Forgotten children who died in Eckington Colliery accident to be remembered 125 years later

Three children who died in a colliery accident will finally have headstones to mark their graves, 125 years after the accident claimed their lives.
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Percey Riley, 9, Esther Ann Riley, 11, and Rebecca Godson, 9, all died on March 16, 1895, when they fell into a pond at Plumbley Colliery, in Eckington Woods.

The children were playing on the frozen lake that was part of the colliery, when the ice broke and they plunged into the frosty depths of the water below.

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24-year-old engineman Alfred Williamson heard the children’s screams, and heroically jumped into the pond to rescue them.

Clockwise from top: The new gravestones,  the Seldom Seen engine house, and the old crosses by Alfred's graveClockwise from top: The new gravestones,  the Seldom Seen engine house, and the old crosses by Alfred's grave
Clockwise from top: The new gravestones, the Seldom Seen engine house, and the old crosses by Alfred's grave

However, Alfred couldn’t swim, and the three children and Alfred sadly died at the scene.

Alfred’s headstone, which is also engraved with the names of the children, stands in Eckington Churchyard.

After becoming interested in the sad story, Eckington residents Paul Burdett and Claire McClean realised that the children’s final resting place was unknown.

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The pair, who run local history website Natural Eckington, researched the accident through Parish Council documents, and found out that the children were buried in an unmarked grave next to Alfred.

Although they were given a funeral, the children’s families could not afford a headstone, so Paul and Claire, supported by Eckington Town Team, marked their graves with white crosses.

However, as the crosses began to age and deteriorate, Paul, Claire and the rest of the community thought that the tragic youngsters deserved to be remembered in a more permanent way.

Paul said: “The idea started in about 2007. Along with a couple of friends, we wanted to know where the children were buried. Along with Stan Ryan, we put the white crosses on their graves.

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“The crosses started to look a bit worn, and I ended up speaking to Gary Daynes of Daynes Monumental Ltd, who said he had some white Portland Stone, which is used for military graves.”

Gary, who runs the stonemasons business in Killamarsh with his son Jamie, offered to only charge for the materials, and donate their time and expertise.

Gary said: “I’m a handcarver, and originally the headstones would have been carved by hand. It is in keeping with how the headstones would have been if they were made 125 years ago.

“Portland stone is British, and because of it’s white colouring, lends itself to children’s graves.

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“Each headstone probably takes a day to hand carve, and we will also be cleaning Albert’s headstone for the memorial service.”

The new headstones will be erected in early March, and a special service will take place on March 15, at 11am at Eckington Cemetery,

The service, led by Rev Andy Walker, will remember the children and Alfred, and also commemorate the 125th anniversary of the disaster.

Paul added: “Thank you to everyone who has donated towards the fund, it is really heartfelt and much appreciated.

“People have been fantastic about this really sad story.”

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