Disasters

Explosions, floods, collapses and other major incidents at UK mines — including significant post-closure incidents in abandoned workings. Each record is researched to the same standard as a mine or terminology entry, not just a casualty count.

The 100 disasters most recently added, of 874, newest first.

Disaster	Date	Type	Region	Fatalities
Westleigh Colliery cage accident, 1896 A few minutes before six on 20 February 1896 the engineman at Westleigh Colliery, Leigh, started the engine the wrong way with eight men in the cage. The cage was drawn into the headgear, released by its safety hook, and fell 370 yards when the catches failed to hold it. All eight died.	20 February 1896	Winding / Shaft Accident	Greater Manchester	8
Kirkless Hall Colliery explosion, 1847 About one o'clock on 28 June 1847, at the Higher Patricroft or Kirkless Hall Colliery on the canal between Ince and Aspull, a fire started by a miner's shot in the coal led to an explosion of firedamp. Thirteen died and about thirty were injured.	28 June 1847	Explosion	Greater Manchester	13
Victoria Colliery 'Deep Drop' explosion, 1879 Soon after ten on the night of 4 March 1879 firedamp exploded in the west bord of the Silkstone or 'Deep Drop' pit, 475 yards deep, at Robert Hudson and Co.'s Victoria Colliery, Stanley, near Wakefield. Twenty-one died; the jury found the gas fired at a naked light.	4 March 1879	Explosion	West Yorkshire	21
Sutton Colliery explosion, 1957 At about 11.30 on 21 February 1957 a stone fell from a gas-filled cavity over the loader gate of the new 28's face in the Low Main at Sutton Colliery, Sutton-in-Ashfield, and smashed a conveyor motor's terminal box. The flash fired the firedamp; twenty-five men were burned and five died.	21 February 1957	Explosion	Nottinghamshire	5
Douglas Bank Colliery shaft collapse, 1865 On 4 January 1865, as the sinkers at the bottom of John G. Morris's new shaft at Douglas Bank, near Wigan, began another length at about 500 yards, some 200 yards of the shaft lining gave way and fell on them. All five were killed.	4 January 1865	Winding / Shaft Accident	Greater Manchester	5
Middle Patricroft Pit explosion, 1849 Soon after six on the morning of 6 March 1849 an explosion in the Five Foot seam of the Ince Hall Coal and Cannel Company's Middle Patricroft Pit, between Wigan and Hindley, killed twelve of the twenty-six below, among them a father and his three sons.	6 March 1849	Explosion	—	12
Lakes Pit explosion, Dukinfield, 1848 Shortly after the midday meal on 23 February 1848 gas fired in the Victoria Pit at Dukinfield, the deepest in the district, where Swire and Lees' men were cutting through into old workings. Seven died; the owners had long tried, and failed, to stop the men using candles.	23 February 1848	Explosion	Greater Manchester	7
Ince Hall Deep Pit explosion, 1851 About six on the morning of Monday 22 December 1851, half an hour after more than a hundred men and boys had gone down A. F. Haliburton's Deep Pit at Ince Hall, near Hindley station, firedamp exploded in the south-west workings. Thirteen were killed, six of them boys of fifteen or younger.	22 December 1851	Explosion	—	13
Seaton Colliery explosion, 1852 On 16 June 1852 firedamp exploded at naked lights in Seaton Colliery, near Seaham Harbour, the third explosion there that year and the first to kill. All six working at the place died, the youngest a boy of ten.	16 June 1852	Explosion	—	6
Haydock Colliery explosion, 1845 On 5 November 1845, just after the night shift had come up and nineteen day men had gone down, an explosion at Turner and Evans's colliery at Haydock blew the planks off the shaft, killing thirteen and injuring six. The youngest dead was eight years old.	5 November 1845	Explosion	Lancashire	13
Cwmllynfell Colliery explosion, 1825 In 1825 an explosion at the Cwmllynfell anthracite mines in the upper Swansea Valley, opened five years earlier by Reynolds and Aubrey, killed 59 men. A plaque at the national mining memorial garden in Senghenydd records it.	1825	Explosion	Neath Port Talbot	59
Croft Pit explosion, 1847 About five o'clock on Friday 28 May 1847 gas fired at the far end of the Main Band in Croft Pit, Whitehaven, nearly two miles from the shaft, killing the four coal-haggers who had just gone in for the night shift with their lamps uncovered.	28 May 1847	Explosion	Cumbria	4
Willington Colliery Bensham seam explosion, 1831 On 20 September 1831 gas from a large blower in the newly opened Bensham seam at Willington Colliery, on Tyneside, forced its way through the water left to drown it, rose into the High Main and fired at the men's candles. Eight were killed, four men and four boys.	20 September 1831	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	8
Mesne Lea Colliery explosion, 1867 At 6.30 a.m. on 30 May 1867 gas that had gathered overnight in the Rams Seven Feet mine at Peter Nightingale and Co.'s Mesne Lea Colliery, Worsley, fired when a man went in with a naked light ahead of the fireman's morning examination. Seven were killed.	30 May 1867	Explosion	Greater Manchester	7
California Pit shaft accident, 1865 On 12 September 1865, as eight men and boys rode up the California Pit of the Kirkless Hall Coal and Iron Company at Aspull, near Wigan, the wire rope slipped off the drum onto the engine shaft and was cut. Within thirty yards of the top, they fell 270 yards to their deaths.	12 September 1865	Winding / Shaft Accident	Greater Manchester	8
New Cottam Colliery shaft accident, 1853 At about seven in the morning of 21 January 1853, as men were lowered down Appleby and Co.'s New Cottam Colliery near Chesterfield, a newly fitted iron link in the chain at the rope's end snapped and they fell to the bottom. Seven died. The link had been put in the evening before and never properly tested.	21 January 1853	Winding / Shaft Accident	Derbyshire	7
Springwell Pit shaft accident, Dawley, 1872 At 4.30 p.m. on 6 December 1872, as the first men of the shift were drawn up the Springwell Pit of the Coalbrookdale Company at Dawley, the winding chain broke at the pulley and eight young men fell to the bottom. A broken link had been found and riveted two days before, but the chain was never properly examined.	6 December 1872	Winding / Shaft Accident	Shropshire	8
Kersley Colliery explosion, 1879 On Christmas Eve 1879 an outburst of gas after a fall of roof fired at the naked lights in the Plodder mine of Samuel Scowcroft and Sons' colliery at Kersley, near Bolton. Eleven men and boys died, several of them of burns over the following days.	24 December 1879	Explosion	Greater Manchester	11
Lillydale Colliery inrush and explosion, 1881 At about 10.45 a.m. on 3 May 1881 men driving headings towards flooded old workings at Enoch Perrins's Lillydale Colliery, near Hanley, tapped the water; it drove gas from the goaf onto naked lights and the gas exploded, killing nine. The jury found the manager guilty of manslaughter.	3 May 1881	Explosion	Staffordshire	9
Dark Lane Colliery shaft accident, 1862 On 29 December 1862 the coupling box at the end of the winding rope broke at the Lilleshall Company's Dark Lane Colliery, in the Shropshire coalfield, and the box carrying twelve men and boys fell 290 feet to the bottom of the shaft. All twelve were killed.	29 December 1862	Winding / Shaft Accident	Shropshire	12
Victoria Colliery explosion, Bruntcliffe, 1882 Shortly before midnight on 1 May 1882 gas exploded in Stringer's Bord in the Middleton Main pit of J. Haigh and Sons' Victoria Colliery, Bruntcliffe, killing the deputy, five colliers and a boy. A second explosion at about 2 a.m. nearly caught the exploring party as they prepared to bring out the bodies.	1 May 1882	Explosion	West Yorkshire	7
Westwood Colliery explosion, 1862 At about 8 a.m. on 10 April 1862 gas driven from a large goaf by a fall of roof fired at a naked light at the far end of the south workings of Newton, Chambers and Co.'s Westwood Colliery, near Sheffield, killing six of about 200 below. The mine was fiery, yet the colliers were allowed candles.	10 April 1862	Explosion	South Yorkshire	6
Lakes Pit explosion, Dukinfield, 1866 At about 8 a.m. one June morning an explosion of firedamp in the Black Mine at F. D. P. Astley's Lakes Pit, or Victoria Colliery, Dukinfield, killed 38 of the seventy-odd men and boys below. The pit was worked with safety lamps, but the boys carried naked lights against the colliery's rules.	June 1866	Explosion	Greater Manchester	38
Burgh Colliery explosion, 1846 On 24 November 1846 two explosions of firedamp, fired by a collier's candle, swept John Hargreaves's Burgh Colliery at Coppull, near Chorley. Eight or nine died, three of them girls working underground four years after the law had barred them.	24 November 1846	Explosion	Lancashire	8
Shevington Colliery explosion, 1861 On 1 November 1861 a labourer who had kept his lamp key from his days as a fireman unlocked a lamp to relight another man's, and fired gas at the Prince Albert Pit of John Taylor and Son's Shevington Colliery, near Wigan, killing thirteen. The inspector blamed defective ventilation and lax discipline.	1 November 1861	Explosion	Greater Manchester	13
Winstanley Colliery explosion, 1860 In early August 1860 firedamp released by roof falls in pillar workings exploded in the Orrell Five Feet seam at Meyrick Bankes's Winstanley Colliery, near Wigan, killing thirteen men and boys. The inspector had condemned the ventilation as primitive, and the improvements he had asked for were unfinished.	August 1860	Explosion	Greater Manchester	13
Winstanley Colliery explosion, 1843 On Monday 20 November 1843 Winstanley Colliery, near Wigan, exploded as work resumed after the pit had stood over the weekend, killing five and injuring others.	20 November 1843	Explosion	Greater Manchester	5
Higham Colliery explosion, 1860 On the afternoon of 15 February 1860 gas from the goaves fired at a boy's candle at the northern limit of Messrs Charlesworth's Higham Colliery, near Barnsley, killing thirteen men and lads. The colliers had locked Davy lamps, but the horse drivers were allowed candles within yards of the goaves.	15 February 1860	Explosion	South Yorkshire	13
Great Bridge Colliery explosion, 1849 In June 1849, when about seventy men and boys went down Mr Morris's Friary Field pit at Great Bridge after it had stood idle since the Saturday, an explosion killed fourteen. The doggy, Thomas Pritchard, was said to have caused it by unscrewing his lamp; he was among the dead.	June 1849	Explosion	West Midlands	14
Rounds Green New Pit explosion, 1846 On the morning of Tuesday 17 November 1846, shortly after twenty-five men had gone down, firedamp exploded at the naked lights in the Rounds Green New Pit at Oldbury, killing nineteen. Men still being lowered were blown up the shaft and two fell to their deaths.	17 November 1846	Explosion	West Midlands	19
Bent Grange Colliery explosion, 1853 On 1 July 1853 firedamp exploded in the west level of Thomas Butterworth's Bent Grange Colliery, Oldham, killing twenty men and boys, thirteen suffocated and seven burnt. The inspector had already told the owner the ventilation was defective, and it was the pit's second disaster in three years.	1 July 1853	Explosion	Greater Manchester	20
Bent Grange Colliery explosion, 1850 In October 1850 a fall of roof broke the gauze of a Davy lamp in the Riley Mine at Mr Butterworth's Bent Grange Colliery, Oldham, and the gas exploded, killing sixteen of about twenty-five colliers at work. The colliery had a single bratticed shaft.	October 1850	Explosion	Greater Manchester	16
Bryn Hall Colliery explosion, 1870 At about 9 a.m. on 19 August 1870 a blown-out shot fired gas in the Nine Feet workings of W. and J. B. Crippin's Bryn Hall Colliery, Ashton-in-Makerfield, killing 20. The fireman had let the men drill, charge and fire their own shots.	19 August 1870	Explosion	Greater Manchester	20
Bryn Hall Colliery explosion, 1873 At 12.20 a.m. on 2 June 1873, while shotlighters fired the night's shots in the Wigan Nine Feet mine at the Crippins' Bryn Hall Colliery, Ashton-in-Makerfield, gas exploded twice, wrecking both headgears and killing six of the nine men and boys below. Because the inspector had ordered shots fired at night, the day shift of 250 was out of the pit.	2 June 1873	Explosion	Greater Manchester	6
High Brooks Colliery explosion, 1869 At about seven in the morning of 1 April 1869, a making-up day with the whole workforce below, a blown-out shot fired gas in the Orrell Four Feet mine at Mercer and Evans's High Brooks Colliery, Park Lane, killing 37. It was the pit's second disaster in three years.	1 April 1869	Explosion	Greater Manchester	37
High Brooks Colliery explosion, 1866 Early on 23 January 1866 firedamp exploded in the Four Foot seam at Turner and Evans's High Brooks Colliery, Park Lane, Ashton-in-Makerfield, killing thirty men and boys. The fireman had just finished his rounds and found everything 'clear as a bell'.	23 January 1866	Explosion	Greater Manchester	30
Coppull Colliery explosion, 1852 A little before 7 a.m. on 20 May 1852 John Hargreaves' Coppull Colliery fired after men went into workings where a roof fall had cut off the air, killing 36. The pit had almost no ventilating power, and the colliers, who had to buy their own safety lamps, often worked with candles.	20 May 1852	Explosion	Lancashire	36
Bardsley Colliery explosion, 1858 On 2 February 1858 firedamp exploded through both working seams of the Victoria and Diamond pits at the Bardsley Colliery Company's colliery near Ashton-under-Lyne, killing 53. The inspector, Joseph Dickinson, had warned in writing of the exact faults that caused it, and there was no viewer.	2 February 1858	Explosion	Greater Manchester	53
Heys Colliery explosion, 1857 At 1.25 p.m. on 31 July 1857, at the end of the dinner hour, flames burst from the flues of the underground boilers at John Kenworthy and Brother's Heys Colliery, Ashton-under-Lyne, and an explosion followed that killed everyone on the brow, forty men and boys.	31 July 1857	Explosion	Greater Manchester	40
Heys Colliery explosion, 1851 On 17 March 1851 an explosion of firedamp at John Kenworthy and Brothers' Heys Colliery, Ashton-under-Lyne, killed one man outright and injured eight, five of whom died. Six years later the same colliery lost forty men in a single explosion.	17 March 1851	Explosion	Greater Manchester	6
Black Mine Pit explosion, 1842 At about eleven o'clock on 8 April 1842 an explosion in Swyre and Lees' Black Mine pit at Flowery Field, Newton, near Hyde, killed 17 of the 26 below. Ten were found at the far end of the mine, where they had run for safety.	8 April 1842	Explosion	Greater Manchester	17
Bigge Pit explosion, 1841 In the early afternoon of 19 April 1841 an explosion in the Bensham seam of the Bigge Pit at Matthew Bell and partners' Willington Colliery, between Newcastle and North Shields, killed 32 of the 35 below. The three survivors were working in a stone drift elsewhere in the mine.	19 April 1841	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	32
Croft Pit explosion, 1831 At about three o'clock on the morning of Saturday 12 November 1831 firedamp exploded in the Croft Pit at Whitehaven, killing 22 men and boys outright; another brought up alive died soon after. No one in the district where it began survived to say how it happened.	12 November 1831	Explosion	Cumbria	22
Croft Pit explosion, 1828 On the evening of Wednesday 6 August 1828 a sudden discharge of firedamp in the Earl of Lonsdale's Croft Pit at Whitehaven spread into distant workings and was fired by the miners there. Six men died; others were burnt.	6 August 1828	Explosion	Cumbria	6
Washington Colliery I Pit explosion, 1828 At about 3 p.m. on 20 November 1828 an explosion in the I or Eye Pit of Washington Colliery killed all but one of the fifteen in the pit, eleven of them boys. The onsetter, Michael Hall, survived badly burnt. The pit had been examined that morning and judged perfectly ventilated.	20 November 1828	Explosion	—	14
Lumley George Pit explosion, 1819 On 9 October 1819 gas fired at the candle of a hewer named Gee in the George Pit at Lumley, near Chester-le-Street. Eleven men and boys were killed outright, and Gee and a boy died the next day, making thirteen; many others were badly hurt.	9 October 1819	Explosion	County Durham	13
Lumley Colliery explosion, 1799 On 11 October 1799 a violent explosion at Lumley Colliery, near Chester-le-Street, killed 39 men and boys, two and a half years after one there had killed 31. It was reported that their bodies were never found.	11 October 1799	Explosion	County Durham	39
Lumley Colliery explosion, 1797 On 11 April 1797 an explosion at Lumley Colliery, near Chester-le-Street, killed 31. It was the first of three explosions there in little more than two years, the second killing 39 in October 1799.	11 April 1797	Explosion	County Durham	31
Burdon Main Colliery explosion, 1835 On the afternoon of 19 November 1835 gas fired at the candle of the deputy James Campbell in the Low Main seam of Burdon Main Colliery, North Shields, killing eleven, three men and eight boys. A trap door had been left open by a ten-year-old trapper, Joseph Arkley, who was among the dead.	19 November 1835	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	11
Collingwood Main Colliery explosion, 1813 On 17 July 1813 gas fired at the candles of an overman, deputies and others who had gone down Collingwood Main Colliery at Chirton, North Shields, to save timber and iron from a creep. Eight were killed and two badly injured. The creep had blocked the ventilation.	17 July 1813	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	8
Fatfield Colliery explosion, 1825 On the evening of 3 July 1825 an explosion in W. M. Lamb and Co.'s Juliet or Judith Pit at Fatfield, known as Harraton Outside, killed all eleven men below and the horses. A few hours later forty or fifty pitmen and boys would have been in the mine.	3 July 1825	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	11
Fatfield Colliery Hall Pit explosion, 1813 On 28 September 1813 the Hall Pit at Fatfield, in the parish of Chester-le-Street, fired with foul air and killed 30 or more men and boys. A stone falling from the roof was thought to have driven firedamp into the workings, where it caught at the miners' candles.	28 September 1813	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	30
Fatfield Colliery explosion, 1767 In March 1767 a colliery near Fatfield, 80 fathoms deep, exploded while all the hands were at work, killing 39. The Newcastle Journal noted that it had been asked not to report such accidents, and dropped the subject.	March 1767	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	39
Fatfield Colliery explosion, 1763 In 1763 an explosion of gas at Fatfield Colliery, near Chester-le-Street, killed fifteen or more people. After it the first steel mills used in the district were brought from Whitehaven to light the workings.	1763	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	15
Fatfield Colliery explosion, 1708 At three o'clock in the morning of 18 August 1708 fire burst from the mouths of three pits at Fatfield, on the Wear near Chester-le-Street, with a noise like cannon, and 69 people died. Two men and a woman were blown up the 342-foot shaft and thrown clear of the pit.	18 August 1708	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	69
Stormont Main Colliery explosion, 1843 At 7.45 a.m. on 5 April 1843 gas exploded at J. Grace and Partners' Stormont Main Colliery at Wrekenton, near Gateshead, killing 27 men and boys. Foul air had stood in the workings for days, and one man had left the pit half an hour earlier saying his life was in danger.	5 April 1843	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	27
Rainton Plain Pit explosion, 1823 Early on the morning of 3 November 1823 an explosion in the Plain Pit of the Marquess of Londonderry's Rainton Colliery killed 55 men and boys, the second disaster at the pit in six years. Boys reaching the shaft just before had reported the Davy lamps standing on fire.	3 November 1823	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	55
Rainton Plain Pit explosion, 1817 Early on 18 December 1817 firedamp exploded in the Plain Pit of Rainton Colliery, near Houghton-le-Spring, killing 27, eleven men and sixteen boys. The pit was thought free of gas and still worked by candles, and the hewers had not yet gone down, which saved about 160 lives.	18 December 1817	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	27
Darley Main Colliery fire, 1847 On 29 January 1847 blasting with gunpowder set the coal on fire about 200 yards from the pit bottom at Darley Main Colliery, near Barnsley. After more than two hours trying to put it out the men retreated through the smoke, and six of them died, among them the underground steward.	29 January 1847	Fire	South Yorkshire	6
Astley Deep Pit explosion, 1870 In March 1870 an explosion of firedamp at Astley Deep Pit, Dukinfield, killed nine men and stunned some 200 more. The inspector had warned the proprietor for two years that an accident would follow if he did not appoint a competent manager, and the jury found the manager unfit to run the mine alone.	March 1870	Explosion	Greater Manchester	9
Jarrow Colliery explosion, 1845 At about 1 p.m. on 21 August 1845 gas exploded in the Low Main seam of D. Brown's Jarrow Colliery, killing 39 men and boys. Only one of the 36 working in the seam survived; others died of afterdamp in the Bensham seam above, and an overman died trying to rescue them.	21 August 1845	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	39
Jarrow Colliery explosion, 1828 At 3 a.m. on 15 March 1828 an explosion at Jarrow Colliery killed eight men, most of them shifters working the night shift. The coroner and jury found that no one was to blame, the pit having been considered in a good state and well ventilated.	15 March 1828	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	8
Jarrow Colliery explosion, 1826 On the morning of 17 January 1826 firedamp exploded in the Bensham seam of Thomas and Robert Brown's Jarrow Colliery, near South Shields, killing 34 men and boys of the 48 below. The seam had been reached only a short time before, and the pit had been inspected that morning and judged safe.	17 January 1826	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	34
Jarrow Colliery explosion, 1817 On 25 September 1817 an explosion of gas at Jarrow Colliery, near South Shields, burned a number of men and boys, six of whom died of their injuries over the following weeks. It was the first of five fatal explosions at the colliery between 1817 and 1845.	25 September 1817	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	6
Astley Deep Pit explosion, 1874 On 14 April 1874 a roof fall in the Half Moon Tunnel at Astley Deep Pit, Dukinfield, then the deepest coal mine in Britain, released gas that exploded and set the workings on fire, killing 54 men and boys. The jury blamed the bricking-up of a ventilating mouthing and a pit in a state of anarchy.	14 April 1874	Explosion	Greater Manchester	54
Dean Lane Colliery explosion, 1886 On 10 September 1886 firedamp exploded in the Gas Coal seam at the Bedminster Coal Company's Dean Lane Colliery in Bristol, killing ten of the twenty men working there. The inspector found that gas from the coal had seeped through cracks in an arch and fired at a boy's naked light.	10 September 1886	Explosion	Bristol	10
Newbury Colliery explosion, 1869 On 22 October 1869, as the men were going down, firedamp exploded on the Mackintosh side of the Westbury Iron Company's Newbury Colliery at Coleford in the Somerset coalfield. Eleven died, and the jury found three officials guilty of manslaughter.	22 October 1869	Explosion	Somerset	11
Talk o' th' Hill Colliery explosion, 1873 On 18 February 1873 an explosion in the Seven Foot Banbury seam at the North Staffordshire Coal and Iron Company's Talk o' th' Hill Colliery killed all eighteen men and boys working there, six years after the pit's 1866 disaster. Firing a shot was given as the cause of ignition.	18 February 1873	Explosion	Staffordshire	18
Clough Hall Colliery explosion, 1865 On 1 March 1865 a shot fired in a working known to hold gas caused an explosion in the Bullhurst seam at Kinnersley and Co.'s Clough Hall Colliery, Kidsgrove, killing five. The inspector called the shot perfect madness, but magistrates dismissed the case against the manager.	1 March 1865	Explosion	—	5
Methley Junction Colliery explosion, 1875 On 9 December 1875 a fall of roof released gas that exploded in the Haigh Moor seam at H. Briggs and Son's Methley Junction Colliery, near Normanton, killing six. The men went down with safety lamps but changed to candles later in the shift.	9 December 1875	Explosion	West Yorkshire	6
Washington Colliery explosion, 1851 On 19 August 1851 gas fired at a light in Washington Colliery, County Durham, and the explosion killed 34 men and boys, two of them furnacemen who died trying to rescue others. Gas had been showing at the candles for weeks and some men had left their work in fear.	19 August 1851	Explosion	—	34
Hetton Colliery explosion, 1860 On the evening of 20 December 1860 gas that had gathered in a nearly level boiler flue exploded in the Minor Pit of the Hetton Coal Company's colliery at Hetton-le-Hole, killing 22 men and boys. Some 200 had just come up, and only the stonemen and shifters were below.	20 December 1860	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	22
Jarrow Colliery explosion, 1830 At 5.40 a.m. on 3 August 1830 gas exploded in the Bensham seam at Jarrow Colliery, killing 42 men and boys. Seventy of the 120 men and boys in the pit were in the Bensham seam, where the hewers had broken into a fissure from which gas suddenly issued.	3 August 1830	Explosion	Tyne and Wear	42
Darley Main Colliery explosion, 1849 At about 11.20 a.m. on 24 January 1849 firedamp exploded in the Barnsley seam at G. Jarratt's Darley Main Colliery in Worsbrough Dale, near Barnsley, killing 75 of the 101 men and boys underground. It was the worst Yorkshire disaster since the Oaks explosion two years before.	24 January 1849	Explosion	South Yorkshire	75
Aldwarke Main Colliery shaft accident, 1904 At 5.20 a.m. on 23 February 1904 the winding rope broke as eight men were being lowered down the No. 2 Parkgate shaft at John Brown and Company's Aldwarke Main Colliery, near Rotherham. The cage fell some 50 yards to the bottom; seven men died and the eighth, Arthur Ramsden, recovered after months in hospital.	23 February 1904	Winding / Shaft Accident	South Yorkshire	7
Aldwarke Main Colliery explosion, 1875 At about 6.20 a.m. on 5 January 1875 gas exploded in the Carr House workings of John Brown & Co.'s Aldwarke Main Colliery, near Rotherham, killing seven men. The jury returned accidental death and called for safety lamps in place of naked lights.	5 January 1875	Explosion	South Yorkshire	7
Oxcroft Colliery explosion, 1919 On Sunday 6 April 1919, while auxiliary fans were being moved, gas exploded in the Creswell Level district of Oxcroft Colliery, near Bolsover, killing six men. The jury found it was fired by an electric spark, probably in a switch box.	6 April 1919	Explosion	Derbyshire	6
South Normanton Colliery explosion, 1937 At about 9 p.m. on 15 February 1937 two explosions tore through the Waterloo seam of South Normanton Colliery's Winterbank pit, killing eight men and seriously burning three. Part of a cigarette was found by one of the dead, and smoking or a struck match was suggested as the cause.	15 February 1937	Explosion	Derbyshire	8
Whiston Colliery explosion, 1878 On Sunday 17 February 1878 an explosion at Whiston Colliery, near Prescot, killed seven men who were sealing off a fire caused by spontaneous combustion in the Main Delf. The jury returned accidental death and praised the manager's efforts.	17 February 1878	Explosion	Merseyside	7
Wharncliffe Carlton Colliery explosion, 1883 Just after midnight on 18 October 1883 gas exploded in the dip district of Wharncliffe Carlton Colliery, Barnsley, killing all 20 men on the night shift there. Fire followed, the pit was flooded to put it out, and only 17 bodies were recovered.	18 October 1883	Explosion	South Yorkshire	20
Pemberton Colliery explosion, 1877 On 11 October 1877 firedamp exploded in the Wigan Nine Foot mine of the King pit at Jonathan Blundell & Sons' Pemberton Colliery, killing 36 men and boys, among them the manager and two other officials who went to help. The jury blamed a blown-out shot in Rutter's place.	11 October 1877	Explosion	Greater Manchester	36
Talk o' th' Hill Colliery explosion, 1866 On 13 December 1866 an explosion of gas in the Banbury seam at Talk o' th' Hill Colliery, near Kidsgrove, killed 91 men and boys. The jury found that gas had gathered after a train of coal upset in a doorway and was fired by a naked light unlawfully exposed.	13 December 1866	Explosion	Staffordshire	91
Edmunds Main Colliery explosion, 1862 On 8 December 1862 a shot fired at Edmunds Main Colliery, Worsbrough Dale, lit gas and set the coal on fire, and the explosions that followed killed between 54 and 59 men and boys. The pit had to be flooded, the bodies stayed underground until October 1863, and the families won the first compensation paid in England for an underground explosion.	8 December 1862	Explosion	South Yorkshire	54
Swaithe Main Colliery explosion, 1875 At about 9.40 a.m. on 6 December 1875 firedamp exploded in the Barnsley seam at Swaithe Main Colliery, near Barnsley, killing 143 men and boys. Seventy to eighty escaped through the connected Edmunds Main shaft. The jury could not say how the gas was fired but found the rules had not been kept and gunpowder recklessly used.	6 December 1875	Explosion	South Yorkshire	143
Hindley Green Colliery explosion, 1868 On 25 November 1868 firedamp exploded in the Arley mine at John Scowcroft & Co.'s Hindley Green Colliery near Wigan, killing 62 men and boys. Gas had gathered in a stopped slant and was fired by the flame of a blown-out gunpowder shot next to it.	25 November 1868	Explosion	Greater Manchester	62
Springs Colliery explosion, 1871 Shortly before 11 p.m. on 15 November 1871 firedamp exploded in the Arley mine at John Scowcroft and Co.'s Springs Pit, Hindley Green, after a shot was fired to bring down roof while enlarging a pony road. Six men and boys were killed on the north-east side, the fireman was badly burned, and eleven ponies died.	15 November 1871	Explosion	Greater Manchester	6
Rainford Colliery shaft fire, 1869 In January 1869 the ventilating furnace at Rainford Colliery set fire to the coal pillars left to support the shafts, which were being deepened. Seven men preparing to put the fire out with water were fatally burned when the flame turned on them. The next night two enginemen fell to their deaths when the scaffold over the shaft gave way.	8-9 January 1869	Fire	Merseyside	9
Orrell Colliery explosion, 1901 On Wednesday 10 April 1901 four men salvaging machinery from the just-abandoned Orrell Four Feet at Walthew House, Orrell, were caught when the fireman fired a roburite charge to break an iron cog-wheel. The shot set off a coal-dust explosion that ran along the main roads. Two died at once and two about a week later.	10 April 1901	Explosion	Greater Manchester	4
Tawd Vale Colliery inundation, 1897 On the night of Tuesday 30 November 1897 the River Tawd broke through a fall into old crop workings at Tawd Vale Colliery, Skelmersdale, and poured down through the old Twelve Feet workings and the shafts. The only two men below, a fireman and a hooker-on, were drowned. The colliery was abandoned.	30 November 1897	Flooding / Inundation	Lancashire	2
Swan Lane Colliery explosion, 1868 On 'reckoning Monday', 17 August 1868, when only day men were in Swan Lane Colliery, Hindley Green, the collier Charles Abbott fired gas with his naked light in an unbratticed working place in the Four Feet. Two men who went in after him died in the afterdamp. The owner was fined for neglecting the first general rule.	17 August 1868	Explosion	Greater Manchester	3
Cwm Colliery roof fall, Merthyr, 1886 On the morning of Thursday 28 January 1886 two falls of roof in a stall of the Seven Foot vein at Crawshay Brothers' Cwm Pit, Merthyr Tydfil, killed three men, including the fireman sent to clear the first fall, and injured a fourth. The inquest returned accidental death.	28 January 1886	Collapse / Roof Fall	Merthyr Tydfil	3
Pwllfaron Colliery runaway tram, 1901 On the night of Tuesday 13 August 1901 a runaway set of empty trams overtook the journey on which a pump boy and a rider were travelling down the slant at Pwllfaron Colliery, Glyn-neath. Richard Davies, 16, was killed outright and William Morgan, 20, died of his injuries.	13 August 1901	Haulage / Transport	Neath Port Talbot	2
Pwllfaron Colliery roof fall, 1905 At about half past ten on Tuesday 6 June 1905 a mass of roof about 20 feet square fell in the main road of the Ladysmith level, worked with Pwllfaron Colliery at Glyn-neath. It buried three of six men repairing the road. The inquest returned accidental death.	6 June 1905	Collapse / Roof Fall	Neath Port Talbot	3
Britannic Colliery Llewellyn Pit shaft accident, 1913 At about 1.45 p.m. on Sunday 27 April 1913 the side of the new Llewellyn sinking at Gilfach Goch, beside the Trane Pit, gave way and swept seven men off their staging into the flooded sump. Four were drowned. The mechanical engineer Thomas Thomas went down on a rope and brought the other three out, for which the King decorated him.	27 April 1913	Winding / Shaft Accident	Rhondda Cynon Taf	4
Trane Pit shaft explosion, 1912 At about six on the morning of Wednesday 17 April 1912 firedamp exploded in the Trane Pit at Gilfach Goch, just deepened by the Cambrian Combine, while men on a staging 40 yards down were walling the mouth of a new fan drift. Four were killed and three burned. The inquest blamed a sinker's pipe.	17 April 1912	Explosion	Rhondda Cynon Taf	4
Lan Colliery explosion, 1875 At about half past nine on 6 December 1875 firedamp exploded in the Brass Vein workings of T. W. Booker and Co.'s Lan Colliery at Gwaelod-y-garth, near Pentyrch, killing twelve men and boys outright; four more died within a fortnight.	6 December 1875	Explosion	Cardiff	16
Greenfield Colliery boiler explosion, 1874 On the evening of 9 April 1874 a boiler burst at Greenfield Colliery, Hamilton; one end was flung 150 yards through the roof of the village schoolroom during a meeting, killing three children, and an engine-keeper also died.	9 April 1874	Machinery	South Lanarkshire	4
Deep Pit, Nantyglo explosion, 1847 On Monday 6 December 1847 firedamp exploded in one of the Bailey brothers' coal pits at Nantyglo, attributed to their Deep Pit, killing eight men, among them John Parkes and his two sons, and badly injuring three. The inquest heard that a ventilation door had been ordered but not fitted. The colliers struck afterwards.	6 December 1847	Explosion	Blaenau Gwent	8
Caradog Vale Colliery inundation, 1906 On the afternoon of Tuesday 26 June 1906 the face of a stall at Caradog Vale Colliery, a small level near Gilfach Goch, broke through into flooded old workings. Four colliers drowned, and two more survived six days trapped in the dark before rescuers reached them. The agent and manager were tried for manslaughter and acquitted.	26 June 1906	Flooding / Inundation	Rhondda Cynon Taf	4
Dinas Main Colliery explosion, 1907 At about a quarter past two on the pay Saturday of 14 December 1907 an explosion at Dinas Main Colliery, Gilfach Goch, killed seven of the twelve men underground; the fireman David Meyrick led the other four out through old workings.	14 December 1907	Explosion	Rhondda Cynon Taf	7