Newburgh Colliery gas explosion, 1914

A gas explosion at about 10.35 p.m. on Sunday 16 August 1914 in a pair of headings at Newburgh Colliery killed the chargeman Samuel Ainsley and Stephen Hume, who died the following day, and slightly injured a third man.

Cause

Firedamp that had collected in a pair of headings was ignited by the open lamp carried by Stephen Hume. Ainsley and Pringle carried safety lamps.

Contributing factors

The headings, driven about 40 yards from a cross-heading and rising three inches to the yard, had stood for some weeks, and a recent change in the ventilation had taken the main pressure of air off them. The men went through the fence into the fore-heading with Hume's naked light.

What happened

Three men went into the Newburgh workings on the Sunday night of 16 August 1914 to start work: the chargeman Samuel Ainsley, Stephen Hume and William Pringle. Ainsley and Pringle had safety lamps; Hume carried an open lamp. Ainsley took Hume through the fence into the fore-heading of a pair of headings that had stood for some weeks, and a fairly large accumulation of gas exploded at the open light.

Pringle, a little behind, saw the place light up and then heard the explosion; he reached the bank by the mothergate as Hume's brother George was carrying Hume out unconscious. Ainsley was brought out dead. Hume was taken to the infirmary in Newcastle, where he died on 17 August.

Investigation & inquiry

The inquest on Ainsley, before the North Northumberland coroner Charles Percy at Amble, was attended by H.M. Inspector of Mines T. Askley, Alan Morison, manager of Broomhill Collieries, and miners' union representatives; the inquest on Hume was resumed by the deputy coroner at the Newcastle infirmary. A deputy-overman, John Wardle, said he had examined the place two days earlier and found no gas and pure air, and Pringle said there seemed to be plenty of ventilation. The juries returned verdicts of accidental death through an explosion of gas.

Recorded claims

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

• A gas explosion at about 10.35 p.m. on 16 August 1914 killed the chargeman Samuel Ainsley at Newburgh Colliery; Stephen Hume died the next day. ^1,2
• Gas accumulated in a pair of headings was lit at the open lamp carried by Stephen Hume; the other two men carried safety lamps. ^1,2
• A recent change in the ventilation had taken the main pressure of air off the headings, which had stood for some weeks. ¹
• A third man, Pringle of Warkworth, received slight wounds to the head. ²
• The jury returned a verdict that the men were accidentally killed through an explosion of gas. ²

Related terminology

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

• Deputy (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “…union representatives; the inquest on Hume was resumed by the deputy coroner at the Newcastle infirmary. A deputy-overman, John Wardle,…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “…Northumberland coroner Charles Percy at Amble, was attended by H.M. Inspector of Mines T. Askley, Alan Morison, manager of Broomhill Collieries, and…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the contributing factors: “…The men went through the fence into the fore-heading with Hume's naked light.”
• Pithead (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…saw the place light up and then heard the explosion; he reached the bank by the mothergate as Hume's brother George was carrying Hume out…”
• Safety Lamp (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “…the open lamp carried by Stephen Hume. Ainsley and Pringle carried safety lamps.”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum - Newburgh Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) The Amble and District Mining Memorial: Newburgh Colliery — Amble and District Local History (fusilier.co.uk)

Record created: 29 September 2026 · Last researched: 29 September 2026