MineArchiveOn 29 March 1820 two hewers were fatally burned by an explos
On 29 March 1820 two hewers were fatally burned by an explosion of gas fired at a candle at Backworth Colliery, in Northumberland.
| Date | 29 March 1820 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Backworth Colliery |
| Region | Tyne and Wear |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 2 (R. Hog and Edward Humes, hewers; they survived the burns about twenty-four and fourteen hours.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion of gas ignited at a lighted candle.
What happened
R. Hog and Edward Humes, both hewers, were burned by an explosion of gas fired at a lighted candle. Neither died at once: Hog survived about twenty-four hours and Humes about fourteen. The deaths are recorded from the papers of the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers.
Sources
- (secondary) Backworth Colliery explosion of gas, 29 March 1820 — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Durham Mining Museum: Backworth Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 22 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026