Haydock Colliery explosion, 1850

In November 1850 foul air fired in a pit of R. Evans and Company at Haydock, killing ten men and boys, most of them drawers, and burning others. The men often worked with naked candles against orders.

Cause

Gas, probably from old workings, ignited; a cloth hung between the old and new workings had been cut open the day before.

Contributing factors

Colliers, drawers and pony drivers often used naked candles, and powder was sometimes used; there was no regular examination of the pit before work. The underlooker said scarcely any of the men could read or write.

What happened

There were upwards of fifty in the pit. The underlooker, Thomas Litherland, found eight dead: Joseph Leatherbarrow, 39, and seven drawers from eleven to twenty-one. George Sanderson, 15, a pony driver, died the next day and William Houghton, 8, a jigger-boy, the day after. All four ponies were killed. Ralph Leyland, working in the furthest splittings, said the air there was mixed with foul air and that men knew of it the day before.

Rescue & recovery

Unknown.

Investigation & inquiry

The inquest at the Ram's Head, Haydock, was adjourned so that the government inspector Seymour Tremenheere could attend. The verdict was accidental death by an explosion of foul and inflammable air.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

Unknown.

Changes to practice & legislation

The jury wanted a fireman to examine the pit every morning, lamps cleaned, filled and locked before the men went down, and printed rules; the coroner commended the Ince Hall Company's rules. Mr J. Evans undertook to adopt the recommendations.

Memorials & commemoration

Eight of the dead were buried on the Sunday, the firm paying for the coffins.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• NMRS gives No. 13 Pit, 8 November 1850; the Liverpool Mercury of 12 November gives No. 18 Pit and an explosion 'on Thursday'. (disputed) ^1,2

Recorded claims

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

• NMRS gives No. 13 Pit, 8 November 1850; the Liverpool Mercury of 12 November gives No. 18 Pit and an explosion 'on Thursday'. (disputed) ^1,2
• Eight bodies were taken out and two more died, making ten. ^1,2
• There was great difficulty in preventing the men working with candles; the accident was put down to gas from old workings. ¹
• The jury recommended a fireman inspect the mine every morning and that lamps be locked before men descended. ^1,2

Related terminology

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

• Bad Air (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “In November 1850 foul air fired in a pit of R. Evans and Company at Haydock, killing ten men…”
• Fireman (contextual relationship)
  A morning fireman's examination was recommended.
• Naked Light (contributing factor)
  Men worked with candles against orders.
• Putter (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Evans and Company at Haydock, killing ten men and boys, most of them drawers, and burning others. The men often worked with naked candles against…”
• Safety Lamp (contextual relationship)
  Locked lamps were recommended.

Sources

1. (secondary) Haydock Colliery No 13 Pit Explosion - Haydock - 1850 — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (primary) Colliery explosion, at Haydock, No 18 pit, 1850 (Liverpool Mercury, 12 November 1850) — Old Mersey Times

Record created: 22 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026