To be classified as a disaster, an accident or explosion at a mine has to claim at least ten lives.

It was in the 19th century, particularly in the second half of that period, and in the early years of the 20th century, that the largest number of very serious disasters occurred and, indeed, rarely a year went by without such an occurrence.
The list below is not comprehensive but it does give an insight into the terrible carnage reaped on miners through the ages.


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1708 - Fatfield Colliery, 69 die
1743 - Bensham Colliery, 80 die
1767 - Fatfield Colliery, 39 die
1773 - Chartershaugh Colliery, 23 die
1794 - Picktree Colliery, 30 die
1805 - Oxclose Colliery, Washington, 38 die
1805 - Hebburn Colliery near Paisley, 35 die
1805, 22 April, Hurlet, 13 killed by an explosion
1812 Felling explosion. A coal dust explosion, 92 men and boys were killed, the boys being 7 and 8 years of age.
1817, 1 March, Leadhills, 7 suffocated
1830, February, Whifflet, Old Monkland, 5 killed in explosion
1830, 27 July, Bannockburn, 6 killed in fall
1839, 12 August, Housewoodhill, Barrhead, 9 killed in roof fall
1841, 16 March, Quarter, Hamilton, 11 killed in explosion
1841 - Willington, 32 lives lost
1843, Broadsfield Colliery in Fenton. A firedamp explosion occurred in which 9 lives were lost.
1844, September. Haswell Colliery. 95 men were killed in a massive explosion.
1845 - Jarrow Colliery, 39 lives lost
1846, 28 September, Bogle Hole Colliery Tollcross, 6 killed in explosion
1849, 13 August, Wishaw Colliery, 9 killed in firedamp explosion
1849 - Hebburn, 31 lives lost
1850, 23 July, Commonhead, Airdrie, 18 killed in explosion
1850, 6 December, Netherton Colliery, Maryhill, 5 killed
1851, 15 March, Victoria Pit, Nitshill, 63 killed
1853, 29 November, Cowdenbeath Colliery, 5 killed in fall
1855, December 2 - Elemore Near Hetton, 28 lives lost
1855 24th May. Oldfield Colliery in Fenton, North Staffordshire 7 killed and several injured by an explosion.
1860 - Burradon Disaster, 76 lives lost
1861, 7 August, Dykehead, near Hamilton, 12 killed by fire
1861. Clay Cross Colliery. 11th June, mine flooded, twenty three lives lost.
1862 - Hartley Colliery collapse Near Blyth 204 lives lost
1862, 16th January, New Hartley Pit Disaster. 204 killed, including children as young as 10.
1866 - Pelton Disaster, 24 lives lost
1866, Talke o' the Hill. 13th Dec 89 men and boys were killed in an explosion.
1870,Sheriff Pit, Silverdale , an explosion occurred at Sheriff Pit, which killed 19 men.
1871. Rennishaw Park. 10th January, explosion, twenty seven killed, twelve injured.
1871, 6th. September. Moss Colliery Disaster.
1874, Underwood Pit, 12th April John Smith lost his life on the Sunday , aged 22 years, trying to rescue a pony during a pit fire.
1875, 30th April, Bunker's Hill Colliery 43 miners killed by an explosion
1877, 22 October, Blantyre, more than 200 killed in explosion
1878, 5 March, Blantyre, 6 killed
1878, 8 March, Barrwood, Kilsyth, 17 killed by fire and explosion
1878, 11th September, Prince of Wales, Abercarn. 325 men and boys working underground when a massive explosion ripped through the workings,
1879, 2 July, Blantyre, 28 killed
1880, Seaham Colliery explosion and fire, 164 men lost their lives
1881, 7th Feb, Chatterley Whitfield Colliery Explosion Twenty-one persons were
1882. 7th November, Parkhouse Colliery,Catty Pit as it was better known. explosion, forty five lives lost.
1882, February 16 - Trimdon Grange disaster 74 lives lost
1882, April 18 - Tudhoe Blast 35 lives lost
1886, 2nd of Dec at 2.55 a.m., Explosion at Elemore Colliery, near Hetton, in the county of Durham, causing the death of 28 persons.
1886, Altoft Colliery in Yorkshire, coal dust explosion, loss of 22 lives
1887, 28 May, Udston, near Hamilton 73 killed in fire damp explosion
1889, 5 September, Mauricewood, Penicuik , near Edinburgh 63 killed by fire
1889, 16th October Mossfield Colliery Explosion, 64 were killed along with 16 pit ponies.
1895,14th January, Diglake Colliery in North Staffordshire with the loss of 77 lives.
1895, 11th November. Winning Colliery, explosion, seven lives lost.
1896, April 13, Brancepeth, 20 lives lost
1899, August 15, Brandon Pit, 6 lives lost
1901, 24th May, Universal, Senghenydd, Glamorgan, 81 killed.
1901, 15 February, Hill of Beath, Fife 7 killed by fire
1901, 26 August, Donibristle, 8 killed
1904, Boythorpe Lane Colliery, 20th October, explosion.
1905, 10th March, Cambrian. Clydach Vale, Glamorgan 33 killed.
1905, 11th July, National, Wattstown, Glamorgan 119 killed.
1906 Courrieres, Pas-de-Calais, Northern France 1,099 killed. Coal dust explosion
1906, 14th October, Wingate Grange, Durham 25 killed.
1908, Feb 20 - Washington Glebe, Disaster 14 lives lost
1908, 4th March, Hamstead, Staffordshire 26 killed.
1908, 18th August, Maypole, Wigan, Lancashire 76 killed.
1909, 16th February, West Stanley, Durham 168 killed.
1909, 29th October, Darran, Glamorgan 27 killed.
1909, 10 December, Caprington, near Kilmarnock, 10 killed by inrush of water
1910, 19 January, Hattonrigg, Bellshill, 8 killed in fall
1910, 11th May, Wellington, Whitehaven, Cumberland 136 killed.
1910, 4th December, Kemberton Pit, Shropshire 7 killed.
1910, 21st December,Pretoria Pit at Westhoughton, Lancashire 344 killed.
1911, Southgate Colliery, 22nd November, cage accident, three killed, nine injured.
1912, 9th July, Cadeby Main, Yorkshire 88 killed.
1913, 3 August, Cadder, near Bishopbriggs, 22 killed by fire
1913, 14th October, Universal, Senghenydd, Glamorgan 439 killed.
1915, 15th January, Minnie Pit, Podmore Hall, Staffordshire 9 killed.
1915, 25th February, New Hem Heath, Chesterton 12 killed.
1916, 26 April, Neilsland Colliery, Hamilton, 5 killed by roof fall
1918, 12th January, Minnie Pit, Podmore Hall, Staffordshire 155 killed.
1918, 9 July, Stanrigg Colliery, near Airdrie, 19 killed
1919. Oxcroft Colliery. 6th April, six killed, seven injured.
1919, 20th October, Levant Tin Mine, Cornwall 31 killed.
1922, Whittington Opencast. 22nd June, 3 men gassed, two died.
1922, 5th September, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland No.1. 39 killed.
1923, 28th July, Maltby, Yorkshire 27 killed.
1923, 25th September, Redding, Falkirk, Stirlingshire 40 killed.
1925, 30th March, View Pit, Montagu Colliery, Northumberland 38 killed.
1925, 18th December, Birchenwood, Kidsgrove, Staffordshire 7 killed.
1927, 1st March, Marine, Monmouthshire 52 killed.
1927, 13th December, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland No.2. 4 killed.
1928, 3rd January, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland No.3. 14 killed.
1928, Wallsend Colliery, 10th January, explosion.
1928, 12th. February, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland. 13 killed. (explosion).
1928, 28th. November. Wernbwll Colliery. 7 killed. (explosion).
1929, 18th. March. Coombs Wood Colliery. 8 killed. (fire).
1929, 10th. July. Milfraen Colliery, Blaenavon. 9 killed. (explosion).
1930, 24th. February. Wath Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 7 killed. (explosion).
1930, 26th. February. Lyme Pit, Lancashire. 5 killed. (explosion).
1930, 10th. March. Allerton Bywater Colliery, Yorkshire. 5 killed. (explosion).
1930, 30th. August. Auchinraith Colliery. 6 killed. (explosion).
1930, 1st. October. Grove Colliery,(Brownhills), Staffordshire. 14 killed. (explosion).
1930, 12th. December. Houghton Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 7 killed. (explosion).
1931, 29th January, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland No.4. 27 killed.
1931, 20th November, Bentley, Yorkshire 45 killed.
1931, 31 October, Bowhill Colliery, Cardenden, 10 killed in explosion
1931, November, Bowhill Colliery. Scotland. 10 killed. (explosion)
1932, 25th. January. Llwynypia (Scotch) Colliery, Glamorgan. 11 killed. (explosion).
1932, 10th. October. Bickershaw, No. 3 Pit, Lancashire. 19 killed. (shaft accident).
1932, 12th November, Edge Green Number 9, Garswood Hall, Lancashire 27 killed.
1932, 16th. November. Cardowan Colliery. 11 killed. (explosion).
1933, 16th. May. West Cannock Colliery, Staffordshire. 6 killed. (explosion).
1933, Grassmoor Colliery, 19th November, explosion, fourteen killed, eight injured.
1934, 22nd September, Gresford, Denbighshire 265 killed.
1934, 26th. July. Bilsthorpe Colliery, Nottinghamshire. 9 killed. (explosion).
1935, Glapwell Colliery. 10th September, six trapped, one died, three hospitalised.
1935, 12th. September. North Gawber (Lidgett), Yorkshire. 19 killed. (explosion).
1936, 21 March, Bardykes, near Glasgow, 5 killed by roof fall
1936, 6th August, Wharncliffe, Woodmoore Colliery, Yorkshire 58 killed.
1937, Winterbank Pit, (Wincobank) South Normanton,Derbyshire 15th February, explosion, 7 killed, 4 injured, one died later.
1937, 21st January, Markham No.1 (Blackshale) Derbyshire 9 killed.
1937, 2nd July, Holditch, Staffordshire 30 killed.
1937. Turnoak Colliery, 10th October, seven boys injured after throwing a firework down the shaft.
1938, 30th. January. Dumbreck Colliery. 9 killed. (fire).
1938, Markham Nol Colliery, 10th May, explosion seventy nine lives Lost, thirty eight injured.
1938. Creswell Colliery. 2nd June, tub train accident, 3 died and a number injured.
1939, 28th October, Valleyfield, Fife 35 killed.
1939, Warsop Main Colliery. December 20th, 1,850 ton of roof collapsed and crushed 6 men to death.
1940, 21st March, Mossfield, Longton 11 killed.
1940, 4th. December. Sacriston Colliery, Durham. 5 killed. (fall of stone).
1941, 3rd. June. William Pit, Durham. 12 killed. (explosion).
1941, 5 June, Lindsay Colliery, Kelty, 3 killed in roof fall
1941, 29th. July. Crigglestone Colliery, Yorkshire. 22 killed. (explosion)
1942, 1st January, Sneyd, Staffordshire 57 killed.
1942, 16th. February. Barnsley Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 13 killed. (explosion).
1942, 26th. June. Murton Colliery, Durham. 13 killed. (explosion).
1945, 4th March. Manvers Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 5 killed. (explosion).
1945 Royal Air Force storage depot Fauld
1946, 9th. December. Harrington No. 10, Workington. Durham. 15 killed. (explosion).
1947, 10th. January. Burngrange Colliery. Nos. 1 and 2. 15 Killed. (explosion).
1947, 7th. May. Barnsley Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 9 killed. (explosion).
1947, 15th August, William Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland 104 killed.
1947, 22nd. August. Louisa Pit, Stanley. Durham. 22 killed. (explosion).
1947, 9th. September. Ingham Colliery, Yorkshire. 12 killed. (explosion).
1949, Bolsover Colliery. April 15th, Mystery explosion, three men killed, two severely injured.
1949, Lyme Colliery in Lancashire. Explosion 2 Boothstown Rescue Station men killed
1950, 7th. September. Knockshinnoch Castle 13 killed by the inrush of water and 116 men were entombed.
1950, 26th September Creswell Colliery, Derbyshires worst pit fire. 80 killed.
1951, 29th May, Easington, Durham 81 killed.
1951, 06 Jul Eppleton Explosion 9 killed.
1951, 01 Oct Weetslade Colliery Explosion 18 killed.
1951, 31 Oct Killingworth
1954, 13th January. Glyncorrwg Colliery, Afan Valley. No one was killed but around 24 were burned.
1955, 6th. September. Blaenhirwaun Colliery. 6 killed. (explosion).
1957, 21st. February. Sutton Colliery, Nottinghamshire. 5 killed. (explosion).
1957, 26th. June. Barnburgh Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 6 killed. (explosion).
1957, 19th. November. Kames Colliery, Ayr. 17 killed. (explosion).
1957, 14th. December. Lindsay Colliery, Fife. 9 killed. (explosion).
1959, 22nd. April. Walton Colliery, Yorkshire. 5 killed. (explosion).
1959, 18th September, Auchengeich, Lanarkshire, 47 killed.
1959, 10th. October. Bickershaw Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, Lancashire. 5 killed. (explosion).
1960, 28th June, Six Bells, Monmouthshire 45 killed.
1962, 22nd. March. Hapton Valley Colliery. 19 killed.
1962, 12th. April. Tower Colliery, Hirwaun. 9 killed. (explosion).
1965, 17th May, Cambrian, Glamorgan 31 killed.
1966, Lynemouth Colliery
1966, Silverwood Disaster, 10 men,
1966, 21st. October. The Aberfan Disaster. 144 killed, 116 were children.
1973. Markham Pit disaster 30th July 1973. 18 miners were killed and 11 seriously injued.
1967, 9th. September. Michael Colliery, Fife. 9 killed. (fire).
1971, 6th April, Cynheidre Colliery, Five Roads Nr. Llanelli, 6 killed. (outburst of coal/firedamp).
1973, Lofthouse Colliery disaster. 7 killed due to an inrush from old workings.
1973, 10th. May. Seafield Colliery, Fife. 5 killed. (fall of roof).
1973, 30th. July, Markham No2 Colliery, Derbyshire. cage accident, 18 killed. ( 12 severely injured.)
1975, 12th. June, Houghton Main, Yorkshire. 5 killed. (explosion). More information on Pete's site, 'Yorkshire Main Colliery'
1978, 21st. November. Bentley Colliery, Yorkshire. 7 killed. (manriding train derailment).
1979, 18th. March. Golborne Colliery, Lancashire. 10 killed. (explosion)


Additions to above List

Huskar Colliery Disaster 5th July 1838
26 Children Died.

New Hartley Disaster 2nd March 1860
204 Killed including Children, records indicate as young as 10 years.





Llanbradach Colliery 10th September 1901
8Killed [Explosion]

Milfraen Colliery Blaenavon 4th March 1902
5 Killed [Tipped out of cage]

Tirpentwys 1902
8 Killed [shaft accident]

Winsor Colliery 1st June 1902
6 Killed [Shaft accident]

Fochrhiw Colliery 4th June 1902
8 Killed [Explosion]

McLaren Colliery 3rd September 1902
17 Killed

Elba Colliery 21st January 1905
11 Killed [Explosion]

National Wattstown 11th July 1905
119 Killed [Explosion]

Cwrt Herbert Colliery 1st June 1906
5 Killed

Albion Colliery 10th November 1906
26 Killed [Explosion]

Genwen Colliery 5th March 1907
6 Killed [Explosion]

Barrow Colliery 15th November 1907
7 Killed [Shaft accident]

William Pit Whitehaven 26th November 1907
5 Killed [Explosion]

Foggs Colliery 4th October 1907
10 Killed [Shaft accident]

Dinas Main Colliery 14th December 1907
7 Killed [Explosion]

Norton Hill 9th April1908
10 Killed [Explosion]

Ely Pit 27th August 1909
6 Killed [Shaft accident]

JAMAGE BIGNALL HILL CHESTERTON 25th November 1911
6 Killed

Markham Colliery 1912
6 Killed [Shaft Explosion]

Rufford Colliery 7th February 1913
14 killed [Shaft Explosion]

Car House colliery 16th june 1913
8 Killed [Inrush]

Wharncliffe Colliery Yorkshire 30th May 1914
11 Killed [Explosion]

Brayton Domain 26th april 1915
7 Killed [Explosion]

Bentinck Colliery 30th June 1915
10 Killed [Shaft accident]

East Plean Stirling 13th July 1922
12 Killed [Explosion]

St Helen`s Cumberland 27th november 1922
6 Killed [Explosion]

Wheldale Colliery 22nd February 1923
9 Killed [Explosion]

Medomsley Colliery 24th February 1923
8 Killed [Shaft accident]

Gartshore Colliery 28th July 1923
8 Killed [Explosion]

Nunnery Colliery Yorkshire 3rd December 1923
7 Killed [Haulage accident]

Killan Colliery 27th November 1924
5 Killed [Inrush]

Llay Colliery 5th December 1924
9 Killed [Explosion]

Wallsend Northumberland 9th August 1925
5 Killed [Explosion]

Pendleton Colliery 4t November 1925
5 Killed

Thorn Colliery 15th March 1926
6 Killed [Shaft accident]

Bilsthorpe Colliery 1st March 1927
14 Killed [Shaft accident]

Gresford Colliery 22nd September 1934
266 killed [Explosion]

South Kirby Colliery 23rd August 1935
10 Killed [Explosion]

Markham Colliery 21st January 1937
9 Killed [Explosion]

Lewis Merthyr 22nd November 1956
9 Killed [Explosion]



On the 21st October 1966 The Aberfan Disaster 144 Killed 116 were children. you may not know but the people of Aberfan were forced to pay £150,000 for the removal of the tip, it was not untill1997 when this money was repaid by the Welsh Office.