John and Elizabeth Lakin

John Lakin opened Staunton Colliery in 1885 to the west of Newbold. James Richards is recorded as being the under-manager in 1887. The mine was located at the bottom of Pipeyard Lane. The colliery was well positioned to take advantage of access to the Ashby to Derby railway although it was beset with problems soon after its opening.

Ref Staunton, Worthington Colliery | Griffydamhistory and 2-Leicestershire Coalfield

John Lakin’s wife inherited the mine and continued to operate it with James Richards. The colliery employed around 30 workers and in 1896 James Richards is still referenced as the colliery’s manager. It is thought that the Lakin family sold the colliery to the Leicestershire and Colliery Pipe Company by the end of the nineteenth century and it was renamed Worthington Colliery.

Many of the Lakin family are buried in Griffydam cemetery.

The location of Staunton Colliery was close to the Thringstone Fault. At this location, coal seams were difficult to mine because of the steepness of the strata and there were many hollows underground that were filled with water and gas. On the 6th Oct 1886, John Lakin, together with his two sons William and George, and pony driver John Stewart aged 14, were all killed after being overcome by choke-damp or black-damp. Choke damp had reduced the available oxygen content of air and a mixture of gasses overcame the four unfortunate individuals.