South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 1 May 1849.

Dartford Petty sessions, Saturday.

Henry Benham, landlord of the Harrow, at Eynsford, was summoned for having his house open during afternoon divine service, having 9 persons in the Parlour and through the tap room.

Fined £2 and costs.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 23 January 1866.

EYNSFORD. Shocking Death.

On Friday afternoon an inquest was held before C. J. Carttar, Esq., coroner, at the “Harrow” public-house, on the body of Mary Ann Morgan, a married woman, aged 53, but who did not live with her husband. She was employed in the paper mill here, belonging to Mr. Fellow’s, and on Wednesday afternoon, told one of the other workwomen that she was very dry, and must have some water. She then went to another part of the mill, but where the females are forbidden to go where there was a small cistern. Close by was a portion of the machinery of the mill, and as she was stooping, her dress, which was expanded by a large crinoline, was caught in the revolving shaft, which was only a few inches from the ground. She was drawn down, and falling across the shaft, her head was twisted round and her neck was broken. Mr. Bowers, the manager, who had only left that portion of the mill for a moment, saw the unfortunate woman on his return; he ran immediately to stop the water wheel, but she was dead, and her clothes were tightly drawn round the shaft. The coroner wished to know from Mr. Bowers why the females were permitted to wear crinolines in the mill, as on entering one of the rooms he saw that they were all wearing it. The wearing of crinoline in the mill had been forbidden by Mr. Joynson, of St. Mary Cray, and he thought such a rule should be adopted there. He had had a great deal of experience in some of the largest establishments where machinery was, and he must say he was never in any place where it was more exposed than in that mill, and the fact that it was dangerous was proved by the owner having placed a covering at the shaft where the accident occurred. It the mill was placed under Government inspection, a very considerable outlay would have to be made, and the cost of properly protecting the machinery would be less than the expenses of burying that poor woman. The jury returned a verdict that her death was caused by being crushed in machinery, owing to the same not having been properly protected. Mr. Bowers said he could answer that everything that was necessary for future protection should be done.