Washington Colliery explosion, 1851

On 19 August 1851 gas fired at a light in Washington Colliery, County Durham, and the explosion killed 34 men and boys, two of them furnacemen who died trying to rescue others. Gas had been showing at the candles for weeks and some men had left their work in fear.

Cause

Firedamp ignited at a naked light; one contemporary account blamed a man who had taken the top off his Davy lamp.

Contributing factors

Weeks of poor ventilation, with too many splits for the air available, single doors and poor bratticing; candles in use while gas was showing.

What happened

The ventilation had been poor for several weeks. The upcast shaft was only seven feet across, and the air was divided into five splits, the district where the explosion happened depending on a single set of doors and poorly fitted brattice. Gas appeared at the candles and several men left their work in fear, but the rest carried on and no one thought to tell the inspector.

The jury found the fire began on McNara's board. Thirty-two men and boys were killed, and two older men, the furnacemen George Hutchinson and John Errington, died trying to save others. Fathers died with their sons, among them Joseph Bewick and his sons Thomas and Michael. Ten widows and 33 children were left, and a subscription was raised for them.

Rescue & recovery

The furnacemen George Hutchinson and John Errington died in the attempt to rescue others. Several of the dead were buried in Holy Trinity churchyard, Donwell, on 21 August.

Investigation & inquiry

The inspector found a great want of ordinary caution and too little air for so many splits.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

The jury found that William Hall and others died by a fire on McNara's board caused by gas ignited at a naked light, and that because gas had been accumulating, safety lamps should have been used instead of candles.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• The explosion claimed twenty-eight lives. (disputed) ³
• The jury found the gas was ignited at a naked light and that safety lamps should have been used instead of candles. (disputed) ^3,2
• The explosion was believed to have followed a man removing the top from his Davy lamp. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• Thirty-two men and boys died, besides Hutchinson and Errington, who lost their lives trying to save others. ^1,2
• The explosion claimed twenty-eight lives. (disputed) ³
• The jury found the gas was ignited at a naked light and that safety lamps should have been used instead of candles. (disputed) ^3,2
• The explosion was believed to have followed a man removing the top from his Davy lamp. (disputed) ¹
• Gas had appeared at the candles for weeks and several men had left their work in fear. ³

Related terminology

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

• Brattice (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…happened depending on a single set of doors and poorly fitted brattice. Gas appeared at the candles and several men left their work in…”
• Downcast Shaft and Upcast Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “The ventilation had been poor for several weeks. The upcast shaft was only seven feet across, and the air was divided into five…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “Firedamp ignited at a naked light; one contemporary account blamed a man who…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “Firedamp ignited at a naked light; one contemporary account blamed a man who had taken the top off his…”
• Safety Lamp (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “…one contemporary account blamed a man who had taken the top off his Davy lamp.”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (primary) Colliery Disaster: Washington, 19 August 1851 — Durham Mining Museum
2. (primary) Washington Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
3. (secondary) Washington Colliery Explosion - Washington - 1851 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 3 October 2026 · Last researched: 3 October 2026