Norley Colliery explosion, 1852

On the evening of 24 April 1852 firedamp exploded in the Engine Pit at Norley Colliery, Pemberton, near Wigan, killing ten men and boys by the newspaper's count and twelve by the later account, most of them drawers aged between eleven and fifteen. The inquest heard that colliers had been working with their lamps open.

Cause

Firedamp fired at open safety lamps: colliers had taken the tops off their lamps and worked with them open.

What happened

Between fifty and sixty men and boys went down Norley's Engine Pit on the morning of Friday 24 April 1852, carrying lamps. At about three in the afternoon part of them left the pit, and about thirty stayed below to get out the loose coal. At about half past five the explosion came. The banksmen knew at once from the loud report and the cloud of dust blown out of the top of the shaft, and set about bringing up the men who had reached the shaft bottom and recovering the rest. Ten were dead, almost all boys, and eight more were injured. Six men had been killed by fire in the same mine that January.

Investigation & inquiry

The inquest was opened on the Monday before Mr Driffield, the coroner, at the Red Lion, Lamberhead Green, and adjourned until the inspector, Mr Wynne, had examined the pit; he attended the resumed hearing. The evidence on lighting conflicted. The underlooker, Moses Cureton, said only locked lamps were used and naked lights were forbidden. Peter Greenall, a collier, said that on leaving the pit he had seen Hitchen and Atherton still at work with their lamps open, and Geoffrey Bannister, drawer to John Atherton, said Atherton had taken the top off his lamp when he started work and kept it open all day; the lamp was not locked. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, but said they were strongly of the opinion that there had been mismanagement in carrying out the workings, and recommended Wynne's advice that only locked lamps be used in the mine.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• The later account gives twelve killed. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• At about 5.30 on the evening of Friday 24 April 1852 firedamp exploded in the Engine Pit at Norley Colliery, Pemberton; the Southport Visiter named ten dead. ^1,2
• The later account gives twelve killed. (disputed) ¹
• A drawer told the inquest that the collier he worked for had taken the top off his lamp and worked with it open all day, while the underlooker said only locked lamps were used. ¹
• The inquest jury returned accidental death but said there had been mismanagement, and recommended the inspector's advice that only locked lamps be used. ¹

Related terminology

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

• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “On the evening of 24 April 1852 firedamp exploded in the Engine Pit at Norley Colliery, Pemberton, near…”
• Locked Lamp (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the investigation: “…on lighting conflicted. The underlooker, Moses Cureton, said only locked lamps were used and naked lights were forbidden. Peter Greenall, a…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “…The underlooker, Moses Cureton, said only locked lamps were used and naked lights were forbidden. Peter Greenall, a collier, said that on leaving the…”
• Putter (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…the newspaper's count and twelve by the later account, most of them drawers aged between eleven and fifteen. The inquest heard that colliers had…”
• Safety Lamp (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “Firedamp fired at open safety lamps: colliers had taken the tops off their lamps and worked with them…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Norley Colliery Explosion, Wigan, 1852 — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (secondary) Colliery Disasters 1852 (Southport Visiter transcriptions) — Old Mersey Times

Record created: 23 October 2026 · Last researched: 25 October 2026