Devon Colliery inundation

Water that had gathered behind a dam in the Lower Five Feet seam burst through at about a quarter to six in the morning. Seven men were working at the level; six were drowned. The only survivor was found half conscious by the men coming on at six. The bodies were not recovered until the water had been pumped away, more than three weeks later.

Cause

Water impounded behind a dam in the Lower Five Feet seam broke through under pressure when either the wooden door or the valve ruptured.

What happened

At about 5.45 on the morning of 26 March 1897, water that had gathered behind a dam in the Lower Five Feet seam of the Devon Colliery gave way under pressure — either the wooden door or the valve ruptured — and flooded the level where seven men were working. Six were drowned. The one survivor, John Hunter of Devon Village, was found half unconscious by miners coming on shift at six.

Rescue & recovery

All work was suspended until the water could be pumped away. The bodies were recovered only on 20 April and 1 May, more than three and five weeks after the inrush.

Recorded claims

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

• On 26 March 1897, at about 5.45 a.m., water gathered behind a dam in the Lower Five Feet seam burst through when either the wooden door or the valve ruptured; seven men were working at the level and six were drowned. ¹
• The six men drowned were David Allan, Peter Allan, George Blair, William Grant, John Nicol and Charles Taylor; the only survivor, John Hunter of Devon Village, was found half unconscious by miners beginning their shift at six. ¹
• All work was suspended until the water was pumped safely away, and the bodies were recovered on 20 April and 1 May. This was the worst single disaster at the colliery. ¹

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…had gathered behind a dam in the Lower Five Feet seam of the Devon Colliery gave way under pressure — either the wooden door or the valve…”
• Inrush (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s rescue and recovery: “…only on 20 April and 1 May, more than three and five weeks after the inrush.”
• Level (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…about a quarter to six in the morning. Seven men were working at the level; six were drowned. The only survivor was found half conscious by the…”

Sources

1. (secondary) A walk in the past: disaster at the Devon Colliery — Alloa Advertiser
2. (primary) Devon Colliery Beam Engine House — Clackmannanshire Council

Record created: 7 September 2026 · Last researched: 7 September 2026