The proprietors of Flowery Field Colliery were Messrs Samuel Swire and Henry Lees. The 1847 Tithe map for Newton records that the farmstead at Newton Hall was rented by Samuel Swire and Henry Lees from the landowner,
Francis Duckenfield Palmer Astley.

Between 50 and 60 men and boys were employed at the colliery in 1842 and when the explosion occurred at about 11:00am there were 26 workmen underground. The explosion happened at a point that was about 200 yards away from the far end of the colliery in the Black Mine (seam) and this was followed shortly afterwards by a rumbling and then flames appearing at the mouth of the shaft.

Several hours elapsed before it was considered safe enough to go down the colliery and start a search and rescue operation. By this time two surgeons, Doctors F Tinker and Potter, were on hand to give what help they could.

In the tables below, each name is followed by the death register reference at Tameside Register Office, Dukinfield, Newton & Godley Sub-District unless stated otherwise.

The 17 miners who died were:

• In Memoriam
• John ASPINALL, 15 years. Miner.(NEW/3/24)
• John ASPINALL, 44 years. Miner.(NEW/3/24)
• John BOWKER, 47 years. Miner. Left a widow and eight children.(NEW/3/24)
• William BOWKER, 17 years. Eldest of nine children.(NEW/3/24 years.
• James BRUCKSHAW, 12 years. Burnt and suffocated.(NEW/3/25)
• Samuel DERBYSHIRE, 16 years. Son of the head banksman, he died from suffocation.(NEW/3/26)
• Robert DOWNING, 17 years. Taken from the colliery alive but died 12 hours later.(NEW/3/25)
• Adam GILL, 41 years. Miner. Left a widow and four children, the eldest 11 years and the youngest 8 years.(NEW/3/27)
• William GRIMSHAW, 52 years. Left a widow and one child.(NEW/3/25)
• John HARDY, 33 years. Miner.(NEW/3/24)
• James LEES, 11 years. (NEW/3/26)
• James OLDFIELD, 13 years. Eldest of six children who was scorched and bruised.(NEW/3/25)
• William RAGG, 16 years. Eldest of nine children.(NEW/3/26)
• Robert UNWIN, 19 years. (NEW/3/25)
• John WILD, 42 years. Miner. Was shoeing a mule in the stables at the time of the explosion and was killed when the roof fell on him.(NEW/3/23 years.
• Thomas WILLIAMS, 14 years. Showed only a slight injury to his forehead.(NEW/3/26)
• William WILLIAMS, 17 years. Killed by afterdamp.(NEW/3/26)

The injured miners were:

• Henry BRADSHAW
• James DUNK
• William HURST
• Joseph MODAY
• Joseph MERRICK
• Robert MERRICK
• Thomas MERRICK

The inquest was held on the 11 Apr 1842 at the White Hart Hotel on Old Road, Flowery Field, not far from the scene of the accident. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict that, “We all agree that it was accidental death with no blame to anyone.” The landlord at the time was John Sowerbutts.

The stone-built White Hart Hotel stood on Old Road near White Hart Street. It opened in c.1833 and it closed in 2002 to be demolished in 2007.

Other casualties, 1851-1869

• In Memoriam
• Bayley Field Colliery
• 16 May 1851: Henry PICKFORD, 39 years. Roof fall.
  (Hyde, HYD/12/91)
• 27 Oct 1853: William SCHOOLER, 43 years. Roof fall.
  (NEW/18/36)
• 31 Mar 1856: William TAYLOR, 27 years. Suffocated by firedamp.
  (NEW/9/33)
• 10 Oct 1857: Robert WHITEHEAD, 55 years. Explosion of firedamp.
  (Dukinfield, DUK/30/77)
• 13 Dec 1861: Joseph? BARLOW, 56 years? Coal fall from face.
  (Audenshaw, AUD/13/94?)
• 27 May 1876: Edward MOORES, 39 years. Crushed by a rolling stone.
  (NEW/16/76)
• Daisy Field Colliery
• 26 Jan 1869: James DAVIES, 40 years. Crushed by tubs.
  (Hyde, HYD/29/37)
• 13 Mar 1869: William? HARRISON, 42 years? Roof fall.
  (Audenshaw, AUD/18/70?)