Memorial dedicated to lost miners to be unveiled in Thornhill on anniversary of 1893 pit disaster this weekend
A memorial dedicated to nearly 200 men and boys who have died in pit disasters in Thornhill is set to be unveiled this weekend.
Organised by the Thornhill Community Mining Memorial Group, the local community is invited to Rectory Park on Saturday, July 4, to witness the unveiling of a special memorial wheel and information board which will hold the names of those miners who died.
A dedication service will begin at 2pm and will be led by St Michael and All Angels Church, alongside the Bishop of Huddersfield.
The event, which also includes a community gala, takes place exactly 133 years after 139 men and boys – some as young as only 12 – lost their lives in an underground explosion at Combs Colliery.
The explosion on July 4, 1893 is one of the worst mining disasters in history, with only seven men working in the pit that day surviving. Most of those who died were from Thornhill.
More people were then killed in the Ings Colliery disaster in 1947.
Joint-chair of the Thornhill Community Mining Memorial Group, Jackie Ramsay, said: “We are incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated people in the group, who have given their time and energy to this project.
“I would especially like to thank Paul and Diane Hinchcliffe, our joint-chair and secretary, who have been the driving force behind it. Without their enthusiasm and hard work, we would not have reached this final stage.
“We are all looking forward to July 4. We believe we have planned the right balance of a dignified service and a fun community event.”
David Gaunt, who has carried out research on behalf of the group, has documented biographies for 199 men and boys who were killed in the two pits, between the 1870s and 1972.
Alongside the service, there will be activities for all ages, including a brass band, a community choir, ponies from the National Coal Mining Museum, banners from the National Union of Mineworkers, children’s games and stalls.
The event will run from 1-4pm. Everyone is welcome. Please note that the car park will be reserved for blue badge holders and attending dignitaries.