The proprietors of Flowery Field Colliery were Messrs Samuel Swire and Henry Lees. The 1847 Tithe map for Newton records that the farmstead at Newton Hall was rented by Samuel Swire and Henry Lees from the landowner,
Francis Duckenfield Palmer Astley.

Between 50 and 60 men and boys were employed at the colliery in 1842 and when the explosion occurred at about 11:00am there were 26 workmen underground. The explosion happened at a point that was about 200 yards away from the far end of the colliery in the Black Mine (seam) and this was followed shortly afterwards by a rumbling and then flames appearing at the mouth of the shaft.

Several hours elapsed before it was considered safe enough to go down the colliery and start a search and rescue operation. By this time two surgeons, Doctors Tinker and Potter, were on hand to give what help they could.

The 17 miners who died were:

• Flowery Field Colliery
• John ASPINALL, 15 years. Miner.
• John ASPINALL, 44 years. Miner.
• John BOWKER, 47 years. Miner. Left a widow and eight children.
• William BOWKER, 17 years. Eldest of nine children.
• James BRUCKSHAW, 12 years. Burnt and suffocated.
• Samuel DERBYSHIRE, 16 years. Son of the head banksman, he died from suffocation.
• Robert DOWNING, 17 years. Taken from the colliery alive but died 12 hours later.
• Adam GILL, 41 years. Miner. Left a widow and four children, the eldest 11 years and the youngest 8 years.
• William GRIMSHAW, 52 years. Left a widow and one child.
• John HARDY, 33 years. Miner.
• James LEES, 11 years.
• James OLDFIELD, 13 years. Eldest of six children who was scorched and bruised.
• William RAGG, 16 years. Eldest of nine children.
• Robert UNWIN, 19 years.
• John WILD, 42 years. Miner. Was shoeing a mule in the stables at the time of the explosion and was killed when the roof fell on him.
• Thomas WILLIAMS, 14 years. Showed only a slight injury to his forehead.
• William WILLIAMS, 17 years. Killed by afterdamp.

The injured miners were:

• Henry BRADSHAW
• James DUNK
• William HURST
• Joseph MODAY
• Joseph MERRICK
• Robert MERRICK
• Thomas MERRICK

The inquest was held on the 11 Apr 1842 at the White Hart Hotel on Old Rd, Flowery Field, not far from the scene of the accident. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict that, “We all agree that it was accidental death with no blame to anyone.” The landlord at the time was John Sowerbutts.

The stone-built White Hart Hotel stood on Old Rd near White Hart St. It opened in c.1833 and it closed in 2002 to be demolished in 2007.