CLAY CROSS. Chesterfield, Derbyshire. 3rd. May, 1865.

The colliery was owned by the Clay Cross Iron and Coal Company and at the time of the disaster was one of the most extensive mines of the Midlands. The explosion took place in the Black Shale Coal of the No.4 Pit.

The engine house which was some distance from the mouth of the pit had its lights put out and a terrible noise was heard. One of the winding ropes snapped off the drum and the carriage rope damaged the conductors and fittings in the shaft as it fell. There were about 20 men in the pit at the time and the engineman saw flames rising above the shaft and heard a loud explosion. Mr. Charles Binns, the General Manager of the pit and Mr. Howe, the mineral engineer were immediately informed and proceeded to make an examination of the mine. It was soon discovered that an explosion had taken place and the eight bodies were found and brought to the pit bank.

Those who died were:

  • Samuel Kay who left a wife and six or eight children,
  • John Kerry, Thomas Bamford who left a wife and family,
  • Thomas Fox. married,
  • Frank Lowe,
  • Ralph Stockgill, married,
  • Spetch and Smith, boys.

The bodies were taken from the pit to the Company’s Hospital to await the Coroner’s inquest.

A detailed examination was made and it was found that the disaster had taken place to the south side of the workings, down the engine plane, a short distance along the main level and up the downcast shafts. From the position of the bodies and the direction in which doors were blown down, it was clear that the explosion had taken place in a stall on the southern side of the engine plane.

The previous day the pit had been in full work and the man who worked the stall had left at six o’clock and was free from gas and in a safe condition. It was suggested that the gas had come from a fissure in the floor. The Inspector, Mr. Thomas Evans stated in his report:

I examined this stall carefully and certainly did see a large fissure of considerable depth extending itself some distance along the stall parallel to the face of the coal. It was proved in evidence that nothing of this crack was to be seen the previous evening. I believe that the gas did come off at this point and the ordinary ventilation was insufficient to dilute it to the safety point. Naked lights were used throughout the mine and probably at the candle of one of the unfortunate sufferers the gas was ignited.

Mr. Evans concluded his report by saying:

The black shale coal had for many years been extensively worked along the outcrop of the Derbyshire coalfield, this is the first instance on record of any sudden and large quantity of gas being given off. An ordinary amount of ventilation properly directed along the long work faces and through the gate roads had generally been sufficient for the safe workings of the mines. This mine is, however, considerably to the deep of any hitherto worked, and this, in all probability, may account for the sudden discharge and pressure of gas. In future it will be necessary to largely increase the quantity of air and gradually introduce the use of socked safety lamps in the fiery mines of the midland counties.

 

REFERENCES
The Colliery Guardian, 6th May 1865. p.326, 13th May 1865. p.337.
Mines Inspectors Report 1865.
Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times.

Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.

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