MineArchiveHaig Colliery explosion, 1922
| Date | 5 September 1922 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Haig Colliery |
| Region | Cumbria |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 39 |
| Context | During active mining |
| Status | Researched |
A firedamp explosion at Haig Colliery on 5 September 1922 killed 39 men, the worst of three major explosions to strike the mine over its working life.
Cause
A firedamp (methane) explosion underground.
What happened
On 5 September 1922, a firedamp explosion tore through workings at Haig Colliery in Whitehaven, killing 39 men. It remains the single worst disaster in the colliery's history, in a mine that would go on to suffer two further major explosions in 1928 and 1931.
Sources
- (secondary) Haig Colliery — Wikipedia
- (secondary) Haig Colliery Explosion - Whitehaven - 1922 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 21 August 2026 · Last researched: 21 August 2026