Wylam Colliery Boiler Explosion, 1865

A boiler explosion at Wylam Colliery killed three workers, including a 13-year-old boy, and was reported at the time in the local press.

Cause

A boiler at the colliery exploded on 27 October 1865; no further technical detail on the cause is recorded.

What happened

On the afternoon of 27 October 1865, at around five o'clock, three men were at work together down Wylam Colliery's pit in the Horsley Wood seam: Anthony Curley, a 21-year-old brakesman; W. Blackburn, the 17-year-old fireman; and Edward Best, a 13-year-old tub rope boy who also braked the drum. A hewer, J. Thew, and a boy making their way to the engine were suddenly knocked to the ground and their lights extinguished; making their way to the boiler with difficulty, they found Curley, Best and Blackburn lying at three different points along the seam -- Blackburn about 25 yards from the engine and frightfully burnt, Curley sitting some 75 yards off, and Best about 85 yards away, also severely scalded. Potts, the back overman working the same seam, raised the alarm and had the three men brought to bank, where Dr Atkinson attended them, but their scalds were so severe that all three died by twelve o'clock the same night.

Rescue & recovery

The back overman, Potts, raised the alarm on discovering the three injured men and had them brought to the surface, where Dr Atkinson attended them; their injuries proved fatal within hours.

Investigation & inquiry

Nothing is recorded of a formal inquiry or inquest into this incident.

Recorded claims

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

• The three men killed were Edward Best (13, Tub Rope Boy), W. Blackburn (17, Fireman) and Anthony Curley (21, Brakesman), all buried at Ovingham Churchyard; the event was reported in the Newcastle Courant (3 Nov 1865) and the Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury (4 Nov 1865). ¹
• The original newspaper report states the explosion happened underground in the Horsley Wood seam boiler at around five o'clock in the afternoon; the three victims were found at distances of 25, 75 and 85 yards from the engine and died of their scalds by midnight the same day. ²

Related terminology

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

• Fireman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…Curley, a 21-year-old brakesman; W. Blackburn, the 17-year-old fireman; and Edward Best, a 13-year-old tub rope boy who also braked the…”
• Hewer (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…Edward Best, a 13-year-old tub rope boy who also braked the drum. A hewer, J. Thew, and a boy making their way to the engine were suddenly…”
• Overman (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…and Best about 85 yards away, also severely scalded. Potts, the back overman working the same seam, raised the alarm and had the three men…”
• Pithead (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…the same seam, raised the alarm and had the three men brought to bank, where Dr Atkinson attended them, but their scalds were so severe…”
• Tub (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…Blackburn, the 17-year-old fireman; and Edward Best, a 13-year-old tub rope boy who also braked the drum. A hewer, J. Thew, and a boy…”

Sources

1. (primary) Wylam Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (primary) Explosion At Wylam Colliery (Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury, 4 Nov 1865) — Durham Mining Museum (reproducing the original newspaper report)

Record created: 2 September 2026 · Last researched: 2 September 2026