Hanham Colliery explosion, 1911

At about half past eleven on the morning of 27 April 1911 an explosion of firedamp or coal dust at Hanham Colliery, on the River Avon east of Bristol, killed two miners, William Fricker and George Hooper.

Cause

An explosion of firedamp or coal dust.

Recorded claims

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

• At about 11.30 a.m. on 27 April 1911 an explosion at Hanham Colliery killed two miners, William Fricker and George Hooper. ^1,2,3
• The explosion was of firedamp or coal dust. ^1,2,3
• The colliery then belonged to Bedminster, Easton, Kingswood and Parkfield Collieries Ltd. ^2,3

Related terminology

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

• Coal (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…eleven on the morning of 27 April 1911 an explosion of firedamp or coal dust at Hanham Colliery, on the River Avon east of Bristol, killed…”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “…of 27 April 1911 an explosion of firedamp or coal dust at Hanham Colliery, on the River Avon east of Bristol, killed two miners, William…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…half past eleven on the morning of 27 April 1911 an explosion of firedamp or coal dust at Hanham Colliery, on the River Avon east of Bristol,…”

Sources

1. (primary) Hanham Colliery (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: William Fricker, Hanham, 27 April 1911 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: George Hooper, Hanham, 27 April 1911 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 25 October 2026 · Last researched: 25 October 2026