Old Coal Pit Explosion – Coalbrookdale – 1856

OLD COAL PIT. Coalbrookdale, Shropshire. 3rd July, 1856.

The colliery was owned by Couttwell and Lewis and the explosion was due to neglect by the management of the Special Rules for the ventilation of the colliery. The lamps were not locked and there was no single main ventilation door. All the men who were underground at the time were killed in the explosion.

The victims were:

• Noah Vaughan, collier, aged 20 years.
• William Parker, roman, aged 20 years.
• James Morgan, aged 19 years, a collier.
• George Morgan, aged 28 years, a roadman.
• Samuel Jenkins, aged 20 years, a collier.
• William Lewis, aged 13 years, a haulier.
• David Williams, aged 25 years, a collier.
• Robert Arnold, collier aged 22 years.
• George Greenway, aged 22 years, a collier.
• Hopkin Lewis, aged 31 years, a fireman.
• Richard Ketherall, aged 23 years, a collier.

George Greenaway and Hopkin Lewis were killed leading the rescue.

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report 1856. Mr. Brough.

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