guiders in the shaft. Simmons was of the opinion that the death of deceased was purely accidental. The jury returned a verdict to that effect.

Fatal Accident in a Coal Mine.

Reported in the Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald 21 November 1863

On Thursday an inquest was opened at the Old Workhouse Beerhouse, at Sleet Moor, in the parish of Alfreton, on the body of William Grice, of Sleet Moor, coal miner, aged 40 years, who died on Sunday, from injuries received in a coal mine belonging to W.P. Morewood, Esq., on the previous day from a fall of bind. The case was adjourned till Monday the 23rd. Two other men were seriously injured at the same time, and we understand that they are now progressing. The accident happened in the same pit as the one where the two men were drowned on the 30th. of October last, the inquest on whom is adjourned till the 23rd