MineArchiveSandwell Park Colliery explosion, 1894
An explosion of firedamp at Sandwell Park Colliery, West Bromwich, on 27 October 1894 burned four men, all of whom died within five days.
| Date | 27 October 1894 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Sandwell Park Colliery |
| Region | West Midlands |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 4 (Four died of their injuries: the stallmen Thomas Harris, Samuel Webster and James Webster and the loader William Adams.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
An explosion of firedamp.
What happened
On 27 October 1894 firedamp exploded in the workings of Sandwell Park Colliery at West Bromwich, the first colliery to work the concealed part of the South Staffordshire coalfield. Three stallmen and a loader were badly hurt: Thomas Harris died the next day, Samuel Webster on 30 October, James Webster on the 31st and William Adams on 1 November.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- An explosion of firedamp at Sandwell Park Colliery, West Bromwich, on 27 October 1894 fatally injured four men, who died between 28 October and 1 November. 1,2,3,4
- The dead were the stallmen Thomas Harris, 39, Samuel Webster, 39, and James Webster, 47, and the loader William Adams, 38. 1,2,3,4
- Harris died on 28 October, Samuel Webster on the 30th, James Webster on the 31st and Adams on 1 November. 1,2,3,4
- The colliery belonged to the Sandwell Park Colliery Company. 2,3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “An explosion of firedamp at Sandwell Park Colliery, West Bromwich, on 27 October 1894 burned four men, all of whom died…” - Filler (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…part of the South Staffordshire coalfield. Three stallmen and a loader were badly hurt: Thomas Harris died the next day, Samuel Webster on…” - Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “An explosion of firedamp at Sandwell Park Colliery, West Bromwich, on 27 October 1894 burned…”
Sources
- (secondary) Alphabetical list of mining victims 1890-1899: H (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero
- (primary) Sandwell Park Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames A (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames W part 2 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026