Commonhead Colliery explosion, 1850

Just after six on the morning of 23 July 1850, nineteen men went down Commonhead pit at Airdrie, idle since the Saturday. The oversman, Alexander Willison, had barely gone forward to examine the workings when firedamp exploded. Seventeen were killed; only his brother James, near the shaft bottom, escaped. The owners were charged with culpable homicide.

Cause

Firedamp accumulated over the weekend while the pit stood and the ventilating furnace was out, and was fired at a naked light as the men began; none of the colliers had safety lamps.

What happened

James Willison was stunned at the shaft bottom. Finding the cage buried under the fallen mid-wall, hutches and debris, he worked the split pin of the rope's lock straight, using his teeth, freed the rope and tugged it; it was wound up and he came to the surface almost unhurt. The blast was heard far off, and many thought the engine boiler had burst.

Investigation & inquiry

The sole survivor's evidence described the daily practice: the fireman marked gas on a shovel, and the men left their naked lights and 'waffed' the gas out with their coats, sometimes two or three times a day, while some places were too foul to clear.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

The owners, named as James and John Seddon by NMRS, were charged at Glasgow with culpable homicide.

Memorials & commemoration

A memorial to the seventeen men stands in Airdrie.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• Seventeen men were killed. (disputed) ¹
• Eighteen were killed instantly. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

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

• On 23 July 1850 a firedamp explosion at Commonhead Colliery, Airdrie, killed all but one of the men who went down. ^1,2
• Seventeen men were killed. (disputed) ¹
• Eighteen were killed instantly. (disputed) ²
• The only survivor, the oversman's brother James Willison, freed the rope from the wrecked cage, partly with his teeth, and was drawn up. ^1,2
• All the precautions against firedamp had been neglected since the previous Saturday, and the furnace was not kept burning. ²
• The owners were charged with culpable homicide at Glasgow. ²

Related terminology

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

• Cage (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “James Willison was stunned at the shaft bottom. Finding the cage buried under the fallen mid-wall, hutches and debris, he worked the…”
• Fireman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “The sole survivor's evidence described the daily practice: the fireman marked gas on a shovel, and the men left their naked lights and…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “…pit stood and the ventilating furnace was out, and was fired at a naked light as the men began; none of the colliers had safety lamps.”
• Overman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “…went down Commonhead pit at Airdrie, idle since the Saturday. The oversman, Alexander Willison, had barely gone forward to examine the workings…”
• Safety Lamp (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “…fired at a naked light as the men began; none of the colliers had safety lamps.”

Sources

1. (secondary) Scottish Mining Website: Commonhead 1850 — Scottish Mining Website
2. (secondary) NMRS: Commonhead Colliery Explosion, Airdrie, 1850 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 11 October 2026 · Last researched: 11 October 2026