Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1870 & 79

David Davies (Killed at work) (1856 - 1870)


David Davies was a 13 year old boy, working at the dye works of *Messrs John Worral and Son, Ordsall Lane, Salford, when he was killed in the machinery on 1st February 1870.

 

The Salford Weekly News of 5th February 1870 records "A dreadful fatality occurred at the Dye Works of Messrs John Worral and Son on Tuesday morning. A youth named David Davies, age 13, of 5, Howell Street, was engaged in piecing a strap which drives the machine he was minding. He had the strap off the drum on the driving shaft and the lower part wrapped around his leg to hold it whilst lacing it. The strap seems to have been so slack that it doubled around the shaft and drew the lad up by the leg. He was whirled around the shaft and dashed against the ceiling many times before the engine could be stopped. When disentangled, the boy was found to be in a shockingly mangled mess. His head, face and limbs were utterly smashed and his remains were wrapped up and taken away."

 

An Inquest was held on Wednesday morning 2nd February before Mr F.Price, Coroner at the Ordsall Inn, Ordsall Lane. Evidence was given to the effect that the boy had been repeatedly cautioned against interfering with the straps whilst the machinery was in motion and had been threatened to be sent home for the same thing. The jury found a verdict of Accidental Death.

 

The funeral was held on Friday 4th February and David was interred in a common grave in plot B26 in the Church of England portion of Weaste Cemetery. The Reverend Thomas Snow officiated.

 

*I'm indebted to Mr V.I.Tomlinson for the following. J & J M Worrall originated in 1768 and transferred to Ordsall Dyeworks in 1792, where they expanded to become the largest velvet dyers and printers in the world, fostering every phase in the growth and development of the velveteen industry. Cotton velvets were eventually to bear comparison with the best silk velvets and most of the improvements were initiated at Ordsall Lane. The company focussed on manufacture, not on merchanting and finally became part of English Velvets Ltd and closed in 1964.