Edmunds Main Colliery explosion, 1862

On 8 December 1862 a shot fired at Edmunds Main Colliery, Worsbrough Dale, lit gas and set the coal on fire, and the explosions that followed killed between 54 and 59 men and boys. The pit had to be flooded, the bodies stayed underground until October 1863, and the families won the first compensation paid in England for an underground explosion.

Cause

Firedamp ignited by a gunpowder shot, which set the coal on fire; later explosions followed from the fire.

Contributing factors

Indiscriminate blasting in a gassy seam; naked lights still carried close to the workings; earlier ignitions the week before; the men not warned while the fire was fought.

What happened

Edmunds Main, owned by Mitchell & Co. of Barnsley, worked the Barnsley seam from 106-yard shafts in Worsbrough Dale, a mile from the new Swaithe Main, to which it was being joined by two dip bordgates. Blasting was used freely to save labour. In the week before, gas had been fired by naked lights and gunpowder at the ends of the bordgates and the coal had caught fire. Safety lamps were brought in, but shotfiring went on.

Between 9 and 10 a.m. on 8 December another shot lit a blower of gas, set the coal on fire and blew down brattice in the air course. About 260 men were in the mine. George Lawton tried to wall the fire off without warning them, and for many the first sign of danger was the afterdamp. Three explosions followed, the third, a fortnight later, the most destructive, and the whole pit had to be flooded to put out a fire that had spread over a large area.

Rescue & recovery

The workings were flooded to quench the fire after the third explosion, and the bodies were not brought out until October 1863.

Investigation & inquiry

A first inquest within a week found two deaths caused by blasting with gunpowder sanctioned by the under-steward, who had died. A second inquest after the recovery heard that one of the owners, Joseph Mitchell, had offered a bonus for faster driving than could be achieved without gunpowder.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

The second jury again found unsafe use of gunpowder the cause but placed responsibility on the owners, and compensation was paid to the families, the first time in England for deaths in an underground explosion.

What's uncertain

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

• The disaster killed 54 and injured 16. (disputed) ¹
• Three explosions killed 59 men and boys. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

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

• The disaster killed 54 and injured 16. (disputed) ¹
• Three explosions killed 59 men and boys. (disputed) ²
• A shot lit a blower of gas and set the coal on fire, and the pit had to be flooded. ^1,3
• The second inquest blamed the owners, and compensation was paid, the first in England after an underground explosion. ²

Related terminology

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

• Afterdamp (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…without warning them, and for many the first sign of danger was the afterdamp. Three explosions followed, the third, a fortnight later, the most…”
• Blower (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…went on. Between 9 and 10 a.m. on 8 December another shot lit a blower of gas, set the coal on fire and blew down brattice in the air…”
• Brattice (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…another shot lit a blower of gas, set the coal on fire and blew down brattice in the air course. About 260 men were in the mine. George Lawton…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the contributing factors: “Indiscriminate blasting in a gassy seam; naked lights still carried close to the workings; earlier ignitions the week…”
• Shot-firing (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the contributing factors: “Indiscriminate blasting in a gassy seam; naked lights still carried close to the workings;…”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (secondary) Edmunds Main Colliery Explosion - Barnsley - 1862 — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (secondary) The Price of Life (Denise Bates, Discover Your Ancestors) — TheGenealogist
3. (primary) Accidents, Inquests, etc., 3 January 1863 — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 3 October 2026 · Last researched: 3 October 2026