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Mines Rescue

List of Disasters

Mines Rescue


List of Disasters

More information is available when you see the blue button Just click on it

To be classified as a disaster, an accident or explosion at a mine has to claim at least ten lives.

There has been a disaster
For more info on this picture visit the Haig Colliery Mining Museum

It was in the 19th century, particularly in the second half of that period, and in the early years of the 20th century, that the largest number of very serious disasters occurred and, indeed, rarely a year went by without such an occurrence.
The list below is not comprehensive but it does give an insight into the terrible carnage reaped on miners through the ages.


I am notorious for getting details wrong, if you see a mistake
please feel free to email me. Thank you

Details of many of the Scottish accidents can be found at the
Scottish Mining Villages

1708 - Fatfield Colliery, 69 die
1743 - Bensham Colliery, 80 die
1767 - Fatfield Colliery,
39 die
1773 - Chartershaugh Colliery,
23 die
1794 - Picktree Colliery,
30 die
1805 - Oxclose Colliery, Washington, 38 die
1805 - Hebburn Colliery near Paisley, 35 die
1805, 22 April, Hurlet,
13 killed by an explosion
1812 Felling explosion.
A coal dust explosion, 92 men and boys were killed, the boys being 7 and 8 years of age.
1817, 1 March, Leadhills, 7 suffocated
1830, February, Whifflet, Old Monkland, 5 killed in explosion
1830, 27 July, Bannockburn, 6 killed in fall
1835, 18th June, Church Pit, or Russell's old Wallsend, 102 killed in gas explosion

1839, 12 August, Housewoodhill, Barrhead,
1841, 16 March, Quarter, Hamilton, 11 killed in explosion
1841 - Willington, 32 lives lost
1843, Broadsfield Colliery in Fenton. A firedamp explosion occurred in which 9 lives were lost.
1844, September. Haswell Colliery. 95 men were killed in a massive explosion.
1845 - Jarrow Colliery, 39 lives lost
1846, 28 September, Bogle Hole Colliery Tollcross,
6 killed in explosion
1849, 13 August, Wishaw Colliery, 9 killed in firedamp explosion

1849 - Hebburn, 31 lives lost
1850, 23 July, Commonhead, Airdrie,
18 killed in explosion
1850, 6 December, Netherton Colliery, Maryhill, 5 killed
1851, 15 March, Victoria Pit, Nitshill, 63 killed
1853, 29 November, Cowdenbeath Colliery, 5 killed in fall

1855, December 2 - Elemore Near Hetton, 28 lives lost
1855 24th May. Oldfield Colliery
in Fenton, North Staffordshire 7 killed and several injured by an explosion.
1857 - Lundhill Explosion, - Firedamp explosion, 189 lives lost
1860 - Burradon Disaster, 76 lives lost
1861, 7 August, Dykehead, near Hamilton, 12 killed by fire
1861. Clay Cross Colliery. 11th June, mine flooded, twenty three lives lost.
1862 - Hartley Colliery collapse Near Blyth 204 lives lost

1862, 16th January, New Hartley Pit Disaster.
204 killed, including children as young as 10. (Thanks to Jon Archer for putting me right on this date)
1866 - Pelton Disaster, 24 lives lost
1866, Talke o' the Hill. 13th Dec
89 men and boys were killed in an explosion.
1866, Oaks Colliery near Barnsley Oak disaster Two explosions killed 361 men and boys.
1870,Sheriff Pit, Silverdale ,
an explosion occurred at Sheriff Pit, which killed 19 men.
1871. Rennishaw Park. 10th January,
explosion, twenty seven killed, twelve injured.
1871, 6th. September. Moss Colliery Disaster.

1874, Underwood Pit, 12th April Philip's Great Grandfather, John Smith lost his life on the Sunday , aged 22 years, trying to rescue a pony during a pit fire.

1875, 30th April, Bunker's Hill Colliery
43 miners killed by an explosion
1875, 6th December, Swaithe Main disaster
killed 143 miners
1877, 22 October, Blantyre, more than 200 killed in explosion
1878, 5 March, Blantyre, 6 killed
1878, 8 March, Barrwood, Kilsyth, 17 killed by fire and explosion

1878, 7th June, Wood Pit. Haydock, Lancashire. at least 204 killed by an explosion
1878, 11th September, Prince of Wales, Abercarn. 325 men and boys working underground when a massive explosion ripped through the workings,
1880, 21 Jan, Leycette, Fair Lady Pit Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by shot firing 62 killed
1879, 2 July, Blantyre, 28 killed
1880, Seaham Colliery
explosion and fire, 164 men lost their lives
1881, 7th Feb, Chatterley Whitfield Colliery Explosion Twenty-one persons were
1882. 7th November, Parkhouse Colliery,Catty Pit
as it was better known. explosion, forty five lives lost.
1882, February 16
- Trimdon Grange disaster 74 lives lost
1882, April 18 - Tudhoe Blast 35 lives lost

1886, 2nd of Dec at 2.55 a.m., Explosion at Elemore Colliery
, near Hetton, in the county of Durham, causing the death of 28 persons.
1886, Altoft Colliery in Yorkshire, coal dust explosion, loss of 22 lives

1887, 28 May, Udston, near Hamilton
73 killed in fire damp explosion
1889, 5 September, Mauricewood, Penicuik , near Edinburgh 63 killed by fire

1889, 16th October Mossfield Colliery Explosion, 64 were killed along with 16 pit ponies.
1893,11th of April, Great Western Colliery, the Rhondda Valley
63 lost their lives.
1895,14th January, Diglake Colliery in North Staffordshire
with the loss of 77 lives.
1895, 11th November. Winning Colliery,
explosion, seven lives lost.
1896, April 13, Brancepeth, 20 lives lost
1899, August 15, Brandon Pit, 6 lives lost

1901, 24th May, Universal, Senghenydd, Glamorgan, 81 killed.
1901, 15 February, Hill of Beath,
Fife 7 killed by fire
1901, 26 August, Donibristle, 8 killed

1904, Boythorpe Lane Colliery, 20th October, explosion.
1905, 10th March, Cambrian
. Clydach Vale, Glamorgan 33 killed.
1905, 11th July, National, Wattstown, Glamorgan
119 killed.
1906 Courrieres, Pas-de-Calais, Northern France 1,099 killed. Coal dust explosion
1906, 14th October, Wingate Grange, Durham
25 killed.
1907, 15th November Barrow Colliery, Barnsley, 7 persons killed and 9 injured
1907 Hoyland Silkstone Colliery, Barnsley
1908 Glebe Colliery Washington.
1908 Hamstead Colliery, Birmingham.
1908 Norton Hill Colliery, Midsomer Norton.
1908 Maypole Colliery, Wigan.

1908, Feb 20 - Washington Glebe, Disaster 14 lives lost
1908, 4th March, Hamstead, Staffordshire
25 killed.
1908, 18th August, Maypole, Wigan, Lancashire
76 killed.
1909, 16th February, West Stanley, Durham
168 killed.
1909, 29th October, Darran, Glamorgan
27 killed.
1909, 10 December, Caprington, near Kilmarnock, 10 killed by inrush of water
1910, 19 January, Hattonrigg, Bellshill, 8 killed in fall

1910, 11th May, Wellington, Whitehaven, Cumberland 136 killed.
1910, 4th December, Kemberton Pit, Shropshire
7 killed.
1910, 21st December, Pretoria Pit at Westhoughton, Lancashire
344 killed.
1911, Southgate Colliery, 22nd November, cage accident, three killed, nine injured.
1912, 9th July, Cadeby Main, Yorkshire
88 killed.
1913, 3 August, Cadder, near Bishopbriggs, 22 killed by fire
1913, 14th October, Universal, Senghenydd, Glamorgan
439 killed.
1914, 30th May, Wharncliffe-Silkstone (Tankersley, Barnsley) Colliery, 11 persons killed and 4 injured.
Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by faulty electrical equipment on coal cutting machine.
1915, 15th January, Minnie Pit, Podmore Hall, Staffordshire
9 killed.
1915, 25th February, New Hem Heath, Chesterton
12 killed.
1916, 26 April, Neilsland Colliery, Hamilton, 5 killed by roof fall
1918, 12th January, Minnie Pit, Podmore Hall, Staffordshire
155 killed.
1918, 9 July, Stanrigg Colliery, near Airdrie,
19 killed
1919. Oxcroft Colliery. 6th April,
six killed, seven injured.
1919, 20th October, Levant Tin Mine, Cornwall
31 killed.
1922, Whittington Opencast. 22nd June,
3 men gassed, two died.
1922, 5th September, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland No.1.
39 killed.
1923, 28th July, Maltby, Yorkshire
27 killed.
1923, 25th September, Redding, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
40 killed.
1925, 30th March, View Pit, Montagu Colliery, Northumberland
38 killed.
1925, 18th December, Birchenwood, Kidsgrove, Staffordshire
7 killed.
1927, 1st March, Marine, Monmouthshire
52 killed.
1927, 13th December, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland No.2.
4 killed.
1928, 3rd January, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland No.3.
14 killed.
1928, Wallsend Colliery, 10th January,
explosion.
1928, 12th. February, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland. 13 killed. (explosion).
1928, 28th. November. Wernbwll Colliery. 7 killed. (explosion).
1929, 18th. March. Coombs Wood Colliery
. 8 killed. (fire).
1929, 10th. July. Milfraen Colliery, Blaenavon. 9 killed. (explosion).
1930, 24th. February. Wath Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 7 killed. (explosion).
1930, 26th. February. Lyme Pit, Lancashire. 5 killed. (explosion).
1930, 10th. March. Allerton Bywater Colliery, Yorkshire. 5 killed. (explosion).
1930, 30th. August. Auchinraith Colliery. 6 killed. (explosion).
1930, 1st. October. Grove Colliery,(Brownhills), Staffordshire. 14 killed. (explosion).
1930, 12th. December. Houghton Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 7 killed. (explosion).

1931, 29th January, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland No.4. 27 killed.
1931, 20th November, Bentley, Yorkshire
45 killed.
1931, 31 October, Bowhill Colliery, Cardenden, 10 killed in explosion
1931, November, Bowhill Colliery. Scotland.
10 killed. (explosion)
1932, 25th. January. Llwynypia (Scotch) Colliery, Glamorgan.
11 killed. (explosion).
1932, 10th. October. Bickershaw, No. 3 Pit, Lancashire. 19 killed. (shaft accident).

1932, 12th November, Edge Green Number 9, Garswood Hall, Lancashire 27 killed.
1932, 16th. November. Cardowan Colliery.
11 killed. (explosion).
1932, 20th November, Bentley Colliery Disaster, -
Explosion, 45 Men Died
1933, 16th. May. West Cannock Colliery, Staffordshire.
6 killed. (explosion).
1933, Grassmoor Colliery, 19th November,
explosion, fourteen killed, eight injured.
1934, 22nd September, Gresford, Denbighshire
265 killed.
1934, 26th. July. Bilsthorpe Colliery, Nottinghamshire.
9 killed. (explosion).
1935, Glapwell Colliery. 10th September,
six trapped, one died, three hospitalised.
1935, 12th. September. North Gawber (Lidgett), Yorkshire
. 19 killed. (explosion).
1936, 21 March, Bardykes, near Glasgow, 5 killed by roof fall
1936, 6th August, Wharncliffe, Woodmoore Colliery, Yorkshire 58 killed.
1937, Winterbank Pit, (Wincobank) South Normanton,Derbyshire 15th February, explosion,
7 killed, 4 injured, one died later. (Thanks to Albert Cosford for this information)
1937, 21st January, Markham No.1 (Blackshale) Derbyshire
9 killed.
1937, 2nd July, Holditch, Staffordshire
30 killed.
1937. Turnoak Colliery, 10th October,
seven boys injured after throwing a firework down the shaft.
1938, 30th. January. Dumbreck Colliery.
9 killed. (fire).
1938, Markham Nol Colliery, 10th May,Markham
explosion seventy nine lives Lost, thirty eight injured.
1938. Creswell Colliery. 2nd June,
tub train accident, 3 died and a number injured.
1939, 28th October, Valleyfield, Fife
35 killed.
1939, Warsop Main Colliery. December 20th,
1,850 ton of roof collapsed and crushed 6 men to death.
1940, 21st March, Mossfield, Longton
11 killed.
1940, 4th. December. Sacriston Colliery, Durham.
5 killed. (fall of stone).
1941, 3rd. June. William Pit, Durham.
12 killed. (explosion).
1941, 5 June, Lindsay Colliery, Kelty,
3 killed in roof fall
1941, 29th. July. Crigglestone Colliery, Yorkshire.
22 killed. (explosion)
1942, 1st January, Sneyd, Staffordshire 57 killed.
1942, 16th. February. Barnsley Main Colliery, Yorkshire.
13 killed. (explosion).
1942, 26th. June. Murton Colliery, Durham.
13 killed. (explosion).
1945, 4th March. Manvers Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 5 killed. (explosion).
1945 Royal Air Force storage depot Fauld Commendation
1946, 9th. December. Harrington No. 10, Workington. Durham.
15 killed. (explosion).
1947, 10th. January. Burngrange Colliery. Nos. 1 and 2. 15 Killed. (explosion).
1947, 7th. May. Barnsley Main Colliery, Yorkshire.
9 killed. (explosion).
1947, 15th August, William Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland 104 killed.
1947, 22nd. August. Louisa Pit, Stanley. Durham.
22 killed. (explosion).
1947, 9th. September. Ingham Colliery, Yorkshire.
12 killed. (explosion).
1949, Bolsover Colliery. April 15th,
Mystery explosion, three men killed, two severely injured.
1949, Lyme Colliery in Lancashire.
Explosion 2 Boothstown Rescue Station men killed
1950, 7th. September. Knockshinnoch Castle
13 killed by the inrush of water and 116 men were entombed. Song by (R.Hunter/D.McClymont) Castledean Music(c) 2000
1950, 26th September Creswell Colliery, Memorial
Derbyshires worst pit fire. 80 killed.
1951, 29th May, Easington, Durham 81 killed.
1951, 06 Jul Eppleton
Explosion 9 killed.
1951, 01 Oct Weetslade Colliery
Explosion 18 killed.
1951, 31 Oct Killingworth
1954, 13th January. Glyncorrwg Colliery, Afan Valley.
No one was killed but around 24 were burned.

1955, 6th. September. Blaenhirwaun Colliery. 6 killed. (explosion).
1957, 21st. February. Sutton Colliery, Nottinghamshire. 5 killed. (explosion).
1957, 26th. June. Barnburgh Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 6 killed. (explosion).
1957, 19th. November. Kames Colliery, Ayr. 17 killed. (explosion).
1957, 14th. December. Lindsay Colliery, Fife. 9 killed. (explosion).
1959, 22nd. April. Walton Colliery, Yorkshire. 5 killed. (explosion).
1959, 18th September, Auchengeich, Lanarkshire, 47 killed.
1959, 10th. October. Bickershaw Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, Lancashire.
5 killed. (explosion).
1960, 28th June, Six Bells, Monmouthshire
45 killed.
1962, 22nd. March. Hapton Valley Colliery.
19 killed.
1962, 12th. April. Tower Colliery, Hirwaun.
9 killed. (explosion).
1965, 17th May, Cambrian, Glamorgan
31 killed.
1966, Lynemouth Colliery
1966, Silverwood Disaster, 10 men, including my father, were killed in a paddy mail accident Regards Ken Orton
1966, 21st. October. The Aberfan Disaster. 144 killed, 116 were children.
1973. Markham Pit disaster
30th July 1973. 18 miners were killed and 11 seriously injued.
1967, 9th. September. Michael Colliery, Fife. 9 killed. (fire).
1971, 6th April, Cynheidre Colliery, Five Roads Nr. Llanelli, 6 killed. (outburst of coal/firedamp).
1973, Lofthouse Colliery disaster. 7 killed due to an inrush from old workings.
1973, 10th. May. Seafield Colliery, Fife.
5 killed. (fall of roof).
1973, 30th. July, Markham No2 Colliery, Derbyshire.
cage accident, 18 killed. ( 12 severely injured.)
1975, 12th. June, Houghton Main, Yorkshire.
5 killed. (explosion). More information on Pete's site, 'Yorkshire Main Colliery'
1978, 21st. November. Bentley Colliery, Yorkshire.
7 killed. (manriding train derailment). More information on Pete's site, 'Yorkshire Main Colliery'
1979, 18th. March. Golborne Colliery, Lancashire.
10 killed. (explosion)



Glossary of Terms