Story
Charles Shepherd was born in Micklefield in 1828, and baptised in Sherburn on 16th February 1832. He was the son of Richard Shepherd (1797-1879) and Ann Atkinson (1806-1868), who were from Bardsey and Saxton respectively, and married in Sherburn on 8th March 1824. Charles, like his father was originally an agricultural labourer, and the family lived in Micklefield. Charles married Hannah Longbottom from Rawcliffe in 1855, and the couple went on to have at least 10 children, including Richard in 1866. When Peckfield Colliery opened in 1876, Charles opted to become a coal miner late in life for the extra money, and he was joined by Richard who was initially a Colliery Labourer, and then was a coal miner. Charles and his family lived at 43 Crescent. Rather than retire, Charles opted to remain at the Colliery as the Horsekeeper. Tending the pit ponies, Charles was based underground in the stables, which were next to William Radford’s office, close to the bottom of the main shaft. His wife Hannah passed away in 1887, and his son Richard married Agnes Gilyard in 1895. Richard was described as a ‘knock about’ who helped his father.
On 30th April 1896, Charles was working in the stables as usual, and had released several ponies to the young Pony Drivers that morning, when the explosion took place. The blast had reacted with both coal dust and oxygen in the West Level, and the fiery explosion tore through the stables, burning Charles to death. He was the oldest victim of the disaster. The ponies stood on the outside were similarly killed, but the ones stood in the centre of the stable were to some degree protected by the other ponies. When one of the survivors who was waiting to be rescued, Caleb Atack, decided to look into the Office to check on the Underground Manager, he saw the bodies of William Radford and John Wallis, but then heard a strange sound, which he also checked out, thinking it may be a wounded colleague, but entering the stables next door, he realised the noise was being emitted by some of the burnt pit ponies who were rolling around in agony.
Richard had just started walking down the No.1 Dip, when the secondary explosion travelled down his path, and burnt him to death. His body was initially thought to have been Fielding Pickard who worked in the area Richard was found, but Fielding survived. Charles’ body was brought out between 3am and 6am on 1st May. Richard’s body was brought out at 12 noon. Both were identified at 6:40am on 1st May by Charles’ son, Timothy Shepherd, who had moved to 29 Spring Grove View, Hunslet, and worked as a blacksmith in an iron foundry. He said his father’s hair and whiskers had been singed, and that his brother’s arms and shoulders had been burnt. Both men were buried on the 3rd May in the first batch of burials that day.
Richard’s widow Agnes moved back to Pointer’s Farm, Peckfield, where her father still lived and worked. She re-married Edward Hills in 1902, and had two daughters. The family remained on Pointer’s farm. Agnes passed away in 1944.
Charles Shepherd’s grave is in Micklefield Churchyard (below:)
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 