Markham Colliery explosion, 1937

Date	21 January 1937
Mine	Markham Colliery
Region	Derbyshire
Type	Explosion
Fatalities	9 (The nine dead, all killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, were Ralph Marsden (41), Edward Baggaley (34), Charles Moreton (29), Frank Roddy (25), Leonard Cadywould (21), Joseph Furniss (28), William Caulwell (48), Edmund Smith (29) and Wilfred E. Slater (30).)
Injuries	Several other men survived with burn injuries.
Context	During active mining
Status	Researched

A firedamp explosion at Markham Colliery, ignited by a faulty electrical coal-cutter after a roof break released trapped gas, killed 9 men by carbon monoxide poisoning on 21 January 1937.

Cause

A roof break near the coal cutter released trapped firedamp; a faulty replacement cover plate on the cutter's electrical controller compartment, where coal dust had collected in a small gap, produced a spark that ignited the gas. The inquiry described it as resulting from 'an unforeseen combination of abnormal conditions'.

What happened

Cutter operators arrived to begin work around 1:45pm; witnesses reported a flash and a crack from the machine, with one operator seeing a blue flame flash from its side. The main explosion followed around 2:40pm, described by witnesses as 'a crack like a shot out of a gun' accompanied by intense flame and smoke, travelling from the left bank toward the loader gate.

Investigation & inquiry

An inquest held on 18-19 February 1937 found the explosion was purely one of firedamp, with coal dust playing no part, caused by the coal cutter's faulty electrical design combined with the roof break; recovered safety lamps were found generally serviceable, and the jury concluded the company had maintained proper safety precautions.

Memorials & commemoration

Commemorated, alongside the colliery's 1938 and 1973 disasters, by the 'Walking Together' memorial trail of 106 steel figures (see the mine's own record).

Recorded claims

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

A roof break released trapped firedamp near the coal cutter; a faulty replacement cover plate on its electrical controller, where coal dust had collected, produced the ignition spark. ^1,2
Nine men died of carbon monoxide poisoning: Ralph Marsden, Edward Baggaley, Charles Moreton, Frank Roddy, Leonard Cadywould, Joseph Furniss, William Caulwell, Edmund Smith and Wilfred E. Slater. ²

Related terminology

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

Coal (contextual relationship)
Named 4 times in this record, first in the cause: “A roof break near the coal cutter released trapped firedamp; a faulty replacement cover plate…”
Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “A firedamp explosion at Markham Colliery, ignited by a faulty electrical coal-cutter after a roof break…”
Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “A firedamp explosion at Markham Colliery, ignited by a faulty electrical…”

Sources

(secondary) Markham Colliery disaster — Wikipedia
(secondary) Markham Colliery Explosion - Markham - 1937 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 27 August 2026 · Last researched: 27 August 2026