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Langley Mill Pottery replied on: 3/9/2005 7:17:24 AM Many thanks to Jennypeg for digging out the newspaper reports on the incident referred to. RIPLEY AND HEANOR NEWS FRIDAY AUGUST 15TH 1919 SCALDING ACCIDENT AT LANGLEY MILL TWO MEN IN A WELL Through the breaking of a plank which formed part of the covering of a well of steam-heated water at the works of Messrs Lovatt and Lovatt, pottery manufactures of Langley Mill on Wednesday, John Pickard, potter’s labourer, of Prince Street Eastwood, fell into the well. Another workmate named Wilfred Wilson of Elnor Street, Langley Mill, went to the rescue of Pickard, but he also fell in. It is surmised Pickard was going to --- to the blungers, when the plank gave way Pickard clung to a projecting brick and was only slightly immersed. Wilson however, fearing that his mate had got in the blungers was hurrying to his help and failed to notice the opening over the well and plunged in the nearly boiling water up to his breast, and only saved him from drowning by clutching at ----- projection. Another workman with the aid of rope rescued Pickard, but Wilson, who was in fear of drowning all the time and suffered the worse scalding had to be got out by means of a ladder. Fortunately for both men the works had been standing since the previous Saturday owing to the Wakes or the water would have been scalding hot. As it is both are in Nottingham General Hospital, where they lie in a critical condition scalding all over the body. FATAL SCALDS AT LANGLEY MILL 22nd August 1919 Would-be rescuer’s sad death Admitted to the Nottingham general Hospital on Wednesday last with severe scalds all over his body, sustained through falling into a well of steam-heated water, Wilfred Wilson 47, potter’s labourer, of Elnor Street, Langley Mill, died in that institution on Monday. At the inquest held by Mr C. L. Rothera on Tuesday, the widow said her husband told her, after the accident that hearing one of his colleagues cry out he went to see what had occurred. It was dark near the boiler, but he knew there should be a plank over it. It had broken, however, and when he placed his foot on the plank he fell in. Mr. E. Huntsman, who appeared for Lovatt and Lovatt, deceased’s employers tendered the firm’s sympathy with Mrs Wilson. In intimating that the inquiry would have to be adjourned for a fortnight, the coroner said he was informed that the evidence of the man who fell in first and who was now in the hospital would then be available. THE LANGLEY MILL POTTERY ACCIDENT SECOND VICTIM DIES After making progress which gave hopes of ultimate recovery we regret to have to announce that John Pickard of Princes Street, Eastwood, the second victim of the scalding accident at Langley Mill Pottery, died in the Nottingham General hospital on Wednesday morning. It will be recalled that Pickard was thrown into a well of steam-heated water by the breaking of a plank at the works of Messrs Lovatt and Lovatt pottery manufactures of Langley Mill, on August 18th Wilfred Wilson of Elnor Street Langley Mill went to his comrade’s assistance but himself fell into the well, and succumbed to the effects of his scalds in the Nottingham General Hospital a few days later. The inquest was adjourned at the time, in the hope that Pickard would later be able to attend and explain how the accident happened. The inquest was opened yesterday (Thursday) by the City Coroner. Only formal evidence of identification was given and the inquiry was adjourned to Tuesday next, when both deaths will be investigated. THE SCALDING FATALITIES AT LANGLEY MILL CORONER’S INQUEST The adjourned inquest on John Pickard 66, of princes Street, Eastwood, and Wilfred Wilson of Elnor Street, Langley Mill, who died in Nottingham General Hospital, as a result of being precipitated into a steam-heated well at the works of Messrs Lovatt and Lovatt, pottery manufacturers, of Langley Mill, was held on Tuesday by Mr. C. L. Rothera and a jury. Mr C. Huntsman watched the proceedings on behalf of the company, and the relatives were represented by Messrs Williams and Berryman. Mr Leonard Ward, Derby. Inspector of factories was also present. A plan of the well was put in by Mr C. J. Wilshire, secretary to Messrs Lovatt and Lovatt, who explained that the well where the accident occurred was in a room below the ground level, artificially lighted and approached by a fight of stairs. It was covered by pitch pine planks 6ft long 5in thick and 10in wide, extending across three bearers. These planks were put down nine years ago, but they were periodically tested and repaired. On the day of the accident the works were closed except for repairs, and it was presumed the deceased went into the room for tools, and fell into the well as the result of some portion of the planks having given way. The well had not been used of resent years but steam pipes still emptied into the water. James Stapleford, of Langley Mill, an employee, spoke to hearing Pickard shout for help. He immediately lit a candle, as the place was in darkness. Procuring a ladder he put this in the well, but found that it was not long enough, and then went for help. He informed some men, and on his return with a longer ladder, found that Pickard had been brought out by means of a rope, and then Wilson climbed up the ladder. Evidence as to the rescue of the men was given by Wm Arthur Steadman, of Langley Mill, who stated that when he put the rope down Pickard got hold of it, and was pulled up, but the other man was unable to tie the rope around him and had to crawl up the ladder. Both men were badly scalded. In 1913, when this part of the works was vacated, there was a trap door on top of the well. The men had evidently been saved from drowning by clinging to the stages in the well, and also the disused pumps. The foreman joiner at the works William Flintoff, of Heanor, stated that there was a trap door about 14 years ago, but it was done away with when he re-laid the covering nine years ago, the planks being then put right through. He regularly examined the covering by jumping about on it, and the last time he did so was in June, when the covering appeared to be all right. Dr Torrance, of the hospital staff stated that the two men were suffering from serve scalds when brought to hospital Wilson died on August 16th from shock, and Pickard died on August 27th having had a cardiac seizure during the night death in each case was due to the scalding. In returning a verdict of “Accidental death” the jury intimated that they were of opinion that the covering had not been properly looked after, and that it ought to have been examined more thoroughly. Mr Wilshire stated that the well was being filled up, as it was of not further use.

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