Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1857 & 1869

Hannah Dean (1845 - 1862)

Hannah Dean was a 17 year old factory girl and whilst out with her friends on Saturday night 18th October 1862, she was knocked down and killed by a railway train.

The Salford Weekly Chronicle of 25th October 1862 ran the headline "Shocking Railway Accident near Ordsall Lane". It continued "Mr Hertford, the Manchester Coroner held an Inquest on Tuesday 21st October upon the body of Hannah Dean, late of West Charles Street, Salford. On Saturday night, between 8 and 9 o'clock, the deceased, who was a factory operative, was walking with some other young women near the crossing of the London and North Western Railway, from Water Street to Ordsall Lane, and whilst she was crossing the line, the up train came by and knocked her down, passing over her legs and causing fearful injury.

The deceased was taken to Manchester Infirmary, where amputation of both legs was effected. The shock to the system however, had been so great that she gradually sank and died on Tuesday. The jury, in returning a verdict of Accidental death recommended the railway company to appoint an additional Porter at the spot mentioned and further suggested that greater care should be exercised in cautioning persons near the crossing. It is to be hoped however, that the new railway bridge into Water Street from Ordsall Lane will soon be completed and so render it no longer necessary for the public to venture upon this dangerous crossing".

Hannah was buried at Weaste Cemetery in a common grave in plot 6 of the Roman Catholic portion on Sunday 26th October 1862. The proceedings were conducted by Father R. Brindle.