Higham Colliery explosion, 1860

On the afternoon of 15 February 1860 gas from the goaves fired at a boy's candle at the northern limit of Messrs Charlesworth's Higham Colliery, near Barnsley, killing thirteen men and lads. The colliers had locked Davy lamps, but the horse drivers were allowed candles within yards of the goaves.

Cause

Firedamp from the goaves ignited at a candle carried by a boy horse driver.

Contributing factors

Candles allowed to boys near goaves known to give off gas; poor ventilation at the far end of the workings; the inspector's advice to use locked lamps only not followed.

What happened

The Silkstone seam at Higham was known to be fiery: in 1857 gas from the goaves had fired at the ventilating furnace and killed all the horses, though the furnaceman was saved. The hewers worked pillars at the far end of the workings, close to goaves on every side and cut by three large faults, where the air was poor. That morning one goaf showed gas. After the explosion every lamp found was locked and in order, but a lad lay burnt beside his lantern a dozen yards from the goaf.

The inspector, Morton, had told the underviewer, John Ainsworth, in October 1857 and December 1858 to take out all candles and work the pit with locked safety lamps only, and believed the explosion would not have happened had he done so. The dead included David Jagger, 72, and his grandson David, 14, and John Wilson and his son Joseph, aged eleven.

Investigation & inquiry

The inspector Morton said it was surprising that the underviewer and deputies supposed anyone could be safe there with boys carrying candles so close to the goaves.

Recorded claims

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

• The explosion on 15 February 1860 killed thirteen men and lads in the Silkstone seam. ^1,2
• Boys carried candles close to the edges of goaves where gas was found, while the colliers used locked Davy lamps. ^1,2
• The inspector had twice advised the underviewer to remove all candles and use locked safety lamps only. ¹
• In 1857 gas from the goaves ignited at the ventilating furnace and killed all the horses. ¹

Related terminology

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

• Deputy (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “The inspector Morton said it was surprising that the underviewer and deputies supposed anyone could be safe there with boys carrying candles so…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “Firedamp from the goaves ignited at a candle carried by a boy horse driver.”
• Goaf (contextual relationship)
  Named 9 times in this record, first in the summary: “On the afternoon of 15 February 1860 gas from the goaves fired at a boy's candle at the northern limit of Messrs…”
• Hewer (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…and killed all the horses, though the furnaceman was saved. The hewers worked pillars at the far end of the workings, close to goaves on…”
• Safety Lamp (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…Barnsley, killing thirteen men and lads. The colliers had locked Davy lamps, but the horse drivers were allowed candles within yards of the…”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (secondary) Higham Colliery Explosion - Barnsley - 1860 — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (primary) Colliery Disaster: Higham, 15 February 1860 — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 3 October 2026 · Last researched: 3 October 2026