Isabella Pit explosion, Workington, 1833

In September 1833 an explosion of firedamp in the Isabella Pit of the Curwens' Workington Colliery killed thirteen people, among them three Brennan brothers and three boys of ten.

Cause

An explosion of firedamp.

What happened

Workington Colliery, on the Cumberland coast, belonged to the Curwen family, whose pits worked coal out beneath the Solway. On 20 or 21 September 1833 firedamp exploded in the Isabella Pit while thirty-eight people were at work below. Twenty-five were brought out, two of them, John Deacon and John Hayes, badly injured. Thirteen were killed: Daniel, John and Nicholas Brennan, aged 14, 19 and 12; Daniel and Thomas Creen, 16 and 18; James Ditchburn, 10, and Robert Ditchburn, 55; James Donald; John Higgins; Andrew Jelly, 10; Samuel Mulligan; John Thompson; and John Watson, 10. Every effort was made to restore the ventilation and recover the bodies.

Investigation & inquiry

An inquest was held before Mr W. Bragg, coroner.

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 took place on 21 September 1833. (disputed) ¹
• The explosion took place on 20 September 1833. (disputed) ²
• Fifteen were killed, out of thirty-eight in the pit; twenty-five were rescued, two of them, John Deacon and John Hayes, badly injured. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

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

• An explosion of firedamp in the Isabella Pit of Mr Curwen's Workington Colliery killed thirteen people, among them three Brennan brothers and two Creen brothers. ^1,2
• The explosion took place on 21 September 1833. (disputed) ¹
• The explosion took place on 20 September 1833. (disputed) ²
• Fifteen were killed, out of thirty-eight in the pit; twenty-five were rescued, two of them, John Deacon and John Hayes, badly injured. (disputed) ²
• Three of the dead were ten years old: James Ditchburn, Andrew Jelly and John Watson. ^1,2

Related terminology

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

• Coal (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…Cumberland coast, belonged to the Curwen family, whose pits worked coal out beneath the Solway. On 20 or 21 September 1833 firedamp exploded…”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…explosion of firedamp in the Isabella Pit of the Curwens' Workington Colliery killed thirteen people, among them three Brennan brothers and three…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “In September 1833 an explosion of firedamp in the Isabella Pit of the Curwens' Workington Colliery killed…”

Photographs & further reading

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

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Colliery Disaster, 21 September 1833 (Isabella Pit, Workington) — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Bella Pit Explosion - Workington - 1833 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 5 October 2026 · Last researched: 5 October 2026