Milnwood Colliery explosion, 1865

Firedamp that had gathered behind a new connection at Milnwood Colliery, Lanarkshire, flowed down a blind pit on 29 March 1865 and fired at the lights of two colliers, who died of their injuries.

Cause

Firedamp, accumulated through defective air-courses, flowed down a newly connected blind pit onto naked lights.

Contributing factors

Defective air-courses; the gas was not cleared before the men were allowed to work.

What happened

In the spring of 1865, the year John Christie took Milnwood Colliery near Bellshill, a blind pit had been sunk from the Main coal down to the Splint coal to give the workings a second outlet. The mine being driven in the Splint coal took three more days to reach it, and in that time, with the air-courses defective, firedamp built up in a mine in the Main coal that led to the blind pit.

When the connection was made on 29 March the gas flowed down the blind pit and fired at the lights of James Scott, 28, and Patrick Slimman, 35, who were working in the Splint coal. Both were fatally injured. The inspector of mines held that the gas should have been cleared while the colliers were out of the pit.

Investigation & inquiry

Described by the inspector of mines in his report for 1865.

Recorded claims

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

• On 29 March 1865 an explosion of firedamp at Milnwood Colliery, Lanarkshire, fatally injured the colliers James Scott, 28, and Patrick Slimman, 35. ^1,2,3
• A blind pit had been sunk from the Main coal to the Splint coal to give a second outlet, and the mine being driven in the Splint coal did not reach it for three days. ¹
• Meanwhile defective air-courses let firedamp gather in a mine in the Main coal leading to the blind pit; when the communication was made the gas flowed down the blind pit and fired at the lights of the two men working in the Splint coal. ¹
• The inspector held that the firedamp should have been cleared while the colliers were out of the pit. ¹
• The colliery belonged to John Christie. ^1,3

Related terminology

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

• Coal (contextual relationship)
  Named 5 times in this record, first in the narrative: “…Colliery near Bellshill, a blind pit had been sunk from the Main coal down to the Splint coal to give the workings a second outlet. The…”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Firedamp that had gathered behind a new connection at Milnwood Colliery, Lanarkshire, flowed down a blind pit on 29 March 1865 and fired at…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Firedamp that had gathered behind a new connection at Milnwood Colliery,…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…who were working in the Splint coal. Both were fatally injured. The inspector of mines held that the gas should have been cleared while the colliers were…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “…defective air-courses, flowed down a newly connected blind pit onto naked lights.”

Sources

1. (secondary) Scottish Mining Website - 1865 Deaths — Scottish Mining Website
2. (secondary) Mining victims, 1860s, S (Shield) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's list of mining victims)
3. (secondary) Mining deaths 1860-1869, surnames S, part 1 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)

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