130-Year-Old Anniversary: A Village Remembers the Peckfield Mining Disaster

I was absolutely delighted to participate along with friends, residents and fellow descendants to join in for a poignant remembrance walk in Micklefield, Leeds 25. This walk served as a living tribute and ensured that the memories of the 63 men and boys killed in the 1896 Peckfield Colliery disaster live on.

The walk organised and led by local Micklefield historian, Dennis Best, 80, of the Micklefield Local Mining Heritage Walk took place to honour the village community’s mining heritage. The Saturday event, taking place ahead of the April 30th 130-year anniversary, saw participants visiting key sites to pay their respects to the miners, whose lives were lost following a naked candle flame igniting a pocket of gas.

Dennis led our group, guiding us through a series of poignant markers. His superb commentary during the walk brought the village’s history to life as he pointed out the hidden stories behind every building and memorial.

The Path of Remembrance 

The key sites included St Mary’s Church, the resting place of many victims where our group first gathered. The remembrance walk began with the laying of a wreath which was placed on the stone monument dedicated to the miners’ memory. Here, in this churchyard is the resting place of many victims.

Moving inside the church we paused at the Widows’ Plaque dedicated to the 34 widows left to raise 107 children after the blast.

The route also included Pit Lane where a dedicated marker memorial is placed near to the original entrance to the colliery. This was once the old colliery entrance and for me, the most moving moment came when looking out over the site where the colliery once stood – land that now houses modern estates. It was a moment of profound reflection especially knowing my own ancestor died underneath that ground along with one of Dennis’s.

Also, The Blands Arms in which a stop was included at this site as it marked where the first community relief efforts began. The Relief Fund Plaque is still in place inside this now closed historic building.

The Orphans’ Plaque is to be found past the old Infants School site. This dedicated plaque remembers the “fatherless generation” created by the disaster. Also, a community space was provided from the Micklefield Primary School Memorial Garden where 63 individual stones, each hand painted by local schoolchildren with a name of a victim. Nearby are gold horseshoes in the soil to honour the 19 pit ponies lost in the blast.

The walk concluded at the Churchville Centre for a wonderful talk and slide show presentation by Ashley Land, 53, a man on a mission to preserve and teach others his deep knowledge of heritage and historical facts. His talk on the Peckfield Mining Disaster was exceptional, moving and emotional.

A Feast Fit for A Miner

After our emotional journey, my fellow companions were treated to a wonderful spread at the Churchville Centre. Dennis’s partner, Julie, and her dedicated team of ladies truly did the village proud.

The highlight was the inclusion of traditional beef dripping sandwiches – a staple diet of the Victorian miners. It was the perfect way to bring the community together and fuel us after such an impactful day.

I will leave the last word to Dennis who wrote down his thoughts for today’s anniversary.

“Today is the exact day and date of the Micky Pit Disaster that took place 130-years ago this morning at 7.20am. Our tribute to the disaster took place on Saturday, the 25th, and though it was only a small event, it was very informative and respectful. Ashley Land gave a lovely talk and went through the ins and outs of the disaster with a fine-tooth comb. Thank you Ashley, for all your commitment and input into our tribute!”

Dennis also added: “We, your families, remember you with much love and pride!”

Rest in perfect peace lads and your families who suffered the heartbreak and misery of losing you.