MineArchiveWhitwick Colliery explosion, 1893
Two teenage pony drivers were killed at Whitwick Colliery, Coalville, on 11 February 1893 when a roof fall released gas over the main road and it fired at their naked lights.
| Date | 11 February 1893 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Whitwick Colliery |
| Region | Leicestershire |
| Type | Explosion |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two killed: the horse drivers Peveril Commons and Alfred Thomas Gardner.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Gas released from above the timber by a roof fall in the main road fired at naked lights.
Contributing factors
Gas had been allowed to accumulate above the timbering of the main road; the drivers carried naked lights.
What happened
On 11 February 1893 the roof fell in the main roadway of Whitwick No. 6 pit, near Coalville, and released gas that had collected above the timbers. Two horse drivers, Peveril Commons, 17, and Alfred Thomas Gardner, 16, were passing within a few yards with naked lights, and the gas fired, killing them both.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 11 February 1893 an explosion of gas in Whitwick No. 6 pit killed two horse drivers, Peveril Commons, 17, and Alfred Thomas Gardner, 16. 1,2,3
- A fall of roof in the main roadway released gas that had gathered above the timber, and it fired at the pony drivers' naked lights as they passed within a few yards. 1,2,3
- The colliery belonged to the Whitwick Colliery Company. 1,3
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: “Two teenage pony drivers were killed at Whitwick Colliery, Coalville, on 11 February 1893 when a roof fall released gas over…” - Naked Light (contextual relationship)
Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…a roof fall released gas over the main road and it fired at their naked lights.” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…killed at Whitwick Colliery, Coalville, on 11 February 1893 when a roof fall released gas over the main road and it fired at their naked lights.”
Sources
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames C part 4 (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
- (primary) Whitwick Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Mining deaths 1890-1899, surnames G (Ian Winstanley) — Healey Hero (Ian Winstanley's mining deaths lists)
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026