Barrwood Colliery Explosion – Kylsyth – 1889

BARRWOOD No.1. Kylsyth, Lanarkshire. 20th December 1889.

The colliery was owned by William Baird and Company which worked the Kilsyth coking coal seam which was worked by the longwall system in which the explosion took place. The south level off the pit bottom ran parallel with and close to a large fault. Firedamp was given off freely in this level and on the day of the explosion as wells as the day previous men had been provided with safety lamps as well as the fireman but the miners in the adjoining places to which the air current went were allowed to work with naked lights which was contrary to General Rule No. 8.

About 10.30 a.m. just as two surveyors, accompanied by the overman and the fireman approached the face level, a sudden outburst of gas took place at the face. The fireman was sent to withdraw the miners in the adjoining workings but before he could do this the gas was carried onto the naked lights with the result that the fireman and a boy lost their lives.

All the victims were listed as brushers:

• David Connor.
• Thomas Munro.
• Thomas Reynolds.
• Robert Barrie.
• Andrew Coyle.

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report 1889. Mr. Ronaldson.

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