Malago Vale Colliery explosion, 1891

On the Sunday night to Monday morning shift of 30 to 31 August 1891 firedamp exploded in the Argus workings of Malago Vale Colliery, Bedminster, killing ten of the 28 men underground. The gas, released at a weighted roof, was fired at a naked light in a district where safety lamps had been ordered after an explosion the year before.

Cause

Gas given off suddenly at a weighted roof accumulated on the high side of the Argus workings and was ignited at George Burgess's naked light, in workings where lamps were required. Naked lights were still in general use elsewhere in the pit, and the manager, officials and men had strenuously opposed safety lamps.

What happened

Malago Vale, owned by the Bristol Collieries Company, worked the Top Vein and the Bedminster Great Vein from two shafts, the Malago or Old Pit, 500 yards deep, and the Argus or New Pit, 580 yards, with a furnace for ventilation. The Great Vein gave off a little gas and there had been small explosions in 1887, 1890 and 1891, one of them fatal; after the 1890 explosion the company's engineer, John Batey, had ordered safety lamps in the disturbed coal at the bottom of the Argus Dukeway, intending to extend them gradually against the men's prejudice. A connection between the Argus and Malago workings was holed through on Friday 28 August, and the pit stood idle until Sunday night. Examiner William Button was to inspect the workings before sending George Burgess and Frederick Chambers to work. The explosion followed, in the No. 8 Argus Level.

Rescue & recovery

The manager, Ralph Hope, and the chief overman, Joseph Button, went down at once and found nine men dead and Frederick Chambers unconscious; Chambers spoke to them, saying that Burgess had caused it, and died soon afterwards. Charles Poultney was found unconscious with his Davy lamp burning his hands.

Investigation & inquiry

The inquest was held on 7, 8 and 14 September 1891 before H. S. Wasbrough, coroner for Bedminster; the jury found that the deaths resulted from an explosion of gas liberated by a fall of roof and fired at a naked light carried by a workman contrary to the regulations of the mine. Reports were made to the Home Secretary by C. A. Prideaux, barrister, and J. S. Martin, H.M. Inspector of Mines. Prideaux found a box of matches and tobacco in Chambers's waistcoat and urged that the law should allow colliers to be searched before going below.

Recorded claims

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

• An explosion of firedamp at Malago Vale Colliery, Bedminster, on the night of 30 to 31 August 1891 killed ten of the 28 men underground. ^1,2
• The explosion began in the No. 8 Argus Level of the Bedminster Great Vein, where gas given off at a weighted roof was fired at George Burgess's naked light. ²
• The jury found that the deaths resulted from an explosion of gas liberated by a fall of roof and fired at a naked light carried contrary to the regulations of the mine. ²
• Safety lamps had been ordered in the Argus workings after an explosion there in 1890, against strong opposition from the manager, officials and men. ²
• C. A. Prideaux found matches and tobacco in the clothing of Frederick Chambers and urged a power to search colliers before they went down. ²

Related terminology

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

• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “…Home Secretary by C. A. Prideaux, barrister, and J. S. Martin, H.M. Inspector of Mines. Prideaux found a box of matches and tobacco in Chambers's waistcoat…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…underground. The gas, released at a weighted roof, was fired at a naked light in a district where safety lamps had been ordered after an explosion…”
• Overman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s rescue and recovery: “The manager, Ralph Hope, and the chief overman, Joseph Button, went down at once and found nine men dead and…”
• Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “…that the deaths resulted from an explosion of gas liberated by a fall of roof and fired at a naked light carried by a workman contrary to the…”
• Safety Lamp (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…at a weighted roof, was fired at a naked light in a district where safety lamps had been ordered after an explosion the year before.”

Sources

1. (primary) Malago Vale Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Malago Vale Colliery Explosion, Bristol, 1891 (NMRS) — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 23 October 2026 · Last researched: 23 October 2026