Wakefield Area

[paulmh]

Despite living in South Yorkshire (Barnsley) I must first apologise if any of this is incorrect as I know little about our West neighboroughs.

Whilst I have been researaching a family of Clifft's for a family friend I came across a James Clifft whom was killed whilst down the pit when the roof 'accidentally' fell in. The date recorded was 8th November 1918 at Ryhill Main Colliery.

I was wondering if anyone could give me advise on where to look next, the pit like many doesn't exsist anymore whilst the National Coalmining Musuem aren't able to help.

I woundered if there was anything printed in the local press, any clues as to were to look? Also does anyone know of any local historians who maybe able to help me in my plight.

Cheers in advance...

[PaulineJ]

You might get something from this site (found by google)

http://www.ryhill.freeuk.com/chron/chronology/chron.htm

Pauline

[tomkin]

Hi Paulmh,
                  I couldn't find a reference to Ryhill Colliery in 1918. I worked on
an assumption that the pit may have closed by that date and that James may have been involved in salvaging equipment. ( always a dangerous job) this is of course ony an
assumption.     I looked earlier and found that there was a Ryhill Colliery in 1908.
 Ryhill Colliery nr. Wakefield. Owner H. Lodge Ltd.  Manager, H.Fisher,  under manager,
 Herbert Hall.   The mine employed 271 men under ground and 54 above.
 
     All these details can be found on the excellent website www.cmhrc.co.uk
 If you go onto this website and e-mail Ian Winstanley he will research James for you.
  What information he will have, I don't know.  just follow the instructions on the site.
  I ploughed through but couldn't find him.

    Tomkin

[brassbounder]

Paul,

It might also be worth checking the local newspapers for reports on the accident. I would guess this
would be the Wakefield Express, and there's also a chance that it would be in the Yorkshire Post or
even Leeds Mercury.

There may be other papers which would have been published in the area at the time---maybe
Wakefield Library could help.

Also, presumably there was an inquest, although to gather from other posts on this site, it might
be difficult to get any further information, although again that might have been reported in one or
more of the papers.

Another avenue might be West Yorkshire Archives (http://www.archives.wyjs.org.uk), who may have some
records of the pit or any inquest.

HTH

Jon

[tramroad]

go to coalmining accidents and deaths then enter james clifft, a list of names comes up clifft james, at the top, click on clifft james,it gives you details of accident and year of death. there used to be a
stan clifft and his sister ena who lived in mulberry place. they would be about 85 and 83 if they are still alive,they could be relatives of james. go on internet put in ryhill main well worth looking at.
ryhill main closed about 1926

[paulmh]

go to coalmining accidents and deaths then enter james clifft, a list of names comes up clifft james, at the top, click on clifft james,it gives you details of accident and year of death. there used to be a
stan clifft and his sister ena who lived in mulberry place. they would be about 85 and 83 if they are still alive,they could be relatives of james. go on internet put in ryhill main well worth looking at.
ryhill main closed about 1926

Thank you for your information. I assume that you are not relatives of Clift?

The research was done by my father for a family friend, and I believe he has found all that he was looking for. There was a Stanley Clift b. 1928, whom he believes never married. Ena was Stan's sister, she was born in 1933 and died in 2000, she married Herbert Wroe. Their parents were James and Florrie.