Story
Robert Routledge was born on 4th August 1844 in Shincliffe, Durham, and was the son of a colliery overman, William Routledge (1796-1867) and Mary Ann Miller (1802-1863), who had married on 24th October 1818 in Lamesley, Gateshead. His uncle, Joseph Routledge (1796-1867) emigrated to America, and after marrying Elizabeth Oughton (1843-1882, pictured below left) in Houghton-Le-Spring in 1864, Robert joined his uncle in Centerville, Davis County, Utah, and stayed there until 1873. Three of his five children born in America had died in infancy, and he had two more children following his return to Durham, before moving to Richmond, where he had a daughter, and then became Colliery Manager and Mining Engineer at Dodworth, Barnsley. Two children born there also died in infancy, and in 1882, Robert moved to the Colliery House, Garforth, and became Colliery Manager for Colonel Gascoigne and his Garforth Collieries. His wife passed away in 1882, and on 17th December 1883, Robert re-married Eleanor Catley Wilkinson (1861-1918, pictured below right), with whom he had a further four children.
In September 1893, Robert was informed that striking Garforth miners were planning a demonstration, and waited outside the colliery with Mr Prater, the agent for Colonel Gascoigne, and John Wardle Allinson, the shaftwright, and several deputies. The miners ran onto the pit bank, and some three or four climbed to the top of the shoot. One miner who carried a stick, struck Robert a severe blow on the side of the head, knocking him down. John Allison was also struck in the face. The crowd was about to rush upon the manager and those along with him when a small band of about eight constables, headed by Sergeant Chalkley, intervened.
There is an uncredited diary, which has been attributed to Robert Routledge, describing the rescue efforts at Peckfield Colliery. The movements match press accounts of Robert’s activities:
Thursday April 30th 1896.
At 8.15 am I heard that something serious had occurred at the Micklefield Colliery. I got the horse into the trap and in company with Mr Tramliss went off at once. Arrived at Micklefield about 8:50 am, found the No.1 pit the downcast a complete wreck, the keep baulks, flooring flat sheets, roof all blown away; one of the cages was stuck up in the headgears, the other was in the sump, and this pit was upcasting like a furnace.
I found Mr C Houfton and Clough the engineer on the top of the no.2 or upcast shaft. The covering of this had been very much damaged; also the steam pipes which brought the steam from the boilers to the fan engine, consequent the fan was standing. Joseph Lillyman the night deputy and two men descended the upcast or No.2 and found they could not get within 18 feet of the bottom as the wrought iron pipes which carried the compressed air down had been partly blown across the pit. Mr C Houfton and Clough the engineer went down and with a little manoeuvring they got the cage past this obstruction and got down to the Beeston Seam. Here they found several men who were brought up at once, three badly injured and were attended to. Mr C Houfton then asked me to accompany him down. We first went to the cabin and found Radford and Wallace [Wallis] lying dead, the cabin a complete wreck, and a great many of the papers burnt. I then proceeded with Lillyman the night deputy to the No.2 dip bord. Here we found two men alive which we sent out at once. We then proceeded as far as No.3 dip, but were driven back by the afterdamp. It was here that I had great difficulty to get Joseph Lillyman back. After getting Lillyman to a place of safety, I then explored the stables, being accompanied by two men. Only two ponies out of those left in the stables remained alive. It was in the stables I discovered the horsekeeper at the far end, quite dead and badly burnt. After leaving the stables, I then with three men proceeded to explore the East level. Here I found a deputy by name Shillito who had been killed 100 yards from the bottom. He was lying on his back face inbye. Then going forward found another man named Gorbury [Godber], also dead. This man was lying with his head in-bye, nothing on but boots and part of his singlet badly burnt. The next move was forward through the stone drift to the far dip bord. Here the air divides and finding the afterdamp so strong we were compelled to withdraw. The empty tubs here smashed into matchwood. Next we explored the straight North road and found a man dead, the name of Simpson, together with another man, the name of Simpson (the latter having only one arm), underneath the engine house. Going forward from here we proceeded as far as the Overcast and finding the planks blown off and the afterdamp being so strong we retired. Busy the remainder of the day getting the cage in order.
Friday 1st May
Descended the shaft at 8am and examined the stables in company with Mr J.L Routledge. Here we found strong signs of flame having been there, and the smell from the horses very strong, advised the horses being removed. Leaving here we went forward to the exploring party in the district known as the No.3 dip in the West level where Mr Parkin was in charge of several men, busy timbering some bad stone. From here we proceeded down the No.3 dip and found three men (Nos. 10, 11 & 12) [Winfield, Winfield & Maggs] all lying with their faces towards the shaft bottom and not burnt in anyway. Going a little lower down a man [Johnson] was found on his knees and doubled up with his face towards the working faces. This man was not burnt in any way whatever. Coming from this district to the pit bottom with Mr Wardell, Mr C Houfton and Mr J Houfton when Mr J Houfton and I formed another exploring party to explore the 1st SA where we found a man the name of Fielding Pickard burnt. We then went down Moakes Drift. Here we found a boy and his pony both dead and burnt. Hurrying forward to the pit bottom nothing more was found. From coming out we were told no men were working down here. Back we went further down No.1 South and found other three men altogether not burnt. Went forward and found two men lying just beyond Barkers old gate. These men were both on their knees and their faces in direction of the working face. Their names were W. Stead and W Barker. We proceeded to their stall and found a lot of ripping down as though a shot had been fired. No evidence of powder marks. Neither of these men were burnt, although one of their jackets was burnt to a cinder. Their Nos were 89 and 69.
Went down again at 3pm with Mr J Houfton and 12 men to explore the No.1 rise bord. Here we found a tremendous fall of stone, some thousands of tons. The empty run had evidently been going up when the explosion occurred and smashed the tubs to atoms. In one of the tubs I found a boy named Benson, dead. He was also burnt. A little further up I found the deputy Benson, burnt and wedged in between the first full tub and the wall side in the passbye. Going forward past the No.2 East level to the No.6 East level and about 30 yards on found a dead horse, then a little further we found a man named Noah Ball. He was lying with his head towards the pit bottom. He was not in any way burnt. Working forwards a man named Swift was found with his head towards the bottom. This man was also not burnt. Exploring to the end of No.6 level and going straight up for 200 yards and finding it blocked, we explored a road to the left, but found no more bodies. Two are supposed to be up here yet.
Saturday May 2nd
Went down and along the West level. I saw that No.3 and 4 dips were properly canvassed off. Then going to the bottom of the new North put canvas straight on the level beyond the new North. The company consisted of W T Simpson, H C Embleton, Mr J L Routledge, Fred Wilson, Mr Halliday, W Mills, H Firth, Jess Mosby, Henry Goodall, Isaiah Evans, George Turner and George Cawood. We went forward up the North bord and found a pony and boy just past crossgate to the left. The boy, Simpson, and his horse, being badly burnt. The horse had evidently been driven inbye with the force. The horse’s body was struck against a prop the boy laid, with his head outbye. Going forward the next bodies we discovered were H Tallett and Tom Longdon who were in their own gate and 35 yards from the face. A hole had been drilled in the ripping, but evidently not fired.
I came out to report at 11 am. Saw Mr Wardell and Mr C Houfton and arranged with them for some more men to descend and help to carry the bodies out. Took Dr Griesbach down with us and left him at the bottom of the new bord. Going forward up the bord, found Mr J L Routledge, Halliday and F Wilson. Mr Routledge, Halliday and Wilson stayed at end of crossgate. Mr Wilson (Inspector) and I went on the crossgate and found five men at the bottom of James’ gate. Their names were Joseph Wilson 39, Dan Taylor 40, Sam James 41, David Shillito 42, and James Wilson 43. Then going forward with Mr Wilson and Charles Oxtoby to the fan end of the crossgate, went down a fault of about 20 feet and turned to the right 24 yards and then went up a crosscut 100 yards. Everything I met was quite clear.
There was still one man missing, Whitaker. Mr Wilson and I went up a crossgate opposite when we found the horse. About 20 yards on this road we met with Whitaker having had half his head blown off. We then went forward up the gate to the face and found it alright. This place I think rather important.”
Like the Kippax Colliery Manager, John Parkin, Robert received a clock to commemorate his rescue efforts. In November 1902, his relationship with Garforth miners had improved to the extent that he was given further gifts to celebrate his long service:
“At Garforth last evening, Mr. Robert Routledge was the recipient of a number of gifts from the officials, workmen, and friends on the completion of twenty-one years’ service as manager of Garforth Colliery. The gifts consisted of a purse of £80, a gold watch and albert, a silver tea and coffee service, a silver tray, and a diamond and ruby brooch for Mrs. Routledge. Colonel Gascoigne made the presentation, and Lieutenant-Colonel Gascoigne and Mr Dobson, Commercial Manager, also spoke of Mr. Routledge’s services.”
A reporter from Wetherby who covered the disaster later stated in 1945 that “it was a depressing sight to see so many beshawled women, with weeping children, in the pit-yard awaiting news of their menfolk. The reporter, with no knowledge of the effects of gas, was astounded to see the late Mr R. Routledge, manager of a colliery at Garforth, being supported by a couple of miners, and apparently in an uncontrollable fit of laughter. He later learned that Mr. Routledge had been down the pit assisting in rescue work and that he had been badly gassed. He recovered after treatment.”
Life continued to have its ups and downs. On 5th May 1908, Robert was prosecuted by the RSPCA for the condition, treatment and deaths of some of the pit ponies. He retired and moved to Carlton Lodge, Mayfield Road, Bridlington, where he passed away on 5th January 1919. The presents given to him by his workforce were evidently a source of great pride, and he made stipulations in his will to ensure they were dealt with: “To my son Robert Routledge the large silver tray and the illuminated address presented to me by the workmen of Garforth Colliery. To my daughter Eleanor Routledge the piano and stool presented to me by the officials of Garforth Colliery. To my son Percy Miller Routledge the gold watch and chain presented to me by the workmen of Garforth Colliery. To my son Norman Wilkinson the brass time piece presented to me by the owners of Micklefield.”
Robert’s daughter Hilda (1887-1969, pictured below) served the Gascoigne family at Lotherton Hall as private secetary for 60 years, starting in 1906 for Colonel Gascoigne, and afterwards for Sir Alvary Gascoigne.
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 