MineArchivePendlebury Colliery Explosion, 1870
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.
| Date | 27 September 1870 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Pendlebury Colliery |
| Region | Greater Manchester |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 6 (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 |
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. 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 is recorded.
Memorials & commemoration
No dedicated memorial to this specific explosion is known.
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…” - Naked Light (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…along the ventilation current and ignited among men working with naked lights, killing six.” - 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