Westwood Colliery

Overview

Newton, Chambers and Co.'s large colliery near Sheffield, where about 200 men and boys worked in 1862. That April an explosion killed six, after the colliers had been allowed naked lights beside a gassy goaf.

History

Westwood was one of the collieries of Newton, Chambers and Company, the Thorncliffe ironmasters, and in 1862 a very large one, with about 200 men and boys in the workings. The mine was fiery: its south workings bordered a large goaf where falls of the roof were common and gas lay in the waste. Even so the colliers were allowed naked candles, the assistant viewer admitting at the inquest that he let them in although he had found gas that morning.

At about 8 a.m. on 10 April 1862 a fall of roof drove gas from the goaf into the far end of the south workings, where it fired at a light and killed six, among them Thomas Clitheroe, his son and his nephew. The inspector, Morton, said the air was so poor an anemometer would not turn, and the agent, Edward Beachar, admitted there was no ventilation at the far ends; the jury found it unsafe to work the mine with naked lights near the goaf.

Geology

South Yorkshire Coal Measures; a large goaf with frequent roof falls and gas in the waste.

Workings

Pillar and goaf workings on the south side, worked with naked lights in 1862; poor ventilation at the far ends.

Closure

Unknown.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Disasters & major incidents

• Westwood Colliery explosion, 1862
  10 April 1862 · Explosion · 6 fatalities
  At about 8 a.m. on 10 April 1862 gas driven from a large goaf by a fall of roof fired at a naked light at the far end of the south workings of Newton, Chambers and Co.'s Westwood Colliery, near Sheffield, killing six of about 200 below. The mine was fiery, yet the colliers were allowed candles.

Recorded claims

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

• The colliery was the property of Newton, Chambers and Company and was a very large one, with about 200 men and boys in the workings in 1862. ^1,2
• The mine was fiery, yet the colliers were allowed naked lights. ¹
• An explosion of firedamp on 10 April 1862 killed six. ^1,2
• The jury found it unsafe to work the mine with naked lights near the large goaf. ¹

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Westwood Colliery Explosion - Sheffield - 1862 — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (primary) Colliery Disaster: Westwood, 10 April 1862 — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 3 October 2026 · Last researched: 3 October 2026