Rotherham Main Colliery explosion, 1910

A stone falling from a cavity in the goaf at a longwall face in Rotherham Main Colliery on 21 July 1910 knocked out a prop and smashed a safety lamp, and the firedamp it brought down exploded, fatally burning three men.

Cause

A fall of stone from a cavity in the goaf smashed a safety lamp and released firedamp, which the lamp flame ignited.

What happened

On 21 July 1910 three men were working together at a longwall face in John Brown and Company's Rotherham Main Colliery. Joseph Evans, a 54-year-old collier, was setting a prop when a large stone fell from a cavity in the goaf, knocked out a prop and smashed a safety lamp. The fall brought firedamp down with it from the cavity, and the exposed flame set off a sharp explosion. Evans and the two fillers with him, Reginald Evans and Albert Fletcher, both 24, were so badly burnt that all three died.

Recorded claims

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

• On 21 July 1910 an explosion at Rotherham Main Colliery fatally burnt three men: Joseph Evans, Reginald Evans and Albert Fletcher. ^1,2
• A large stone fell from a cavity in the goaf, knocked out a prop and smashed a safety lamp; the firedamp brought down with it exploded. ^1,2
• The colliery was owned by John Brown and Company Limited. ^1,2

Related terminology

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

• Filler (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…and the exposed flame set off a sharp explosion. Evans and the two fillers with him, Reginald Evans and Albert Fletcher, both 24, were so badly…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…21 July 1910 knocked out a prop and smashed a safety lamp, and the firedamp it brought down exploded, fatally burning three men.”
• Goaf (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “A stone falling from a cavity in the goaf at a longwall face in Rotherham Main Colliery on 21 July 1910…”
• Longwall (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “A stone falling from a cavity in the goaf at a longwall face in Rotherham Main Colliery on 21 July 1910 knocked out a prop…”
• Safety Lamp (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Main Colliery on 21 July 1910 knocked out a prop and smashed a safety lamp, and the firedamp it brought down exploded, fatally burning three…”

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Rotherham Main explosion, 21 July 1910 — Durham Mining Museum
2. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Albert Fletcher, Rotherham Main, 1910 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Rotherham Main Colliery — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 17 October 2026 · Last researched: 17 October 2026