MineArchiveBenwell Colliery explosion, 1907
An explosion of firedamp at W. Cochrane Carr's Benwell Colliery, on the west side of Newcastle, at 5.40 in the evening of 19 March 1907 killed two deputies and two boys.
| Date | 19 March 1907 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Paradise Colliery |
| Region | Tyne and Wear |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 4 (4 killed: two deputies, Archibald Robson (55) and Richard Kirk (55), and two boys, George Thomas Johnson (17), sheave lad, and John Connoly (16), timber leader.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion of firedamp.
What happened
At about 5.40 p.m. on 19 March 1907 an explosion of firedamp at Benwell Colliery killed four men and boys. Two of them were deputies, the officials responsible for safety in the workings: Archibald Robson and Richard Kirk, both aged 55. The others were George Thomas Johnson, a 17-year-old sheave lad, and John Connoly, a 16-year-old timber leader.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 19 March 1907 an explosion of firedamp at Benwell Colliery killed four. 1,2,3,4,5
- The dead were the deputies Archibald Robson and Richard Kirk, both 55, George Thomas Johnson, 17, a sheave lad, and John Connoly, 16, a timber leader. 1,2,3,4,5
- The colliery was owned by W. Cochrane Carr Limited. 2,3,4,5
- The explosion happened at 5.40 p.m. 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “An explosion of firedamp at W. Cochrane Carr's Benwell Colliery, on the west side of Newcastle, at 5.40 in the evening of 19 March…” - Deputy (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…of Newcastle, at 5.40 in the evening of 19 March 1907 killed two deputies and two boys.” - Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “An explosion of firedamp at W. Cochrane Carr's Benwell Colliery, on the west side of…”
Sources
- (primary) Benwell Colliery (DMM b061) — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Archibald Robson, Benwell, 1907 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Richard Kirk, Benwell, 1907 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: George Thomas Johnson, Benwell, 1907 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: John Connoly, Benwell, 1907 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 17 October 2026 · Last researched: 17 October 2026