Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1920 & 29

James Johnson (Killed at work) (1900 - 1929)

James Johnson was a coal miner, who at the age of 29, was killed at *Agecroft Colliery, Pendlebury in 1929.

The Salford City Reporter of 19th July 1929 records, " PIT FATALITY, Miner Buried in Fall". It went on, "A fall of coal and dirt at Agecroft Pit yesterday morning (18th July) buried James Johnson, aged 29 of Alderson Street, Pendleton who was working at the face. Two other men were working in the vicinity and they promptly gave the alarm. Rescue measures were immediately initiated and the fallen debris speedily removed, but Johnson was found to be dead. The sad accident caused a painful sensation in the Whit Lane district, where Johnson was well known. He leaves a widow."

The funeral took place at Weaste Cemetery on 24th July 1929, where Rev L Delaney conducted the committal service in plot J of the Dissenters portion.

*The original Agecroft Colliery was owned by Andrew Knowles and Sons and was sunk in 1844. The Nos. 1 and 2 shafts were 9 ft 6 inches in diameter and 22 yards apart. Two new shafts (Nos 3 & 4) were commenced in 1894 to reach the Trencherbone seam at a depth of just over 700 yards. This development became known as the "New Winnings" and production was gradually concentrated here, allowing the older shafts to decline and they were filled in, in the mid 1920s. The "New Winnings" were closed in 1932, but the shafts were still in tact, allowing the re-opening of Agecroft Colliery by the National Coal Board in 1953.