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HISTORY


the wider community including the two local primary schools.


Local school children will be given talks by author Alan Gallop whose book, Children of the Dark: Life and Death Underground in Victoria’s England, uses the true story of the Huskar disaster as the backdrop to the toils and tribulations experienced by mining children.


Both schools have been busy creating gardens made up of herbs, plants and vegetables that would have been common in 1838. Designed by John Hislop, the herb garden is shaped as a labyrinth leading out from the pit bottom to the surface, with each herb dedicated to a child. There are also Victorian flower and vegetable gardens with some very unusual names and backgrounds.


Huskar Memorial


were taken to Throstle Hall Farm before being transported by cart to their homes across Silkstone, Dodworth and Thurgoland. One or two corpses were left at almost every home.


An inquest was held at the Red Lion pub where a jury inspected the bodies; it wasn’t until after 11pm before any evidence was heard due to the sheer amount of children involved. The unanimous verdict of the inquest jury was accidental death by drowning.


Funerals were then held on Saturday 7th July, attended by thousands. The children were placed in seven graves; 11 girls were buried together in three, with the 15 boys in the other four graves.


Coffins and shrouds were provided by the Clarke family along with a memorial which was erected in the churchyard in 1841.


The Huskar disaster drastically affected the demographics of the local area with families deeply damaged by the loss of children. However, the disaster also had a strong economic effect which would shortly follow.


After news spread of the loss of 26 children, the nation began to wake up and realise the extent of women and children working down the mines in Victorian Britain. Led by Anthony Ashley-Cooper, later Lord Shaftesbury, the scandal brought about a Royal Commission of Enquiry which led to the Mines Act 1842.


This prohibited women and girls from working down the mines and also an age limit for boys of ten years. This ban meant that families with young girls and women moved to other industrial towns such as Huddersfield and Glossop in search of work in service or the woollen and linen mills.


Since the disaster, efforts have been made in the village to remember the lost children and acknowledge the tragedy which has become ingrained in Silkstone’s history.


To bring joy in light of sadness, a commemoration has been held every ten years since 1968. This year, the 180th anniversary will be the biggest event ever hosted, involving


All Saints Church


From Wednesday 4th to Sunday 8th July, Silkstone Church will be open to visitors from 10am to 4pm with floral displays dedicated to the children along with information boards produced by the heritage group which discuss the event, the children and families affected, life in the village and the local mine owners.


Inside the church, visitors can also see the beautiful stained glass window which was produced in 2010 by the villagers under the guidance of stained glass artists, Tina Green and Rachel Poole following the design of local lady Julie Tyler.


The window depicts the disaster, with a lightning bolt, 26 stars in the sky and the names and ages of all children who died in the waves of the water.


Starting at 2.45pm on Wednesday 4th July, roughly when tragedy struck 180 years ago, there will be two services at both memorials; one in the churchyard and the other up at Nabs Wood.


On Thursday 5th July there will be a choir concert at Silkstone church, 7pm to 9pm.


On Saturday 7th July, there will be a guided tour of the Huskar Trail which starts at Nabs Wood in Silkstone Common and works its way down to Silkstone village. Here, there will be information about points of interest along the way. Sylvia Le Breton has written two small plays about the tragedy which will be performed at both Silkstone Common school play ground and the Red Lion pub.


Kimbilio run four homes and a day care centre in Lubumbashi to help those affected overcome their dire circumstances and build new hope.


Organised by the Huskar 180 project team, the volunteers are hoping their year of planning will be a community success and would like to uncover more descendants of the families.


Jane Raistrick, whose mother’s family originate from the village, is a member of Silkstone Heritage Group. After starting to research her family history 20 years ago, she discovered she was a descendant of the two Wright brothers, Isaac and Abraham, who died at Huskar.


The group have a file on each of the 26 children and encourage those who believe they are descendants of the families to contact Jane via email on oldtimer11@btinternet.com or join their weekly meetings at the church on Wednesday 10am-4pm.


Silkstone Methodist Chapel will also be open on Saturday 7th with various displays.


On Sunday 8th July, to close the commemoration, a welcome reception for the descendants of the 26 Huskar families and


For more information about the Huskar 180, visit their Facebook page or to find out more about the heritage group see their website: www.silkstonereflects.co.uk


aroundtownmagazine.co.uk 53


other guests will be held at All Saints Church at 1pm. A remembrance service, led by the Bishop of Wakefield, Tony Robinson, follows at 3pm with all invited to see a performance from Old Silkstone Band.


Other events throughout the week include a Victorian themed sports day and craft workshops, plus performances by Silkstone Common Music Group, the local ladies choir and Silkstone Common School Orchestra.


Any money raised throughout the event will be donated to Kimbilio; a charity which helps children and families in the Democratic Republic of Congo where some children are still working in dreadful conditions, mining cobalt used in batteries. In other parts of the globe, children are involved in mining for minerals such as salt, diamonds and gems.


Stained Glass Window


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