MineArchiveHaydock explosion, 1831
In May 1831 an explosion of 'inflammable air' in a coal pit at Haydock killed ten or more colliers, most of them children. They were buried at St Thomas's, Ashton-in-Makerfield, between 18 and 24 May.
| Date | May 1831 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Haydock Colliery |
| Region | Lancashire |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 10 (Ten named in the burial register; George Stephenson recalled twelve, and Wikipedia gives up to twelve.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion of firedamp ('inflammable air', in the words of the burial register).
Contributing factors
Unknown.
What happened
The burial register records all the dead as 'killed by the explosion of inflammable air in a coal pit'. Seven were fourteen or under: Mary Cunliffe, 14, and James, 12, and Thomas Cunliffe, 9; John Owen, 13; and Peter, 12, John, 9, and William Litherland, 9. The adults were Thomas Martlew, 40, Thomas Owen, 20, and Edward Cunliffe, 27.
Rescue & recovery
Unknown.
Investigation & inquiry
George Stephenson, who had visited the colliery, told the 1832 Commission he had heard of an explosion there that killed twelve.
Legal & regulatory aftermath
Unknown.
Changes to practice & legislation
Unknown.
Memorials & commemoration
The dead were buried at St Thomas's, Ashton-in-Makerfield.
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 archive's colliery record places the 1831 and 1832 explosions at Edge Green; the sources read say only 'a coal pit' at Haydock. (uncertain) 2,1
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- The burial register of St Thomas's, Ashton-in-Makerfield, names ten 'killed by the explosion of inflammable air in a coal pit', buried 18 to 24 May 1831. 1
- An explosion in May 1831 killed up to twelve workers. 2,3
- The archive's colliery record places the 1831 and 1832 explosions at Edge Green; the sources read say only 'a coal pit' at Haydock. (uncertain) 2,1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “In May 1831 an explosion of 'inflammable air' in a coal pit at Haydock killed ten or more colliers, most of them children. They…” - Firedamp (direct cause)
Inflammable air exploded.
Sources
- (secondary) Haydock Coal Pit Explosion - Haydock - 1831 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Haydock Collieries — Wikipedia — Wikipedia
- (secondary) List of mining disasters in Lancashire — Wikipedia
Record created: 22 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026