Manvers Main Colliery sinking accident, 1869

Sinkers at Manvers Main Colliery, near Rotherham, went back down on 14 December 1869 to drill out a shot that had missed fire, against the rules and under their master sinker; it exploded and killed two.

Cause

A missed shot exploded while being drilled out.

Contributing factors

Breach of the special rules against drilling out missed shots and returning to them within six hours, with the master sinker's approval.

What happened

In December 1869 the shafts at Manvers Main, near Rotherham, were still being sunk. The master sinker, Charles Taylor, and his men lit the fuse of a shot in the shaft bottom, a hole about 3 feet 3 inches deep holding 2 lb of powder, and were drawn to the surface. It missed fire.

About three-quarters of an hour later Taylor and three of the sinkers went back down, found the fuse had run without setting off the charge, and began to drill it out. The shot exploded and so badly injured H. Pashley, 30, and Thomas Smith, 26, that they died shortly afterwards.

The special rules said a missed shot must never be drilled out and that sinkers must keep away from one for six hours. The inspector called it a gross and wilful breach, out of character for a sinker the owners knew as steady and careful after twenty years, and the coroner's inquest committed Taylor for manslaughter.

Investigation & inquiry

Described by the inspector of mines, F. N. Wardell, in his report for 1869.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

The coroner's inquest committed the master sinker, Charles Taylor, for manslaughter.

Recorded claims

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

• On 14 December 1869 a missed shot exploded while sinkers were drilling it out in the bottom of a sinking pit at Manvers Main Colliery, near Rotherham, killing H. Pashley, 30, and Thomas Smith, 26. ^1,2,3,4
• The fuse had run without firing the 2 lb charge; about three-quarters of an hour later the master sinker, Charles Taylor, took three men back down and supervised drilling it out. ³
• The special rules forbade drilling out a missed shot and required sinkers to stay away from one for six hours. ³
• The coroner's inquest committed Taylor for manslaughter. ³
• The colliery belonged to the Manvers Main Coal Co. ^3,4

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “Sinkers at Manvers Main Colliery, near Rotherham, went back down on 14 December 1869 to drill out a…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “Described by the inspector of mines, F. N. Wardell, in his report for 1869.”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “In December 1869 the shafts at Manvers Main, near Rotherham, were still being sunk. The master…”
• Shaft Sinking (contextual relationship)
  Named 8 times in this record, first in the summary: “Sinkers at Manvers Main Colliery, near Rotherham, went back down on 14…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Mining deaths 1860-1869, surnames P, part 1 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
2. (primary) Manvers Main Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
3. (primary) Colliery accident, Manvers Main, 14 December 1869 — Durham Mining Museum
4. (secondary) Mining deaths 1860-1869, surnames S, part 3 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)

Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026