Over 360 died in what is England's worst mining disaster when an explosion ripped through Oaks Colliery in 1866. Every year a short service is held at the Memorial in Barnsley (which is near the Parish Church) on the anniversary of the event - the 12th December - this coming Thursday. All are welcome to attend and refreshment are on offer at the nearby NUM Headquarters building.
Oaks Colliery Barnsley Memorial
- Thread starter ncbnik
- Start date
From NMRS Facebook page:
"The Oaks Colliery Disaster 1866
Fact sheet 1 –The Explosion
1866 saw England’s worst ever mining disaster at, The Oaks
Colliery, Barnsley.
Wednesday 12 th December 1866.
About 1.15 pm – The first explosion ripped through the underground workings
of the Oaks Colliery. It could be heard 3 miles away! Dust and soot from the pit
covered the ground at Cudworth 5 miles away. It was near the end of the day
shift and the pit was full of men and boys. Absenteeism was very low as
Christmas was near and Wednesday was making up day for pay.
2.00 pm – Three rescuers went down into the pit. They found 20 badly burned
miners and sent them up to the surface. Only 6 of these miners recovered.
Soon about 70 volunteer rescuers were underground. They found that the
workings were full of after-damp (Carbon Dioxide CO2) which was caused by
the explosion. They struggled to breathe in the confined tunnels underground.
Eventually they went into the main part of the mine, the main underground
tunnel (known as the ‘Engine Plane’). They discovered it was full of miners
collapsed on the floor. Fathers and sons were found embracing each other.
Pony drivers with their horses were found together, all had been overcome
with deadly after-damp gas.
By late afternoon, early evening volunteer rescuers had to be turned away as
there were too many of them.
At 10.00 pm a prominent local mining engineer arrived called, Parkin Jeffcock,
together with a man called Tewart, the under viewer, he supervised work
underground all night. He wanted to get the air circulating around the mine
again.
Thursday 13 th December 1866.
8.30 am – Most of the rescuers evacuated the pit for fear of another explosion.
Jeffcock and his men carried on with their work.
9.00 am – The pit exploded again. It sent the cage into the headgear. 28 men
including Jeffcock and Tewart were still underground.
7.40 pm – A third explosion saw flames roar up the shafts. The pit was on fire.
Friday 14 th December 1866.
4.30 am – The signal bell sounded on the surface indicating that someone was
alive underground. A bottle of water and brandy was lowered into the mine
and taken. A makeshift pulley was erected and two brave men named,
Mammett and Embleton rode down in a large metal bucket. A man, Samuel
Brown was found alive at the bottom. He had been knocked unconscious by
the second explosion and had somehow survived. He was brought to the
surface.
Saturday 15 th , to Tuesday, 18 th December 1866.
There were another 14 explosions until the decision was made to abandon the
rescue and fill in the shafts to smother the fire underground.
5 th November 1867
It was finally safe to start clearing the shafts.
In all it is estimated that 361 men and boys were killed. The exact cause of the
explosion is not clear other than methane gas was ignited by an unknown source."
www.facebook.com
"The Oaks Colliery Disaster 1866
Fact sheet 1 –The Explosion
1866 saw England’s worst ever mining disaster at, The Oaks
Colliery, Barnsley.
Wednesday 12 th December 1866.
About 1.15 pm – The first explosion ripped through the underground workings
of the Oaks Colliery. It could be heard 3 miles away! Dust and soot from the pit
covered the ground at Cudworth 5 miles away. It was near the end of the day
shift and the pit was full of men and boys. Absenteeism was very low as
Christmas was near and Wednesday was making up day for pay.
2.00 pm – Three rescuers went down into the pit. They found 20 badly burned
miners and sent them up to the surface. Only 6 of these miners recovered.
Soon about 70 volunteer rescuers were underground. They found that the
workings were full of after-damp (Carbon Dioxide CO2) which was caused by
the explosion. They struggled to breathe in the confined tunnels underground.
Eventually they went into the main part of the mine, the main underground
tunnel (known as the ‘Engine Plane’). They discovered it was full of miners
collapsed on the floor. Fathers and sons were found embracing each other.
Pony drivers with their horses were found together, all had been overcome
with deadly after-damp gas.
By late afternoon, early evening volunteer rescuers had to be turned away as
there were too many of them.
At 10.00 pm a prominent local mining engineer arrived called, Parkin Jeffcock,
together with a man called Tewart, the under viewer, he supervised work
underground all night. He wanted to get the air circulating around the mine
again.
Thursday 13 th December 1866.
8.30 am – Most of the rescuers evacuated the pit for fear of another explosion.
Jeffcock and his men carried on with their work.
9.00 am – The pit exploded again. It sent the cage into the headgear. 28 men
including Jeffcock and Tewart were still underground.
7.40 pm – A third explosion saw flames roar up the shafts. The pit was on fire.
Friday 14 th December 1866.
4.30 am – The signal bell sounded on the surface indicating that someone was
alive underground. A bottle of water and brandy was lowered into the mine
and taken. A makeshift pulley was erected and two brave men named,
Mammett and Embleton rode down in a large metal bucket. A man, Samuel
Brown was found alive at the bottom. He had been knocked unconscious by
the second explosion and had somehow survived. He was brought to the
surface.
Saturday 15 th , to Tuesday, 18 th December 1866.
There were another 14 explosions until the decision was made to abandon the
rescue and fill in the shafts to smother the fire underground.
5 th November 1867
It was finally safe to start clearing the shafts.
In all it is estimated that 361 men and boys were killed. The exact cause of the
explosion is not clear other than methane gas was ignited by an unknown source."
Northern Mine Research Society
The Oaks Colliery Disaster 1866 Fact sheet 1 –The Explosion 1866 saw England’s worst ever mining disaster at, The Oaks Colliery, Barnsley. Wednesday 12 th December 1866. About 1.15 pm – The first...
www.facebook.com
shotlighter
Active member
Un-utterably bloody dreadfull.
Sadly, in the present 'world' the public's interests are more taken by the possibility of David Beckham getting a knighthood and which 'Z-list' celebrity is best at eating unmentionable parts of a kangaroo. The whole of the present comfortable, well equipped world we in the 'west' enjoy is built on the industrial revolution these people risked their lives to fuel and we shouldn't forget that.
steviet_scg
Active member
I'm born and bred Barnsley (frum Tarn). We were taught (mid 80s) about the various disasters at secondary school. Oaks and Huskar in particular. Really hope that this still happens.
Thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting.
AR
Well-known member
The first verse of Alex Glasgows song "Close the Coalhouse Door" comes to mind.
Close the coalhouse door, lad. There’s blood inside,
Blood from broken hands and feet,
Blood that’s dried on blackened meat,
Blood from hearts that know no beat.
Close the coalhouse door, lad. There’s blood inside.
Close the coalhouse door, lad. There’s blood inside,
Blood from broken hands and feet,
Blood that’s dried on blackened meat,
Blood from hearts that know no beat.
Close the coalhouse door, lad. There’s blood inside.
Similar threads
