Pretoria Resources
Books
Bolton Libraries, Museums and Archives hold much information on the history of Westhoughton including material on the Pretoria Pit Disaster.
There are many books and documents about the disaster available to read in the Bolton History Centre and Westhoughton Library.
Reading list
Loan copies are available for some of the books. Further information on material held is available by clicking on the reading list below:
Archive records
Listed below are selected records from the Access to Archives website for the Pretoria Pit Disaster. Please click on each of the headings for more information and references to each of the records held at Bolton Archives.
For further information on Bolton History Centre, opening hours, how to access our holdings etc please refer to our homepage
Pretoria Pit Disaster holdings
The following selected holdings of Bolton Archives are indexed on the Access to Archives website hosted by The National Archives and are also held at Bolton Archive and Local Studies Service:
Hulton Colliery Disaster Enquiry, Blackrod Water Supply, including newspaper cuttings and photographs of Pretoria Pit
[Bolton Archive, THE WALMSLEY PAPERS]
Pretoria Pit Disaster Memorial in Westhoughton Parish Churchyard
[Bolton Archive, Papers of Lois Basnett...]
Coloured serviette In Loving Memory of the Men and Boys who lost their lives in the Pretoria Pit Explosion
[Bolton Archive, Papers of Lois Basnett...]
Impressions of Hulton Collieries by Ernest Gore
With typescript and manuscript notes, drawings, photographs, map and photocopies about the Hulton Collieries Strike 1831 and Pretoria Pit Disaster 21 Dec 1910. [Bolton Archive, Papers of Lois Basnett...]
Folder: General correspondence, reports and newspaper cuttings
Including: requests for contributions from the Relief Fund surplus towards the Pendlebury Disaster Relief Fund, The West Stanley Disaster Fund, The Invalid Children’s Aid Association and for relief to be given to the only survivor the Pretoria Pit Disaster.
File: Hulton Estate and Collieries
Including plans, correspondence, memorandum and articles of association of the Hulton Colliery Co., Home Office Report relating to the Hulton Colliery (Pretoria Pit) Explosion, newspaper cuttings, etc. [Bolton Archive, THE WALMSLEY PAPERS]
Westhoughton Conservation Area
With postcards and map, including Parish Church and School, Pretoria Pit Memorial, Sunny Bank, South View, Red Lion Inn, Greenfield Farm, Grundy's Farm and Westhoughton Old Chapel, Parish Church Fire. [Bolton Archive, Papers of Lois Basnett...]
Pretoria Pit Disaster, Hulton Colliery:
- Archives relating to donations to Mayor of Bolton's Fund from Rawtenstall area, 1910 - 1911.
- Archive Reference ZZ/584.
- Plans and papers 1910 - 1911.
- Archive Reference ZZ/582.
These documents are held at: Bolton Archive and Local Studies Service
Photographs
Bolton Museum and Archives have an extensive collection of photographs of Bolton and the surrounding areas. A selection of images, of the Pretoria Pit Disaster, and the rescue taken from these collections are available on the Bolton Museum website.
