MineArchiveWest Moor Colliery explosion, 1844
At about nine in the morning of 18 January 1844 gas from a fall of stones was fired at a candle in Lord Ravensworth and Partners' West Moor Colliery, Killingworth. Six men were burnt but left the pit alive; five or six of them died.
| Date | 18 January 1844 |
|---|---|
| Mine | West Moor Colliery |
| Region | Tyne and Wear |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 5 (Five died of six burnt, by the contemporary account; the Durham Mining Museum lists six names.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Firedamp, thought to have come from a fall of stones, ignited at a man's candle.
Contributing factors
Candles were in use.
What happened
West Moor was one of the largest collieries in the district, employing two to three hundred men. On 18 January 1844, at about 9 a.m., the pit fired: gas released, it was supposed, by a fall of stones met one of the men's candles. Six men were burnt and got out of the pit alive, but five died of their injuries. The dead named are John Storey and John Nicholson, both married with families and buried at St Bartholomew's, Longbenton, on 21 January, William Hardy, William Richardson, Joseph Hindmarsh and Thomas Bates or Bales. It was the first of three explosions at the colliery in eight years.
Rescue & recovery
Unknown.
Investigation & inquiry
On examination of the mine afterwards the explosion was found to be purely accidental.
Legal & regulatory aftermath
Unknown.
Changes to practice & legislation
Unknown.
Memorials & commemoration
Unknown.
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 Durham Mining Museum lists six killed in the 1844 explosion at 9 a.m. on 18 January. (disputed) 2
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Six persons were burnt and left the pit alive, but five died; the gas was supposed to have come from a fall of stones and ignited at a candle. 1
- The Durham Mining Museum lists six killed in the 1844 explosion at 9 a.m. on 18 January. (disputed) 2
- Explosions killed 5 on 18 January 1844. 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: “…was fired at a candle in Lord Ravensworth and Partners' West Moor Colliery, Killingworth. Six men were burnt but left the pit alive; five or…” - Firedamp (direct cause)
Gas from a fall of stones. - Naked Light (direct cause)
Fired at a man's candle.
Sources
- (secondary) West Moor Colliery Explosion – Killingworth – 1844 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Durham Mining Museum - Killingworth West Moor Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (primary) Killingworth Colliery, West Moor Pit (Tyne and Wear HER 1082) — Tyne and Wear Historic Environment Record
Record created: 17 September 2026 · Last researched: 21 September 2026