Bedford Colliery Disaster
Encyclopedia
The Bedford Colliery Disaster occurred on Friday 13 August 1886 when an explosion of firedamp
caused the death of 38 miners at Bedford Colliery
No.2 pit, near Leigh
in what then was Lancashire
.
The colliery which was sunk in 1884 was known to be a "fiery pit" was owned by John Speakman.
On the day of the disaster 159 men and boys were underground working a shift that started at 6.00 a.m. and would have ended mid afternoon. The disaster took place at about 10.45a.m. in the Crombouke mine (seam) at a depth of about 530 yards and 700 yards from the pit-eye (shaft bottom). The miners in other areas of the pit were wound to the surface. One man, John Woolley a "dataller", (day wage man) survived from the seat of the explosion and though burned, managed to get to the bottom of the shaft. When the alarm was raised, pit manager W. Horrobin, underlooker James Calland and Speakman's son, Harry led a rescue party to investigate but were impeded by the presence of afterdamp
. The Mines Inspector, Joseph Dickinson of Pendleton was contacted by telegraph.
The explosion occurred before the formation of Mines rescue teams but assistance arrived from nearby collieries and an exploring party of men from Bickershaw Colliery
, Astley and Tyldesley Collieries
and the Wigan Iron and Coal Company went underground but considered there would be no survivors. The underground fires were eventually extinguished and bodies brought to the surface.
The colliery subscribed to the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Permanent Relief Society whose officials attended at the colliery. A committee of local dignitaries was formed to raise monies for the "Relief of Widows, orphans and others placed in distress by the explosion" and an appeal advertised in The Times newspaper.
's inquest
was not heard until 23 September 1886 so that John Woolley who had survived the explosion could give evidence. Woolley was removing pit props and other miners were filling coal tubs. The flame in his Davy lamp
turned blue indicating explosive gas. Instead of reporting the gas work continued. A few minutes later the flame in the lamp of a nearby miner "fired". The miner shook it and attempted to blow it out causing the explosion.
The verdict of the coroner's jury was Accidental death caused by an explosion of firedamp. The coroner commented that the fireman should spend more time examining the workings before the men went down the pit and that greater care should be taken examining the lamps. It was regretted that the gas was not reported by the prop-takers.
Firedamp
Firedamp is a flammable gas found in coal mines. It is the name given to a number of flammable gases, especially methane. It is particularly commonly found in areas where the coal is bituminous...
caused the death of 38 miners at Bedford Colliery
Bedford Colliery
Bedford Colliery, also known as Wood End Pit, was a coal mine on the Manchester Coalfield in Bedford, Leigh, Greater Manchester, England. The colliery was owned by John Speakman, who started sinking two shafts in about 1874 on land at Wood End Farm in the northeast part of Bedford, south of the...
No.2 pit, near Leigh
Leigh, Greater Manchester
Leigh is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Wigan, and west of Manchester. Leigh is situated on low lying land to the north west of Chat Moss....
in what then was Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
The colliery which was sunk in 1884 was known to be a "fiery pit" was owned by John Speakman.
On the day of the disaster 159 men and boys were underground working a shift that started at 6.00 a.m. and would have ended mid afternoon. The disaster took place at about 10.45a.m. in the Crombouke mine (seam) at a depth of about 530 yards and 700 yards from the pit-eye (shaft bottom). The miners in other areas of the pit were wound to the surface. One man, John Woolley a "dataller", (day wage man) survived from the seat of the explosion and though burned, managed to get to the bottom of the shaft. When the alarm was raised, pit manager W. Horrobin, underlooker James Calland and Speakman's son, Harry led a rescue party to investigate but were impeded by the presence of afterdamp
Afterdamp
Afterdamp is the toxic mixture of gases left in a mine following an explosion caused by firedamp, which itself can initiate a much larger explosion of coal dust. It consists of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen. Hydrogen sulfide, another highly toxic gas, may also be present...
. The Mines Inspector, Joseph Dickinson of Pendleton was contacted by telegraph.
The explosion occurred before the formation of Mines rescue teams but assistance arrived from nearby collieries and an exploring party of men from Bickershaw Colliery
Bickershaw Colliery
Bickershaw Colliery was a coal mine, located at Westleigh, Leigh, then within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire, England, south-southeast of Wigan.-History:...
, Astley and Tyldesley Collieries
Astley and Tyldesley Collieries
The Astley and Tyldesley Collieries Company formed in 1900 owned coal mines on the Lancashire Coalfield south of the railway in Astley and Tyldesley, then in the historic county of Lancashire, England...
and the Wigan Iron and Coal Company went underground but considered there would be no survivors. The underground fires were eventually extinguished and bodies brought to the surface.
Aftermath
News of the explosion travelled quickly, by 11 a.m. a crowd of women had arrived at the pit and in the evening a crowd estimated to be between eight and ten thousand had gathered at the pit head. The burned and mutilated bodies were wrapped in tarpaulins and taken to the wheelwrights shop and the joiners shop was used as a mortuary. The youngest victim was 15 years old and the oldest 65. The average age of those who died was 32 and 48 children were left fatherless. Some families lost more than one member.The colliery subscribed to the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Permanent Relief Society whose officials attended at the colliery. A committee of local dignitaries was formed to raise monies for the "Relief of Widows, orphans and others placed in distress by the explosion" and an appeal advertised in The Times newspaper.
Inquest
The CoronerCoroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
's inquest
Inquest
Inquests in England and Wales are held into sudden and unexplained deaths and also into the circumstances of discovery of a certain class of valuable artefacts known as "treasure trove"...
was not heard until 23 September 1886 so that John Woolley who had survived the explosion could give evidence. Woolley was removing pit props and other miners were filling coal tubs. The flame in his Davy lamp
Davy lamp
The Davy lamp is a safety lamp with a wick and oil vessel burning originally a heavy vegetable oil, devised in 1815 by Sir Humphry Davy. It was created for use in coal mines, allowing deep seams to be mined despite the presence of methane and other flammable gases, called firedamp or minedamp.Sir...
turned blue indicating explosive gas. Instead of reporting the gas work continued. A few minutes later the flame in the lamp of a nearby miner "fired". The miner shook it and attempted to blow it out causing the explosion.
The verdict of the coroner's jury was Accidental death caused by an explosion of firedamp. The coroner commented that the fireman should spend more time examining the workings before the men went down the pit and that greater care should be taken examining the lamps. It was regretted that the gas was not reported by the prop-takers.