Apedale Colliery Sladderhill No. 3 Pit explosion, 1891

During the afternoon shift of 2 April 1891 a blown-out shot of gelatine dynamite fired gas in the Bullhurst seam of the Sladderhill No. 3 Pit, Apedale, and coal dust carried the explosion through the district. Eleven died, most of them boys and young men.

Cause

A blown-out shot of gelatine dynamite ignited firedamp; coal dust extended the explosion.

Contributing factors

Poor stemming of shots; a lamp relighting station too near the face; dust from 'riddling' coal down the thirlings; management the jury called most lax and negligent.

What happened

The Midland Coal, Coke and Iron Company had taken over Apedale in 1890. The Bullhurst district, reached by a 420-yard crut from the 200-yard shaft, was the only one worked in three shifts; twelve men were in it that afternoon. Two colliers leaving early felt a change in the air near the shaft but told only the engineman, and an hour passed before anyone went in. The dead were the fireman John Warburton, 43, Frederick Webb, 21, Samson Knight, 41, the horse driver Richard Parsons, 13, the loaders William Oakley, 19, George Hall, 34, and Joseph Birch, 19, the taker-off George Wetnall, 19, the riddlers Arnold Allen, 14, and James Holland, 33, and the collier William Rhodes.

Rescue & recovery

The night shift found a disturbed stopping and a blown-out door shortly after 9 p.m.; exploration began and the inspector arrived at 2 a.m.

Investigation & inquiry

The inspector W. N. Atkinson reported to the Home Secretary, and the Royal Commission on explosions from coal dust also investigated; the inspector thought the victims were dead within minutes, so the delay did not add to the toll.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

The jury found the explosion caused by a blown-out shot and the management most lax and negligent; the coroner censured the two colliers who failed to raise the alarm.

Changes to practice & legislation

The inspector recommended clay stemming for shots, moving the relighting station, restricting firemen to one lamp, and a stroke counter on the fan.

Memorials & commemoration

Unknown.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• The Home Secretary reported every reason to believe the cause was a blown-out shot of gelatine dynamite, not gunpowder; ten lives were lost. ¹
• Eleven named dead, including a horse driver of 13 and a riddler of 14. ²
• The jury found a blown-out shot the cause and the management most lax and negligent. ²

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Afterdamp (hazard involved)
  Killed several of the dead.
• Filler (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…21, Samson Knight, 41, the horse driver Richard Parsons, 13, the loaders William Oakley, 19, George Hall, 34, and Joseph Birch, 19, the…”
• Shot-firing (direct cause)
  A blown-out shot.
• Stemming (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the contributing factors: “Poor stemming of shots; a lamp relighting station too near the face; dust from…”
• Thirling (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s contributing factors: “…station too near the face; dust from 'riddling' coal down the thirlings; management the jury called most lax and negligent.”

Sources

1. (primary) Colliery Accident at Apedale (Hansard, 13 April 1891) — Hansard
2. (secondary) Apedale Colliery Sladderhill No. 3 Pit Explosion - Newcastle-under-Lyme - 1891 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 21 September 2026 · Last researched: 21 September 2026