Remembering the Springwell Pit Disaster of December 1872

 Holy Trinity, Dawley, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)

 
This was a large churchyard with a number of old but easily readable gravestones re-erected in small groups.
 
 
The Springwell Pit Disaster occurred on 6 December 1872 at Springwell coal mining pit near Dawley, Shropshire (now part of Telford). Miners at the pit would grab hold of a chain running the depth of the mine shaft and be hoisted 150 ft to the surface. On this day, eight miners clung to the chain. When 50 ft from the base of the lower part of the chain snapped, causing the miners to fall to the base of the shaft, before the chain, estimated to weigh 1 tonne, landed on top of them. All of them were killed instantly, except one, who died shortly after being brought to the surface. 
 
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