Explosion at Birchenwood
There was an explosion at Birchenwood colliery, North Staffordshire on the 18th December 1925 causing the deaths of seven men and injuring another seven.

Broadfield Colliery 1843
In July, 1843, a firedamp explosion occurred in which 9 lives were lost at Broadfield Colliery in Fenton, North Staffordshire, located in what is now known as the Fenton industrial estate.

Burley Pit No.1 Apedale 1878
It was feared that up to 30 lives were lost between 1.30 pm. and 1.45 pm. on 27th March 1878.

Burley Pit, Explosion 1885
On Saturday morning, the 20th of June 1885, a terrible explosion of gas resulted in the loss of nine lives.

Diglake Colliery Flooding 1895,
One of the many hazards faced by miners is water, and no way could this be more emphasised than the flooding of Diglake Colliery in North Staffordshire on 14th January, 1895, with the loss of 77 lives.

Fair Lady Pit Explosion 1879
Four men and a lad were killed and three men were seriously injured; they died soon after

Fair Lady Pit Explosion 1883
Mr. Sawyer Inspector was astonished to find that his warning had been unheeded

Golden Hill Colliery Explosion 1872
The jury, after deliberating for a long time, returned a verdict of accidental death. They strongly recommended that the proprietors should have the pits properly ventilated.

Harriseahead Inrush of Water March 1924.
Pit Flooded at Harriseahead. Lucky Escape for 72 Miners.

Extract from Diary of Joseph Hudsby, Colliery official from Adderley Green Colliery
Part of the Minor Disasters section. Most miners killed in accidents pass by nearly unnoticed.

Ivy House Colliery 20th Feb 1873
Part of the Minor Disasters section. Most miners killed in accidents pass by nearly unnoticed.

Knowls Pit No. 3 Accident 1843
The spur wheel broke, as a result four men were hurled out of the shaft, and killed.
Lillydale Colliery 1881
The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Mr Perrins, manager of the colliery

Minnie Pit Explosion 1915.
The service at Halmerend Wesleyan Church stopped as the congregation hurried to the scene of the disaster.

Minnie Pit Disaster 1918
This pit will ever be remembered as the most infamous in the North Staffordshire coal field due to the heavy loss of life it incurred.
List of Names and photographs of memorial service.
Memories from the Minnie Pit Explosion 1918

Mossfield Colliery Explosion 1940
The explosion occurred shortly after 1a.m. on Thursday, 21st March, in the third hour of the night shift of Wednesday.

Nabbs Pit Silverdale May 1854
A lamentable accident four dead and one seriously injured.

New Hem Heath Colliery Fire 1915 - The pit was a small one, employing about 120 workmen and at the time of the accident about 21 men were in the colliery.

Norton Colliery Explosion 1912. Suddenly, and without warning the shaft was shattered by a thunderous roar from below.

Oldfield Explosion 1855
On Friday morning May 24th at about 10 am. A most terrible explosion took place at Oldfield colliery in Fenton, North Staffordshire belonging to W. H. Sparrow.

Over-Winding 'Big Pit'
Far Green Hanley. On the 5th November 1859 the cage was not stopped at the mouth of the pit.

Sneyd Colliery 1st January 1942
Their deaths were not caused by enemy action but by a horrific underground explosion. Includes list of dead

Talke o' the Hill Explosion Dec 1866.
About 11.30 a.m., an explosion of gas took place. A minute later 89 men and boys were corpses strewed in all directions; 14 horses were struck dead, and their stables were on fire.

Talke o' the Hill Explosion 1901
An explosion occurred about 7.30 p.m., on the 27th May 1901 and caused the death of four persons, along with twenty-seven horses and ponies.

Trubshaw colliery an explosion in 1846 killed 3 men.

John Wedgwood Esq., Proprietor of Bignall Hill Colliery

White Barn Colliery Explosion 1874.
About six o'clock, a quantity of gas, which, had accumulated in the mine, exploded with terrific force killing one man and seriously injuring six.

Apedale Footrail Inrush 1923
An inrush of water and blackdamp occurred about 10.30 on the 25th April 1923 in the Great Row seam of Apedale Footrail, in North Staffordshire, belonging to the Midland Coal and Coke Co. Ltd.

Bignall Hill 1836
Explosion of firedamp, 11 men lost their lives.

Bignall Hill 1874
17 men lost their lives, caused by the use of naked lights in a fiery seam

Apedale Water Mill Colliery
In response to a question by Kelly.

Berry Hill Explosion 1872
That was the exact place to put the candle if they wanted it to explode.
Bunker's Hill Colliery 1875
There were 43 miners killed by an explosion at Bunker's Hill Colliery on April 30th 1875.
Mr. Wynne, HMI, says: For more than 20 years I have been pointing out what a farce it is, to prohibit the use of naked lights in mines, and yet allow powder to be used for blasting.

Bycars Colliery 1859 There was sensation in the court. The coroner told him that he could hardly find terms sufficiently strong to mark his indignation at his conduct.

Chesterton Colliery 4th July 1873
Part of the Minor Disasters section. Most miners killed in accidents pass by nearly unnoticed.

Felling Explosion 1812,
From now on the Reverend John Hodgson was determined to fight apathy or ignorance and stir up public concern for such wanton loss of human life. Through his persistence the Sunderland Society was formed. Among whom was Dr W.R. Clanny (1776 - 1850) who had been conducting experiments in his attempt to produce a safety lamp, and George Stevenson the father of Britains railways.

Grove Colliery Part of the Minor Disasters section. Most miners killed in accidents pass by nearly unnoticed.

Holditch Coliery Explosion, 2nd July, 1937
On the morning of the 2nd July, 1937, two coal cutter men, Herman Payne and Wm. Beardmore, at about 5.45 a.m. were cutting along the face with the machine when Beardmore, who was shovelling away the coal cuttings, saw a flame which seemed to run round with the picks for a moment then extended under the cut coal.

Hommer Ironstone Pit
Part of the Minor Disasters section. Most miners killed in accidents pass by nearly unnoticed.

Jamage Pit Explosion
25th Nov. 1911
Jamage Pit Explosion
5th January 1876

Leycett Colliery Explosion 1880
An explosion occurred at Leycett, North Staffordshire, on Wednesday 21st January 1880, which will rank among the great colliery disasters of a district, too famous for such disasters.
Leycett Colliery Explosion 1871
Still there is much to complain of in the way mines that are liable to give off explosive gases are carried on.

Meadow Pit Accident 5 Killed
(Adderley Green. July 1860) A colliery rule required that the empty cage be lowered and drawn up before any of the workmen are permitted to go down. This rule was totally disregarded.

Mossfield Colliery Explosion, 1889
On October 16th 1889, 64 miners at Mossfield Colliery became a statistics. But one must remember that each one of those who died in this tragic incident was a major disaster in itself to some one, - wife, mother, brother or sister.

Sheriff Pit, Silverdale 1870
On 7th July 1870 an explosion occurred at Sheriff Pit, which killed 19 men. The pit was situated near the blast furnace about half a mile from the village of Silverdale.

Sheriff Pit Explosion 1872 killed eight workmen, injured eight more and caused considerable damage to the the mine. by John Lumsdon.

Sheriff Pit Explosion 1876. The men often called it the "slaughter shop"

Sladder Hill Pit Explosion 1821
About eight o'clock in the morning four men and five youths were at work in the pit, when the inflammable gas came in contact with the flame of the candle.

Sladder Hill Pit Explosion 1891
The eight men and two boys, who had been at work when the explosion occurred, were found killed in their working places.

Slappenfield Pit
A shocking accident occurred in the Bullhurst seam in the Slappenfield Pit killing Samuel Sprontson. 1879

Talk o' th' Hill 1873
The jury recommended more efficient firemen be employed.

Whitfield Colliery
Explosion on 7th Feb 1881 at the of the Chatterley Iron & Coal Company, near Hanley, North Staffordshire.Researched by John Lumsdon.

Miners At World War
During World War I miners often dug tunnels, and placed mines in them.