Circumstances of death
On Wednesday 31st January 1877, miner Frederick Goulding was standing near an empty wagon whilst workmates rolled a large piece of rock down from the top heading (upper part of the excavation). Unexpectedly, the rock struck the wagon, crushing Goulding between it and a timber supporting the roof. Assistance was immediately rendered and he was thereafter taken to his lodgings at Granby Field, opposite Holy Trinity Church in Queensbury. However Goudling died from his injuries two days later.
An inquest was held at the Granby Inn, Queensbury, before William Barstow, the coroner. A verdict of “accidental death” was returned.
Biographical information
The above photo is an AI visualisation.
The death of a Frederick Goulding was recorded in Halifax within the correct timeframe, suggesting his age was 25. This is supported by his death certificate which records that he passed away on 2nd February after succumbing to “peritonitus from injury to bowels and rectum. Crushed between a wagon and some timber in Queensbury Tunnel. Lived 34 hours.”
On Sunday 4th February 1877, Frederick was buried at Holy Trinity in a common grave with four others, including an infant.
Research indicates that only four Frederick Gouldings were born in 1852±2 years, of whom three were still alive in 1881. The other, born in about 1852, came from Maidstone in Kent, the birthplace of his mother, Mary. She was married to Edward, a labourer, and in 1861 the family was living in Bermondsey. Ten years later, they had moved to the parish of St John’s in Southwark. Frederick was employed as a leather dresser and had two younger siblings, Emma and William.
It has proved impossible to confirm whether this Frederick Goulding is the same man who lost his life in Queensbury Tunnel.
