Ince Moss Colliery explosions, 1871

The explosion in the Wigan Nine Feet mine at the Moss Pits, Ince, near Wigan, on 6 September 1871 was, in the inspector's words, the most serious casualty of the year or that he had ever known. Sixty-four people were at work in the mine and six more were sinking the upcast pit below, seventy in all. Sixty-eight bodies were left underground: the rescuers found the mine on fire, a second slight explosion drove them back, and the attempt to recover the dead was given up.

Cause

An explosion of firedamp; the inspector recorded that the cause of ignition was not established.

What happened

The Moss Pits at Ince, near Wigan, belonged to Pearson and Knowles. Their shafts were fifteen feet in diameter and 460 yards deep to the Wigan Nine Feet mine, with the cannel mine worked in the same pits at 560 yards. On 6 September 1871 sixty-four people were at work in the Nine Feet and six men were sinking the upcast pit to a seam below when the explosion came. Everyone employed in the cannel mine was brought out uninjured, but sixty-eight of the seventy in the Nine Feet and the upcast were killed. The disaster did not end there. While the mine burned and recovery was suspended, a second explosion tore through the pit top: the Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser of 23 September 1871 reported that fresh air driven on to the fire had caused it, that the blast threw materials thirty or forty yards and badly damaged the head gear, and that the foreman joiner Ashurst -- a married man with five children, just lowered to the platform covering the downcast shaft -- had been blown to pieces. The foreman sinker Farrimond and a browman named Walsh, who had two sons lying dead in the seam, were also killed, and a man named Shuttleworth was missing hours later, feared fallen down the shaft. The report of the explosion was heard for miles and the flame seen across Wigan.

Rescue & recovery

In exploring the workings the rescuers found the mine on fire, and a second slight explosion caused them to give up the attempt to recover the missing bodies; a consultation of mining engineers was then held.

Investigation & inquiry

The disaster was reported by HM Inspector of Mines, who recorded the cause of ignition as not established.

Memorials & commemoration

Unknown.

Recorded claims

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

• The inspector called the explosion of 6 September 1871 in the Wigan Nine Feet mine at the Moss Pits, Ince, near Wigan, the property of Pearson and Knowles, the most serious casualty of the year or that he had ever known; 64 people were at work in the mine and six more were sinking the upcast pit to a seam below, seventy in all. ¹
• The shafts were fifteen feet in diameter and 460 yards deep; at 560 yards in the same pits the cannel mine was being worked, and everyone employed there was got out uninjured. ¹
• The bodies of 68 people killed by the first explosion still lay in the Nine Feet mine and the upcast pit; exploring the workings, the rescuers found the mine on fire, and a second slight explosion made them give up the attempt to recover them, after which a consultation of mining engineers was held. ¹
• A second explosion at the Moss Pits, reported on 23 September 1871, was attributed to fresh air being driven on to the fire still burning underground; the force of the blast threw materials thirty or forty yards and did considerable damage to the head gear. ²
• Among those killed in the second explosion were the foreman joiner Ashurst, a married man with five children, who had just been lowered to the platform covering the downcast shaft, the foreman sinker Farrimond, and a browman named Walsh, who had two sons lying dead in the seam; a man named Shuttleworth was missing hours afterwards and was feared to have fallen down the shaft. ²
• The report of the explosion was heard for several miles and the sheet of flame was seen from places within the borough of Wigan; crowds hurried to the colliery and were kept at a distance for fear of another blast. ²

Sources

1. (secondary) Colliery Disaster: Ince Moss, 6 September 1871 (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum
2. (primary) Another Explosion at the Moss Pits, Wigan (Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser, 23 September 1871) — Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales

Record created: 17 September 2026 · Last researched: 20 September 2026