Bettisfield Colliery explosion, 1884

An explosion of gas at Bettisfield Colliery, Bagillt, on the Flintshire shore of the Dee, killed two colliers on 2 October 1884.

Cause

An explosion of gas.

What happened

On 2 October 1884 gas exploded at the Bettisfield Colliery Company's pit at Bagillt, killing two colliers, Robert Price, 28, and David Pritchard, 42. 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 2 October 1884 an explosion of gas at Bettisfield Colliery, Bagillt, killed the colliers Robert Price, 28, and David Pritchard, 42. ^1,2
• The inspector of mines visited the colliery and attended the inquest. ^1,2
• The colliery belonged to the Bettisfield Colliery Co. Ltd. ²

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “An explosion of gas at Bettisfield Colliery, Bagillt, on the Flintshire shore of the Dee, killed two colliers on…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…killing two colliers, Robert Price, 28, and David Pritchard, 42. The inspector of mines made an inspection and attended the inquest.”

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Bettisfield Colliery — Durham Mining Museum, from the Lists of Mines
2. (secondary) Mining deaths 1880-1889, surnames P, part 4 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)

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