Govan Colliery powder explosion, 1862

A store of gunpowder in a cabin near the pit bottom of Govan No. 2 pit, Glasgow, exploded on 6 February 1862, apparently when a roadsman took a naked light in to help himself, killing two men.

Cause

Gunpowder in an underground store ignited by an unprotected light.

Contributing factors

The powder store was not secured against men helping themselves.

What happened

At William Dixon's Govan Colliery, worked longwall, the walls were built and the roadways cut at night, and the powder for the night men was kept in a cabin about 40 fathoms from the bottom of No. 2 pit, given out by a man named Mackie. On 6 February 1862 the roadsman William Newton, 27, asked Mackie for powder. Mackie was busy and did not go at once, and a few minutes later the cabin blew up.

Newton and another roadsman, William Campbell, 50, were fatally injured, and the fittings and much of the brickwork near the shaft were wrecked. The inspector concluded that Newton had gone to help himself and let the flame of his lamp get too near the powder, and said a store of powder kept underground ought to be locked against careless hands. Another account names Campbell as the man who took the light into the magazine.

Investigation & inquiry

Described by the inspector of mines in his report for 1862.

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 inspector concluded that Newton, going to the cabin to fetch powder himself instead of waiting for the man who gave it out, let the flame of his lamp get too near the powder. (uncertain) ¹
• Winstanley's list has Campbell going into the magazine with an unprotected light. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

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

• On 6 February 1862 gunpowder stored in a cabin near the pit bottom of Govan No. 2 pit, Glasgow, exploded and fatally injured the roadsmen William Newton, 27, and William Campbell, 50. ^1,2
• The cabin, about 40 fathoms from the pit bottom, held the powder for the night workmen, who built the walls and cut the roadways of the longwall workings at night. ¹
• The inspector concluded that Newton, going to the cabin to fetch powder himself instead of waiting for the man who gave it out, let the flame of his lamp get too near the powder. (uncertain) ¹
• Winstanley's list has Campbell going into the magazine with an unprotected light. (disputed) ²
• The fittings and much of the brickwork near the shaft were destroyed. ¹
• The colliery belonged to William Dixon and Co. ^1,2

Related terminology

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

• Fathom (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…night, and the powder for the night men was kept in a cabin about 40 fathoms from the bottom of No. 2 pit, given out by a man named Mackie. On 6…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “Described by the inspector of mines in his report for 1862.”
• Longwall (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “At William Dixon's Govan Colliery, worked longwall, the walls were built and the roadways cut at night, and the powder…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “…exploded on 6 February 1862, apparently when a roadsman took a naked light in to help himself, killing two men.”
• Roadman (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…No. 2 pit, Glasgow, exploded on 6 February 1862, apparently when a roadsman took a naked light in to help himself, killing two men.”

Sources

1. (secondary) Fatal accidents in Scottish mines, 1862 — Scottish Mining Website
2. (secondary) Mining deaths 1860-1869, surnames C, part 1 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)

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