Swannington Heritage Trust held a Ceremony to unveil a Memorial to the three miners who lost their lives on October 8 1863, at its Califat mine site. Lady Gretton, the recently appointed Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire and also President of LOROS, unveiled the Memorial Tablets. The Ceremony will took place at 12.30 p.m. on Sunday, March 30th at Califat spinney, near the Trust's Hough Windmill, which was opened for visitors beginning the new season.

In the autumn of 1863 the community of the district around the village of Swannington was suddenly alerted to a mine disaster in its midst. Water, held up in the abandoned workings of Limby Colliery, broke into the Califat mine and rapidly inundated the underground workings. The residents were fearful for the lives of the miners and, despite valiant efforts of recovery, it was found that six men and 26 horses were feared lost. During the following day rescuers found Frank Doman, Joseph Marsden and Thomas Bird, junior, all alive but sadly the body of Harry Clements, aged 16, was found drowned. The bodies of Thomas Bird and Jeremiah Rose, a carpenter, were found later, both having suffocated. Rose was in a sitting position with Bird's head resting on his lap. The Trust would like to contact descendants of the victims. If you are a descendent and wish to make contact phone Denis Baker on 01530-222330 or e-mail: denis.baker@which.net.