NEXT Monday, December 4, an Open Day will be held at Bolton Central Library, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Pretoria Pit Disaster. From 10.30am to 5pm there will be an exhibition of photographs, maps, and archive material, in the Bolton Central Library Archives and Local Studies Library. Throughout the day there will be a series of talks on Pretoria and Westhoughton in the Bolton Central Library Lecture Theatre. Entry is free. For further details ring the Archives and Local Studies Library. (01204 332185)

Talks in the Lecture Theatre, Bolton Central Library on Monday, December 4:

11am Pretoria Pit -- A personal perspective by Dr Tom Dunne, a former Westhoughton Chief Librarian, who has researched and lectured on the disaster for many years. He will be giving his own very personal perspective on the events.

1pm Westhoughton -- Photographs from the Last Century. A Slide Show and Talk by Ken Beevers, an Area Librarian for Bolton Libraries who has compiled a book of photographs from the library's collection, and will be using these to illustrate a talk on Westhoughton. The new book, in the Images of England series, is now on sale at both the Westhoughton and Bolton Central libraries, and at local bookshops.

2.30pm Black Christmas 1910 -- The Pretoria Pit Disaster by Brian Clare, a Westhoughton Town Councillor and former Mayor of the town. He is also a well known poet, and an authority on the Pretoria Pit disaster; he will be looking at the main events.

LANCASHIRE'S worst pit disaster and Britain's third largest loss of life from a single mining accident, happened at the No. 3 Bank Pit belonging to the Hulton Colliery Company. The pit, known as the Pretoria Pit, was situated on Hulton Park Land, on the border of Westhougton and Atherton.

At 7.50am, on the morning of Wednesday, December 21, 1910, there was an explosion 300 yards below the surface, which was heard up to four miles away. The full day shift had just begun, and 898 men and boys were working below ground at that time.

Mr Alfred Tonge, the general manager, who lived two miles away, heard the explosion and made his way to the mine, arriving at 8.20am. After repairs to the winding gear, together with other men he entered the mine. They descended without breathing apparatus, and at great risk to themselves. They and others received medals for their bravery during the rescue operation.

During the day 553 miners were brought to the surface from other levels, but there were only two survivors from the level where the explosion occurred, and by close of day there was considered little hope for the 336 men and boys still trapped.

The task of recovering the bodies began, and the first funeral was on Christmas Eve. On Boxing Day 43 funerals took place, hence the title of Brian Clare's talk -- Black Christmas.

The first inquests were held in the engine house, and later at the Carnegie Hall. On February 20, the Home Office enquiry opened and lasted 18 days. The major consequence was the passing of the 1911 Coal Mines Regulation Act, which included many of the recommendations of the Enquiry, improving the standard of safety in Britain's coal mines.

The Disaster devastated Westhoughton. Of the 344 victims 72 were from Bolton, mostly Daubhill, 23 from Atherton, but the rest were from Westhoughton and its districts, including 33 from Chequerbent, 23 from Daisy Hill, and 22 from Wingates.

An appeal fund generated £138,000 before being closed on January 7, 1911. There is a memorial in Westhoughton Parish Churchyard, and each year a memorial service is held.

On Thursday, December 7, there will be a similar day at Westhoughton Library. On display will be artefacts, photographs, and documents relating to the disaster. The library has an extensive collection of unique items including a watch recovered from the mine, and stopped at 7.50am, the time of the explosion. A comprehensive bibliography of items in the collection is available from the library.

Talks at Westhoughton Library on Thursday, December 7:

2pm -- Brian Clare will be repeating his talk entitled Black Christmas -- The Pretoria Pit Disaster.

3pm -- Lois Basnett, an authority on the history of the town, and a member of the Westhoughton Local History Group, will be giving a talk entitled Episodes in Westhoughton's history.

In the evening at 7.45pm, Ken Beevers will again be giving a slide illustrated talk from photographs in the library collection, about Pretoria and other aspects of the town.

In the spring of 2001, when hopefully the weather is better, the library service will be organising a guided walk to the area of the pit, and other places with associations with the disaster. Look out for information about this in the library and in the Bolton Evening News early next year.