MineArchiveSpringwell Colliery explosion, 1869
At about 2 a.m. on 29 January 1869 a hewer at John Bowes and Partners' Springwell Colliery fired a shot after refusing a safety lamp and being warned of gas, and the Low Main seam exploded, killing five including the deputy. Afterwards the pit was worked only with safety lamps.
| Date | 1869 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Springwell Colliery |
| Region | Tyne and Wear |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 5 (Five: four hewers and the deputy Thomas Aisbitt, who died on 3 February.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Gas, thought to have risen through floor cracks from the goaf of the Hutton seam below, ignited by a shot or naked light in Wynn's bord in the Low Main.
Contributing factors
Naked lights and shotfiring in the Low Main; the master shifter's warning to the hewer Hugh McRae not to fire was ignored; the deputy did not lay off the flat when told of gas; brattices were too far from the face.
What happened
The Low Main lay about ten fathoms above the Hutton, which had been extensively worked, leaving goaves whose settlement cracked the floor above; the underviewer had noticed such a crack the day before. The master shifter Schorer, going off, told the deputy Thomas Aisbitt of a little gas and told McRae not to fire a shot. McRae refused a lamp and fired it. The dead were George Boggon, John Coulson, David Cain and John Wynn, hewers, and Aisbitt.
Rescue & recovery
Unknown.
Investigation & inquiry
The inspector Southern found no gas when he visited but doubted the adequacy of the ventilation of the lower seam.
Legal & regulatory aftermath
The jury found the men killed by an explosion of gas in Wynn's bord; that the brattices should have been nearer the face; that McRae acted wrongly in ignoring Schorer's advice on his candle and shot; that Aisbitt should have laid off the flat; and that the rules should be better known.
Changes to practice & legislation
After the accident the mine was worked exclusively with safety lamps.
Memorials & commemoration
Unknown.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- The explosion about 2 a.m. on 29 January 1869 killed George Boggon, John Coulson, David Cain, Thomas Aisbitt (deputy) and John Wynn. 1,2
- The jury found McRae acted wrongly in not taking Schorer's advice and that Aisbitt ought to have laid off the flat; afterwards only safety lamps were used. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Brattice (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the contributing factors: “…was ignored; the deputy did not lay off the flat when told of gas; brattices were too far from the face.” - Firedamp (direct cause)
Gas from the Hutton goaf below. - Goaf (contributing factor)
Gas rose from the goaf below. - Hewer (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “At about 2 a.m. on 29 January 1869 a hewer at John Bowes and Partners' Springwell Colliery fired a shot after…” - Shot-firing (direct cause)
The hewer fired against advice.
Sources
- (secondary) Durham Mining Museum: Springwell Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Springwell Colliery Explosion - Gateshead - 1869 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 21 September 2026 · Last researched: 21 September 2026