Pemberton Colliery explosion, 1902

A shot fired at the Pemberton Colliery Company's pit at Wigan on 3 March 1902 ignited firedamp, and the explosion killed the shotlighter and his seventeen-year-old assistant.

Cause

Firedamp ignited by a shot.

What happened

On 3 March 1902 a shot fired at Pemberton Colliery, Wigan, owned by the Pemberton Colliery Company, ignited firedamp. The explosion killed the shotlighter, Burgess, aged 34, and his assistant, R. Fairclough, aged 17. The inspector of mines visited the scene and attended the inquest.

Investigation & inquiry

An inspector of mines made an inspection and attended the inquest.

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 shotlighter's initial is given as E. (disputed) ⁴
• The shotlighter's initial is given as R. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

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

• On 3 March 1902 an explosion at Pemberton Colliery killed two men. ^1,2,3
• The explosion was of firedamp ignited by a shot. ^4,2
• The dead were the shotlighter Burgess, 34, and his assistant R. Fairclough, 17. ^4,3
• The shotlighter's initial is given as E. (disputed) ⁴
• The shotlighter's initial is given as R. (disputed) ²
• An inspection was made and the inquest attended. ^4,3

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “On 3 March 1902 a shot fired at Pemberton Colliery, Wigan, owned by the Pemberton Colliery Company, ignited firedamp.…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Pemberton Colliery Company's pit at Wigan on 3 March 1902 ignited firedamp, and the explosion killed the shotlighter and his seventeen-year-old…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…Burgess, aged 34, and his assistant, R. Fairclough, aged 17. The inspector of mines visited the scene and attended the inquest.”

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Pemberton, 3 March 1902 — Durham Mining Museum
2. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: R. Burgess, Pemberton, 1902 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: R. Fairclough, Pemberton, 1902 — Northern Mine Research Society
4. (primary) Pemberton Colliery — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 18 October 2026 · Last researched: 18 October 2026