MineArchiveMickley Colliery Roof Fall
On 2 March 1927 two brothers, both experienced stonemen, were killed at Mickley Colliery, in Northumberland, when a misfired shot exploded as they drilled out its stemming.
| Date | 2 March 1927 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Mickley Colliery |
| Region | Northumberland |
| Primary type | Explosion |
| Associated types | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Thomas Stokoe (55) and William Stokoe (46), brothers, both stonemen.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
The men were, on the evidence, drilling out the stemming of a misfired sumping shot in hard rock when the charge exploded, and a heavy fall of roof followed and buried them.
What happened
Thomas Stokoe, aged 55, and William Stokoe, aged 46, brothers and both datal stonemen, were driving a rise cross-measure drift. The Inspector's report judged that, rather than drill a second hole in the hard rock, they had been drilling out the stemming of a shot that had missed fire; the charge exploded and killed them instantly, a heavy fall of roof burying the men. The report treated it as a case of familiarity with explosives costing two skilled men their lives.
Sources
- (primary) Mickley Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) Mickley Colliery shot-firing accident, 2 March 1927 (from the 1927 Mines Inspector's Report) — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 8 September 2026 · Last researched: 22 September 2026