Townhouse Colliery explosion, 1856

On 13 November 1856 a newcomer at Townhouse Colliery, Great Marsden, fired his own shot with a powder squib; it flew into the goaf and fired gas, burning ten men, five of whom died at home over the following month.

Cause

A 'German', a paper squib filled with powder, lit by a new workman firing his own shot, flew into the goaf and ignited firedamp that had apparently issued shortly before from a fall of roof.

Contributing factors

The new man had not been supplied with a copy of the special rules and said he did not know that shots could be fired only by or in the presence of the underlooker or fireman.

What happened

By 1856 Townhouse was worked with locked safety lamps, but blasting with gunpowder was allowed provided each shot was fired by or in the presence of the underlooker or fireman. A man new to the pit, who had not been given the special rules, tried to fire his own shot with a squib. When he lit it, it jumped into the goaf and fired the gas that had gathered there after a fall of roof a little before. Ten men were burned. Five died at their homes over the following weeks, the last on 12 December.

Investigation & inquiry

The explosion is described in Joseph Dickinson's report as H.M. Inspector of Mines for North and East Lancashire for 1856.

Recorded claims

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

• On 13 November 1856 firedamp exploded at Spencer, Wilson and Co.'s Townhouse Colliery; ten men were burned and five of them died at home between 15 November and 12 December. ^1,2
• A new workman who had not been given the special rules fired his own shot with a 'German', a paper squib filled with powder, which flew into the goaf and fired gas released shortly before by a fall of roof. ^1,2
• The mine was worked with locked safety lamps, and shots were allowed only if fired by or in the presence of the underlooker or fireman. ^1,2

Related terminology

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

• Fireman (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the contributing factors: “…could be fired only by or in the presence of the underlooker or fireman.”
• Goaf (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Marsden, fired his own shot with a powder squib; it flew into the goaf and fired gas, burning ten men, five of whom died at home over the…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “The explosion is described in Joseph Dickinson's report as H.M. Inspector of Mines for North and East Lancashire for 1856.”
• Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “…ignited firedamp that had apparently issued shortly before from a fall of roof.”
• Shot-firing (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “By 1856 Townhouse was worked with locked safety lamps, but blasting with gunpowder was allowed provided each shot was fired by or in the…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Townhouse Colliery Explosion, Burnley, 1856 (NMRS accidents and disasters) — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Townhouse, 13th November 1856 — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 24 October 2026 · Last researched: 24 October 2026