Ironstone mining was an extremely hazardous occupation, with a shocking number of fatalities. With the added trauma of widows and children potentially losing their homes because it belonged to the mining company.
Many miners have no headstones, they have either been lost or perhaps couldn’t be afforded in the first place, so I thought it would be useful to catalogue those that do exist and in particular the ones that mention the mines.
The following are all graves in Guisborough Cemetery which opened in 1873.
Jane Coulthard
This inscription was transcribed in 1987, sadly the gravestone is now broken and face down, it’s intriguing because it says Jane Coulthard died at Belmont Mines (but noticeably doesn’t use the word ‘killed’) so was there a female mine worker ?
In affectionate remembrance of Jane the beloved wife of Timothy COULTHARD who died at Belmont Mines, Guisborough, December 16 1877 aged 57 years. She was a good wife, an affectionate mother and kind friend. Also the above Timothy COULTHARD who died October 12 1883 aged 66 years, Also Sarah COULTHARD their grand daughter who died August 30 1879 aged 2 years.
Rather than actually working in the mines, I believe the Coulthard family may have lived in a cottage near to the original Belmont mine site, they are listed on the 1871 census. Possibly in the cottage which later becomes the Fever Hospital at the top of Belmangate.
Charles Grout
In loving memory of Charles GROUT late of Loughton, Essex who died July 20 1902 in his 69th year. Also Mary wife of the above died February 4 1906 in her 72nd year. Also Charles son of the above who was accidentally killed at Eston Mines December 20 1890 in his 29th year.
In 1871 Charles (senior) and his two eldest sons were all ironstone miners living in Huttons Yard (roughly where Boyes stands today).
Some additional details are given in a mine inspectors report :- Towards the end of the shift deceased with his mate had fired a shot which knocked a prop out, and on coming back, instead of resetting it or sending for the deputy, they put it to one side and commenced to fill the tub; while doing so the roof, under which the prop had previously been set, fell and killed deceased on the spot. The accident happened on a Saturday morning, when the shift is a shorter one, and I have no doubt this man was hurrying to get his work done in order to get out of the pit as early as possible, and that is the reason he neglected to reset the prop : an omission which cost him his life.
William Robert Webster
In loving memory of our dear son William Robert WEBSTER who was accidentally killed at Spa Wood Mines December 4 1920 aged 19 years. Also John Robert beloved husband of Mary Jane WEBSTER and father of the above who died January 16 1933 aged 55 years. Also Mary Jane WEBSTER who died October 22 1966 aged 86 years.
IN 1911 the Webster Family lived at New Row, Dunsdale. John Robert Webster had also been an ironstone miner.
Edward Rix
In loving memory of Edward the beloved son of Charles and Elizabeth RIX who was killed by accident at the Old Shaft Mines March 9 1903 aged 20 years.
Some additional details are given in a mine inspectors report :- when coupling his horse to a tub, some distance from the face, a piece of side stone fell away at a place end and killed him
The Rix Family were living in Bolckow Street in Guisbrough in 1901, Charles and his two eldest sons were ironstone miners.
William Blows
In loving memory of William beloved husband of Frances BLOWS accidentally killed at North Skelton Mines June 22nd 1934 aged 37 years. Also the above Frances Alice BLOWS died August 8th 1984 aged 80 years.
Details of the accident were recorded in the Evening Gazette
Joseph Emmerson
In loving memory of Joseph beloved husband of Elizabeth J. EMMERSON who was accidentally killed at Eston Mines August 16th 1934 aged 63 years. Also their sons killed in France: Stephen April 15th 1918 and William, May 27th 1918.
Yorkshire Post 25th August 1934 – Killed While Making Place Safe for Others
How a mine deputy met his death while working to make the place safer for his mates, was described at an inquest yesterday on Joseph Emmerson (63), of Barnaby Moor, Guisborough. Frederick Wallis of Lazenby, who was working with Emmerson, said he himself escaped only by inches. They inspected a place in Eston Ironstone mine before the men started to work, and decided a prop was necessary. Witness was making a prop-hole, and Emmerson was just behind him shining a light to work by. Witness heard something break away, and instinct made him move to one side. When he turned round he saw that Emmerson had been crushed by a fall of about 30 cwt. of stone. He was extricated as quickly as possible, but was dead. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
Robert Corner
In loving memory of Robert beloved husband of Mary E. CORNER who died March 3rd 1930 from injuries received in Chaloner Mines aged 54 years. And the above Mary E CORNER died 19th January 1976 aged 91 years.
Arthur Pearey
In loving memory of Arthur beloved husband of Annie PEAREY who was accidentally killed at Chaloner Mines December 20th 1933 aged 50 years.
The Times 21st December 1933
Two miners were buried under a heavy fall of stone in the Chaloner ironstone mine, near Guisborough, Yorkshire, yesterday. Arthur Pearey, 50, of Walkers Row, Guisborough, was killed, and Isaac Park, 50, of West Terrace, New Marske, is in a critical condition.
So we’ll researched thank you.
A Mary Corner lived at Chaloner Pit-Mount Pleasant, Guisborough from about 1947 until her death a couple of years ago. Her son lives in the same row. I wonder if Robert Corner was a relative? My great-grandfather was a pit deputy there at the turn of the 20thC. My grandmother was born there.
I live at no 9 mnt pleasant & remeber May Corner as a lovely person…her son David still lives here on his own. I do the local Guisborough History Ghost Walks – very popular, covering archaeology, architecture , history…and ghosts!
Thank you for this! William and Frances are my great grandparents, we visited the graveyard recently with my grandmother but unfortunately could not find the grave. She’ll be very interested to read about her dad who she unfortunately grew up without.
I can also tell you that William was a preacher and Frances worked at Ormesby house as a housekeeper for many years.
The corner’s are still here – 2020 – at mnt pleasant/chaloner pit…Mae/y Corner died c. 8-10 yrs ago and lived alone here…her son resides here in another house…i see him everyday…currently writing a piece on the closed graveyard behind the parish church
martin smith/historian – guisborian
Thanks for the good information. I started researching my family and found 3 of my great great grandparents died from “fall of stone” in the Eston mines. Most of the men in my family were listed as “ironstone miners”. Hard work. Hard times. Nearly impossible to imagine now. They immigrated to America at the end of the century to work in the Appalachian coal mines, which may have been an improvement.