MineArchiveMontagu Colliery explosion, 1891
Two men recovering rails from an old part of Montagu Colliery, Scotswood, were killed on 9 December 1891 when gas fired at their lamps.
| Date | 9 December 1891 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Montagu Colliery |
| Region | Tyne and Wear |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two killed: the putter Thomas Halliday (Holliday in one list) and the rolleywayman Joseph Ryan.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Gas in an old part of the pit fired at the men's lamps.
What happened
On the evening of 9 December 1891 the putter Thomas Halliday, 17, and the rolleywayman Joseph Ryan, 27, were getting rails out of an old part of Montagu Colliery, west of Newcastle, when gas ignited at their lamps. Halliday was killed and Ryan died the next day. Halliday's surname is spelt Holliday in one list.
Investigation & inquiry
The Inspector of Mines made an inspection and attended the inquest.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- At 8 p.m. on 9 December 1891 gas ignited at the lamps of two men in an old part of Montagu Colliery, killing the putter Thomas Halliday, 17, and the rolleywayman Joseph Ryan, 27. 1,2,3
- They were getting rails out of an old part of the pit when the gas fired at their lamps. 1,2,3
- Ryan died the following day, 10 December. 1
- The colliery belonged to William Benson and Sons. 2,3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two men recovering rails from an old part of Montagu Colliery, Scotswood, were killed on 9 December 1891 when gas fired at their…” - HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s investigation: “The Inspector of Mines made an inspection and attended the inquest.” - Putter (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “On the evening of 9 December 1891 the putter Thomas Halliday, 17, and the rolleywayman Joseph Ryan, 27, were…”
Sources
- (primary) Montagu Main Colliery (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Alphabetical list of mining victims 1890-1899: H (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames R part 5 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026