Mesnes Colliery

Overview

W. and J. Turner's colliery in the borough of Wigan, known locally as the Barebones Pit, where on 21 November 1873 gas from the old goaf fired at a collier's candle in the Yard seam, killing three men and four boys.

History

Mesnes Colliery, known locally as the Barebones Pit, lay within the borough of Wigan and belonged to W. and J. Turner. It had been worked for many years and had a large area of goaf, with no barrier between it and the old workings of Barton's colliery next door. The upcast shaft was sunk 150 yards to the Yard seam and the downcast about 70 yards further to the Smith coal, and about 74 men and boys worked in each seam. The pit was not thought fiery, and was worked with candles; air reached the faces by a winding route through the old goaves, carrying their gas with it.

Shortly before noon on 21 November 1873 gas fired in Yates and Hodson's place in Fidler's level, where the two colliers were taking out a pillar against the goaf and had asked that morning for brattice against gas. The blast went outbye and disturbed gas in the Park Lane shunt, where it was fired by open lights. One man and four boys, pony drivers among them, died at once and Yates and Hodson of their burns, seven in all, and others were hurt; the men in the Smith seam knew only that the ventilation had been interrupted. The inspector, Thomas Bell, found gas in nearly every working place of the district, with candles, loose powder and iron rammers. The inquest jury returned accidental death, finding that the gas had been fired by a candle instead of a lamp, and added that wherever lamps were used in mines they should be locked.

Geology

Lancashire coal measures: the Yard seam at 150 yards and the Smith coal about 70 yards below, with large old goaves giving off gas.

Workings

Upcast shaft to the Yard seam and downcast to the Smith coal; whole and pillar working by candlelight, by districts called Fidler's level and Park Lane level, with an engine brow.

Closure

Unknown.

What remains

Unknown.

Recorded claims

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

• Mesnes Colliery, the Barebones Pit, belonged to W. and J. Turner. ^1,2
• The upcast shaft reached the Yard seam at 150 yards and the downcast the Smith coal about 70 yards below. ^1,2
• An explosion on 21 November 1873 killed three men and four boys. ^1,2
• The jury found the gas was fired by a candle instead of a lamp and urged that lamps be locked. ²

Sources

1. (secondary) Menses Colliery (Barebones Pit) Explosion, Wigan, 1873 (NMRS accidents and disasters) — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (primary) Colliery disaster, 21 November 1873: Menses, Barebones Pit (Durham Mining Museum) — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 24 October 2026 · Last researched: 24 October 2026