MineArchiveHaig Colliery explosion, 1931
| Date | 29 January 1931 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Haig Colliery |
| Region | Cumbria |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 27 |
| Injuries | 13 men were injured. |
| Context | During active mining |
| Status | Researched |
A firedamp explosion in the Main Band seam, over two miles underground at Haig Colliery, killed 27 miners and injured 13 more on the evening of 29 January 1931.
Cause
A firedamp (methane) explosion in the Main Band seam.
What happened
At around 8.15pm on Thursday 29 January 1931, an explosion occurred in the Main Band seam of Haig Pit, over two miles underground, killing 27 miners and injuring a further 13. It was the third of three major explosions to strike the colliery, following disasters in 1922 and 1928.
Sources
- (secondary) Haig Colliery Disaster, 1931 — Newcastle University Co-Curate
- (secondary) Haig Colliery Explosion - Whitehaven - 1931 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 21 August 2026 · Last researched: 21 August 2026