Gallery - Local Area

Ravens Lane

Ravens Lane begins where Boon Hill Road meets Bignall Hill. It continues west towards Audley village. In 1895, many of the men and boys living on Ravens Lane and the streets off it (Hope Street, Tibb Street, Diglake Street, Albert St, Chapel Street) would have worked at Diglake Colliery. Much of the housing to the south of Ravens Lane is relatively modern.

At least four of the 77 victims lived along Ravens Lane itself:
Fred Johnson, 35 year old father of three and a fireman on the East 7-foot seam
Frederick Henry Taylor 27 year old father of one and collier on the East 10-foot seam
John Brough, 38 year old father of six and collier on the East 7-foot seam
John Elsby, 47 year old father of six and contractor of the East 7-foot seam

Two lived on Diglake Street:
George Henry Fox 13 year old hooker-on on the East 7-foot seam
Richard Taylor 19 year old loader on the East 7-foot seam

Twelve lived on Chapel Street:
David Spord, 62 year old father of six and collier on the West 8-foot seam
George Walter Spord, 26 year old father of two and son of David (above); loader on the West 8-foot
George Beech, 27 year old father of four and roadman on the West 8-foot seam
George Carter, 40 year old father of five and collier on the East 7-foot seam
George Pover and James Pover, 13 and 15 year old brothers, hooker-on and jigger on the East 7-foot seam
John Beckett, 22 year old loader on the East 7-foot seam
Peter Taylor 36 year old father of seven and collier on the East 7-foot seam
Richard William Johnson, 20 year old loader on the West 8-foot seam
Samuel Crosby, 18 year old engine driver on the West 8-foot seam
Samuel Mayer, 17 year old driver on the West 8-foot seam
William Roberts, 35 year old Welshman and father of three, and loader on the East 7-foot seam

John Blurton,16 year old taker-off on the East 7-foot seam, lived on Albert Street.

Edwin Henry Webb 35 year old father of seven and collier on the East 10-foot seam lived on Hope Street.

Ravens Lane from the junction with Boon Hill (2006, BrendaG)

Ravens Lane (2006, BrendaG) with the old railway embankment on the left.

Ravens Lane, with New Road leading to Audley ahead and Chapel Street bearing off to the right (2006 BrendaG)

Chapel Street, off Ravens Lane, is in the centre of the picture, looking east towards the Wedgewood Monument (on the hill beyond) (2006 BrendaG)

Ravens Lane with Diglake Street on the right and Chapel Street beyond (2006 BrendaG)

Hope Street, off Ravens Lane (2006 BrendaG)