Victims of the Oaks Colliery Disaster 1847

Great Sacrifice: the Old Boys of Barnsley Holgate Grammar School in the First World War and Keeping Their Beacons Alight: the Potter Family of Barnsley and their Service to our Country are two books by Jane Ainsworth that have received acclaim for their tenacity in revealing detailed stories about the individuals and families. This new book is a result of Jane's deep interest in her coal mining ancestors and her transcription of a ledger containing the minutes of the Colliers' Relief Fund Committee for the 1847 Oaks Colliery Explosion for Barnsley Archives. She was determined to research all of the individuals in as much detail as possible to pay tribute to the families of mineworkers whose lives at that time were considered of little value to the colliery owners and managers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2021
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The Centenary of the First World War and the author's personal journey to uncover the fates of two great uncles served as the driving force behind Jane Ainsworth's remarkable endeavors in Barnsley. This introspection led to the publication of her first two books, "Great Sacrifice: The Old Boys of Barnsley Holgate Grammar School in the First World War" and "Keeping Their Beacons Alight: The Potter Family of Barnsley and their Service to our Country," which have garnered widespread acclaim for their unwavering dedication to revealing intricate stories about individuals and families.

Inspired by her deep fascination with her coal mining ancestors, both paternal great-grandparents, Charles Ernest Hardy and Edwin Hall Bailey, worked in collieries in the Barnsley area, as did their descendants. In late 2017, Jane embarked on a project to transcribe a ledger containing the minutes of the Colliers' Relief Fund Committee for the 1847 Oaks Colliery Explosion for Barnsley Archives. This encounter sparked her empathy and curiosity toward the lives of the individuals mentioned in the minutes—the widows, orphans, and a few survivors of the disaster—as well as the 73 victims. Undeterred by the limitations of early records, Jane was determined to research each individual in great detail, seeking to flesh out their stories and honor the families of mineworkers whose lives were often deemed of little value to the colliery owners and managers.

Once again, Jane has crafted a memorial book like no other, making a significant contribution to Barnsley's rich mining heritage. Her unwavering dedication to preserving the memories and stories of these individuals and families is a testament to her passion for history and her commitment to honoring the sacrifices made by those who worked in the coal mines.

Weight: 620g
Dimension: 157 x 236 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526745736