MineArchiveTownhouse Colliery explosion, 1850
On 12 April 1850 six men were killed at Townhouse Colliery, Great Marsden, near Burnley, when they followed their leader into gassy workings before he had signalled that it was safe, and one of them took the top off his safety lamp.
| Date | 12 April 1850 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Townhouse Colliery |
| Region | Lancashire |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 6 (John Chadwick, 24, leaving a widow and one child; Joseph Brunton, 28, a widow and two children; William Brunton, 19, his brother, unmarried; Thomas Wilson, 28, a widow and four children; Robert Haworth, 26, a widow and one child; Thomas Steer, 50, widower.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Firedamp fired at an opened safety lamp: the lamp of Joseph Brunton was found beside his body with its top off.
What happened
Six men went down together. One of them, Thomas Steer, left the others at the shaft bottom and went into the workings with a safety lamp to see whether it was safe. The other five followed without waiting for his signal, and Joseph Brunton took the top off his lamp; the gas fired and all six were killed. Brunton's lamp was found beside his body with the top off.
Changes to practice & legislation
The company's agent, Mr Sayer, said that the men had taken the tops off their lamps against the rules, and that anyone found doing so in future would be dismissed at once.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 12 April 1850 an explosion of firedamp at Townhouse Colliery, Great Marsden, worked by Spencer Wilson and Company, killed six men. 1,2
- Thomas Steer went ahead with a safety lamp to test the workings; the others followed without waiting for his signal, and Joseph Brunton took the top off his lamp as the gas fired. 1
- The agent, Mr Sayer, said the men had broken the rules and that anyone who took the top off a lamp in future would be dismissed at once. 1
- Joseph and William Brunton, brothers aged 28 and 19, were both among the dead. 1,2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “On 12 April 1850 six men were killed at Townhouse Colliery, Great Marsden, near Burnley, when they followed their leader into…” - Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “Firedamp fired at an opened safety lamp: the lamp of Joseph Brunton was found…” - Safety Lamp (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…had signalled that it was safe, and one of them took the top off his safety lamp.” - Shaft (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…down together. One of them, Thomas Steer, left the others at the shaft bottom and went into the workings with a safety lamp to see whether…”
Sources
- (secondary) Town House Colliery Explosion, Burnley, 1850 (NMRS accidents and disasters) — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) Colliery disaster, April 1850: Town House Mine (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 24 October 2026 · Last researched: 24 October 2026