Beamish Colliery explosion, 1891

Two stonemen looking for rails in old workings at Beamish Second Pit were fatally burned on 10 February 1891 when a candle fired gas lying in the roof.

Cause

Gas lying in the roof of old workings was fired by a candle.

Contributing factors

One of the two men carried a naked candle into old workings before the other had finished testing them with a safety lamp.

What happened

Early on 10 February 1891 the master stoneman John Gowland, 56, and the stoneman John Dick, 29, went into old workings at the Beamish Second Pit to look for rails. Gowland carried a safety lamp and went in first to see whether there was gas; Dick, carrying a candle, followed too soon and ignited gas lying in the roof. Both men were injured, and Dick died on 12 February and Gowland on 16 February.

Investigation & inquiry

The Inspector of Mines made an inspection and attended the inquest.

Recorded claims

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

• On 10 February 1891, at 6.15 a.m., an ignition of gas in old workings at the Beamish Second Pit fatally injured the master stoneman John Gowland, 56, and the stoneman John Dick, 29. ^1,2,3
• The two men had gone into old workings to look for rails; Gowland went ahead with a safety lamp to test for gas, but Dick followed too soon with a candle and fired gas lying in the roof. ^1,2,3
• John Dick died on 12 February and John Gowland on 16 February. ¹
• The colliery belonged to James Joicey and Co. Ltd. ^2,3

Related terminology

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

• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “The Inspector of Mines made an inspection and attended the inquest.”
• Safety Lamp (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the contributing factors: “…into old workings before the other had finished testing them with a safety lamp.”
• Stoneman (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “Early on 10 February 1891 the master stoneman John Gowland, 56, and the stoneman John Dick, 29, went into old…”

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Beamish Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames G part 3 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
3. (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames D part 3 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)

Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026