MineArchivePendlebury Colliery Explosion, 1870
| Date | 27 September 1870 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Pendlebury Colliery |
| Region | Greater Manchester |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 6 dead: David Clough (48, fireman), Robert Fox (53, miner), Robert Fox (13, wagoner — his son or relative, sharing his name), Thomas Taylor (24, miner), James Taylor (32, miner), and Joseph Taylor (30, miner). |
| Context | During active mining |
| Status | Researched |
A roof fall released a large quantity of gas at Pendlebury (Wheatsheaf) Colliery on 27 September 1870, which travelled along the ventilation current and ignited among men working with naked lights, killing six.
Cause
A roof fall in a boundary bay released a large quantity of gas, which travelled along the ventilation current to a bay where men were working with naked lights and ignited there.
What happened
On 27 September 1870, work was nearly complete in a boundary bay at Pendlebury Colliery, then owned by Andrew Knowles and Sons, when part of the roof gave way and released a large quantity of gas. Carried along the ventilation current, the gas reached a bay where miners were working with naked lights and ignited, killing six: fireman David Clough, miners Robert Fox (53), Thomas Taylor, James Taylor and Joseph Taylor, and a young wagoner also named Robert Fox, aged 13 — the two Foxes sharing a name suggesting a family relationship, though this is not stated directly in the source consulted. The Mines Inspectors' Report for 1870, compiled by Joseph Dickinson, recorded the event.
Investigation & inquiry
Documented in the Mines Inspectors' Report of 1870, compiled by Joseph Dickinson; no further inquest detail has been located in the sources consulted.
Memorials & commemoration
No dedicated memorial to this specific explosion has been identified.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Six men and boys were killed: David Clough, Robert Fox (53), Robert Fox (13), Thomas Taylor, James Taylor and Joseph Taylor. 1
- A roof fall in a boundary bay released gas that travelled along the ventilation current and ignited among men working with naked lights. 1
- Wikipedia's account of Pendlebury Colliery confirms Andrew Knowles and Sons owned the colliery throughout this period, matching NMRS's disaster page. 2
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: “…fall released a large quantity of gas at Pendlebury (Wheatsheaf) Colliery on 27 September 1870, which travelled along the ventilation current…” - Fireman (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…miners were working with naked lights and ignited, killing six: fireman David Clough, miners Robert Fox (53), Thomas Taylor, James Taylor…” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “A roof fall released a large quantity of gas at Pendlebury (Wheatsheaf) Colliery…”
Sources
- (primary) Pendlebury Colliery Explosion — Pendlebury — 1870 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Pendlebury Colliery — Wikipedia
Record created: 3 September 2026 · Last researched: 3 September 2026