Gresford disaster: Difference between revisions
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The explosion would occur in the Dennis section of the Main seam. This section was divided into six "districts": 20's, 61's, 109's, 14's and 29's. The sixth district was a very deep area known as the "95's and 24's".<ref name=hansard>''[http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1937/feb/23/gresford-colliery-explosion Gresford Colliery Explosion]'', ''[[Hansard]]'', [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], 23 February 1937</ref> All the districts in Dennis were worked by the [[longwall mining|longwall]] system where the coal face was mined in single blocks. All the districts in the Dennis section were mechanised except 20's and 61's, which were still worked by hand, because they were furthest from the main shaft. |
The explosion would occur in the Dennis section of the Main seam. This section was divided into six "districts": 20's, 61's, 109's, 14's and 29's. The sixth district was a very deep area known as the "95's and 24's".<ref name=hansard>''[http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1937/feb/23/gresford-colliery-explosion Gresford Colliery Explosion]'', ''[[Hansard]]'', [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], 23 February 1937</ref> All the districts in Dennis were worked by the [[longwall mining|longwall]] system where the coal face was mined in single blocks. All the districts in the Dennis section were mechanised except 20's and 61's, which were still worked by hand, because they were furthest from the main shaft. |
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Conditions in the mine prior to the explosion were presented as evidence at the inquiry into the |
Conditions in the mine prior to the explosion were presented as evidence at the inquiry into the disaster. Firstly [[Underground mine ventilation|underground mine ventilation]] in some districts of Dennis were probably inadequate, in particular, the 14's and 29's districts were notorious for poor air quality. The main return airway for the 109's, 14's and 29's districts was said to be {{convert|4|ft|m}} by {{convert|4|ft|m}} and far too small to provide adequate ventilation.<ref name=walker>''[http://www.dmm-gallery.org.uk/colleng/3703-02.htm Report by Sir Henry Walker]'', March 1937, in Colliery Engineering at Durham Mining Museum</ref> Secondly working conditions in the {{convert|2600|ft|m}} deep 95's and 24's district was always uncomfortably hot.<ref name="hansard"/> Thirdly there were also numerous breaches of safety regulations such as the firing of explosive charges in 14's district and the failure to take of dust samples.<ref name="WCM"/> |
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The disaster inquiry was told one of the pit deputies (whose job was in theory to oversee the safety of the workings) admitted that he also carried out [[dynamite|shotfiring]] during his shifts, in addition to his other duties. It was revealed that he fired more charges during his shift than a full-time shotfirer could have safely carried out.<ref name=walker/> Furthermore the colliery had made an operating loss in 1933, and the pit manager, William Bonsall, had been under pressure from the Dennis family to increase profitability.<ref name=wc>''[http://www.wrexhamchronicle.co.uk/wrexham-news/local-wrexham-news/2004/09/30/inquiry-failed-to-heal-the-wounds-88713-14703143/ Inquiry Failed to Heal the Wounds]'', Wrexham Chronicle, 30 September 2004</ref> He admitted he had spent little time in the Dennis section of the pit in the months before the disaster, as he was overseeing the installation of new machinery in the mine's south eastern Martin section near the Slant Seam.<ref name="hansard"/> |
The disaster inquiry was told one of the pit deputies (whose job was in theory to oversee the safety of the workings) admitted that he also carried out [[dynamite|shotfiring]] during his shifts, in addition to his other duties. It was revealed that he fired more charges during his shift than a full-time shotfirer could have safely carried out.<ref name=walker/> Furthermore the colliery had made an operating loss in 1933, and the pit manager, William Bonsall, had been under pressure from the Dennis family to increase profitability.<ref name=wc>''[http://www.wrexhamchronicle.co.uk/wrexham-news/local-wrexham-news/2004/09/30/inquiry-failed-to-heal-the-wounds-88713-14703143/ Inquiry Failed to Heal the Wounds]'', Wrexham Chronicle, 30 September 2004</ref> He admitted he had spent little time in the Dennis section of the pit in the months before the disaster, as he was overseeing the installation of new machinery in the mine's south eastern Martin section near the Slant Seam.<ref name="hansard"/> |
Revision as of 22:21, 19 November 2012
The Gresford Disaster occurred on September 22, 1934 at Gresford Colliery, Gresford near Wrexham, in north-east Wales when an explosion killed 266 men and boys. The cause was never proved but an inquiry found that a number of factors such as failures in safety procedures and poor mine management contributed to the disaster. Gresford remains one of Britain's worst coal mining disasters and mining accidents. Only eleven bodies were ever recovered from the mine.
Background
Work began sinking the pit at Gresford in 1908 by United Westminster & Wrexham Collieries. Two shafts were sunk 50 yards (46 m) apart: the Dennis (named after the industrialist Dennis family of Ruabon who were the pit owners) and the Martin. Work was completed in 1911. The mine was one of the deepest in the Denbighshire Coalfield with the Dennis shaft reaching depths of about 2,264 feet (690 m) and the Martin shaft about 2,252 feet (686 m).
By 1934, 2,200 coal miners were employed at the colliery, with 1,850 working underground and 350 on the surface. Three coal seams were worked at Gresford: the Crank, Brassey, and Main.
The explosion would occur in the Dennis section of the Main seam. This section was divided into six "districts": 20's, 61's, 109's, 14's and 29's. The sixth district was a very deep area known as the "95's and 24's".[1] All the districts in Dennis were worked by the longwall system where the coal face was mined in single blocks. All the districts in the Dennis section were mechanised except 20's and 61's, which were still worked by hand, because they were furthest from the main shaft.
Conditions in the mine prior to the explosion were presented as evidence at the inquiry into the disaster. Firstly underground mine ventilation in some districts of Dennis were probably inadequate, in particular, the 14's and 29's districts were notorious for poor air quality. The main return airway for the 109's, 14's and 29's districts was said to be 4 feet (1.2 m) by 4 feet (1.2 m) and far too small to provide adequate ventilation.[2] Secondly working conditions in the 2,600 feet (790 m) deep 95's and 24's district was always uncomfortably hot.[1] Thirdly there were also numerous breaches of safety regulations such as the firing of explosive charges in 14's district and the failure to take of dust samples.[3]
The disaster inquiry was told one of the pit deputies (whose job was in theory to oversee the safety of the workings) admitted that he also carried out shotfiring during his shifts, in addition to his other duties. It was revealed that he fired more charges during his shift than a full-time shotfirer could have safely carried out.[2] Furthermore the colliery had made an operating loss in 1933, and the pit manager, William Bonsall, had been under pressure from the Dennis family to increase profitability.[4] He admitted he had spent little time in the Dennis section of the pit in the months before the disaster, as he was overseeing the installation of new machinery in the mine's south eastern Martin section near the Slant Seam.[1]
Explosion
On September 22 at 2:08 a.m. a violent explosion shook the Dennis section of the mine, over a mile from the bottom of the shaft, and a fire took hold. At the time a total of 500 men were working underground at the colliery on the night shift. The night overman, Fred Davies, who was on duty at the bottom of the shaft, telephoned the surface and Bonsall, the manager, immediately went into the mine to try to establish what had occurred. Workers in the mine's other section, the Slant, were called to the pit bottom and ordered out of the mine.[5]: p4 It was quickly reported that parts of the main road from the Dennis section were on fire beyond the Clutch and that a large number of miners, up to half of those on the shift, could have be trapped in the affected districts.
Six men from the Dennis section's 29's district had made a remarkable escape. They felt the explosion while sitting taking a break about 300 yards from the Clutch, and were advised by a colleague to leave the mine via the "wind road", the 29's air return drift.[6] Around 30 men working in the 29's district gathered and were told to follow the initial party of six, who went ahead attempting to fan the air to mitigate the effects of the deadly afterdamp; however, when looking back, the leading group soon realised that the rest of the men had not followed them. After a long and difficult escape up 1-in-3 gradients, several ladders, and past several rockfalls once rejoining the main drift, the six miners met up with Andrew Williams, the under-manager, who along with Bonsall had immediately descended the shaft on being notified of the explosion.
Rescue attempts
By early morning large crowds of concerned relatives and off-duty miners had gathered silently at the pit head awaiting news. Volunteer rescue teams from Gresford and Llay Main collieries were assembled to enter the pit. However their initial efforts to enter the Dennis section were hindered by the ferocity of the fire in the main road and a lack of water and fire-fighting equipment.
Three members of Llay No. 1 rescue team, the first to enter the mine after the explosion, were killed after being overcome by fumes after being ordered to proceed up the mile-long return airway of the 20's district. John Charles Williams, the Llay team's leader, after finding the airway ahead narrowing to 3 feet (0.91 m) by 3 feet (0.91 m) and less, tried to save another member of the team by dragging him for over 40 yards (37 m) towards safety before being overcome by gas.[1] Williams was the only survivor from this team; he was said by his family to be the man who later wrote the anonymous broadside ballad "The Gresford Disaster", which was highly critical of the mine's management.[7]
As the Llay team's attempt to gain access via the 20's return airway had proved fatal and the previous escape route from 29's was found to be full of afterdamp, rescue efforts became focused on trying to fight the fire in the main road of the Dennis section. It soon became clear the blaze and rockfalls at the entrance to 29's prevented the escape of any trapped men in that district.[5]: pp8-9 Likewise the miners beyond the 29's in the most northerly districts, 20's and 61's, would have been more than a 1 mile (1.6 km) on the wrong side of the fire.
Throughout the day, firefighters and mine rescue teams were sent into the mine with ponies to help clear debris. Hopes were raised that evening as the fire seemed to be being brought under control; families waiting at the surface were told rescue teams would soon be able to reach the miners in 29's, the nearest district beyond the Clutch.[5]: pp8-9 However, by the evening of the next day the mood had changed when it was realised that given the extremely hazardous conditions in the pit and because further explosions had been heard on the far side of the fire, it was impossible that anyone could have survived. In the early hours of 24 September relatives were informed that all the shafts into the Dennis section would be capped because it was now too dangerous to enter the pit and recover further bodies.[6]
Further explosions occurred within the pit over the next few days. One blast claimed the final victim of the disaster, a surface worker who was killed by flying debris when one of the shaft seals blew out.
In total, only 11 bodies were ever recovered from the mine. Inquests recorded the cause of death as carbon monoxide poisoning. The mine shafts remained sealed for six months. Gradually unaffected districts were re-entered although the Dennis section was never reopened. The bodies of the remaining 254 victims of the disaster were never recovered from the sealed districts.[3]
Inquiry
By the end of September 1934, 1,100 Gresford miners had signed on the unemployment register. Relief funds were set up by the Mayor of Wrexham, the Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire and the Lord Mayor of London. Their efforts raised a total of more than £500,000 for the dependants of the victims (£81m in 2010).[8]
On October 25, 1934, the official inquiry by the UK Mine Inspectorate opened at Church House on Regent Street in Wrexham. It was chaired by Sir Henry Walker. The miners were represented by Sir Stafford Cripps; the mine owners, mindful of the fact they could face criminal charges, hired a formidable team of barristers including Hartley Shawcross.[4]
At the inquiry Cripps, the miners' legal representative, suggested an explosion may have been triggered in 95's by shotfiring near a main airway. Likewise the miners' appointed assessor theorised a large quantity of gas which had accumulated at the top of the face in 14's district may have been ignited by an accident with a safety lamp or by a spark from a coalcutter.
Although recovery teams had re-entered the sealed pit in 1935 in connection with the inquiry, United & Westminster Collieries only allowed its own officials to enter the Dennis districts, citing dangerous conditions and the remains of victims sealed in the pit. However this decision was widely perceived as a deliberate attempt by the mine company to cover up any evidence of their culpability in the cause of the explosion. [4] As there was no other reports from the damaged part of the pit, the inquiry heard the explanation presented by the legal representatives of the pit's management. They countered the miners' theories suggesting firedamp had accumulated in the main Dennis haulage road beyond the Clutch (a junction on the main drift where the underground haulage machinery was located). The gas was ignited at the Clutch when a telephone was used to warn miners of the influx of firedamp.[2] Gresford colliery reopened six months after the disaster with coal production resuming from the South-East section in January 1936.
In 1937 the inquiry, which had considered management failures, a lack of safety measures, bad working practices and poor ventilation in the pit, issued its findings. However Walker drew very cautious conclusions in his final verdict because the two assessors chosen by the miners and by the pit's management, and the barristers representing them, gave widely different suggestions as to the explosion's cause. With the absence of any proof, the inquiry could not attribute any outright blame or definitive cause for the disaster. This uncertainty also meant the Dennis districts would remain sealed.
But in a debate in the House of Commons in February 1937 following the release of Walker's report, the politician David Grenfell condemned the management of the colliery because the miners' testimonies had told:
...of lamps having been extinguished by gas, blowing the gas about with a banjack, of protests and quarrels about firing shots in the presence of gas. There is no language in which one can describe the inferno of 14's. There were men working almost stark naked, clogs with holes bored through the bottom to let the sweat run out, 100 shots a day fired on a face less than 200 yards wide, the air thick with fumes and dust from blasting, the banjack hissing to waft the gas out of the face into the unpacked waste, a space 200 yards long and 100 yards wide above the wind road full of inflammable gas and impenetrable for that reason.[1]
Later in 1937, court proceedings were started in Wrexham against the pit manager, the under-manager and United & Westminster Collieries Limited, the owners of the mine. Aside from the evidence of poor working practices, it was discovered that Bonsall had after the accident instructed an assistant surveyor, William Cuffin, to falsify records of dust samples when none had actually been taken.[2] However the court dismissed most of the charges without the mine owners ever being called to give evidence. The only conviction against the management at Gresford Colliery was for inadequate record-keeping, for which Bonsall was fined £150 plus costs.
Legacy
Despite being portrayed as a ruthless and cynical manager by Cripps and others, researchers now think Bonsall is more likely to have been a "weak man driven beyond his capabilities",[5]: p100 whose public demeanour was reduced by the extreme exhaustion and stress of enduring over 20 hours of cross-examination at the inquiry. In contrast Williams, the under-manager, was singled out for praise because he was found to have made genuine attempts, unlike other bosses, to improve working conditions for the miners since taking the job at Gresford Colliery.
Cripps used the evidence obtained at the inquiry to call for nationalisation of the coal industry. This eventually occurred in 1947 when the pit, and others like it, were taken over by the National Coal Board. However as part of the takeover agreement, nearly all the operating records and correspondence relating to the private management of Gresford Colliery were deliberately destroyed.
Gresford Colliery finally closed on economic grounds in November 1973. In the 1980s the site was redeveloped as an industrial estate. In 1982 a memorial to the victims of the disaster was erected nearby; it was constructed from the wheel from the old pit-head winding gear.
The victims
Surname | Forename | Address | Age | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Amos | Max | Holydyke Road, Barton | 21 | Collier |
Andrews | Alfred | Benjamin Road, Wrexham | 43 | Collier |
Archibald | Joe | Finney Street, Rhosddu | 47 | Collier |
Archibald | Thomas | Council Houses, Pandy | 42 | Collier |
Byrne | Colin | Goxhill | 40 | Collier |
Bateman | Maldwyn | Lorne Street, Rhosddu | 15 | Collier |
Bather | Edward Wynn | Finney Street, Rhosddu | 36 | Collier |
Beddows | Edward | The Woodlands, High Street, Gwersyllt | 63 | Collier |
Bew | Arthur | Colliery Houses, Rhosddu | 45 | Collier |
Bett | Duncan | St Denys Close, Killingholme | 12 | Collier |
Bewley | Thomas | Park Street, Rhosddu | 58 | Collier |
Bowen | Alfred | Langdale Avenue, Rhostyllen | 53 | Collier |
Boycott | Henry | Offa Terrace, Wrexham | 38 | Packer |
Brain | Herbert | Pentrefelin, Wrexham | 31 | Collier |
Bramwell | George | Western Road, New Broughton | 30 | Collier |
Brannan | John | Ffordd Edgeworth, Maesydre, Wrexham | 32 | Collier |
Brown | George | Birkett Street, Rhostyllen | 59 | Surface worker |
Brown | William Arthur | Hightown Road, Wrexham | 22 | Haulage |
Bryan | John A.H. | Llewellyn Road, Coedpoeth | 20 | Collier |
Buckley | A. | Windy Hill, Summerhill | 21 | Collier |
Burns | Fred | Bennions Road, Huntroyde, Wrexham | 41 | Collier |
Capper | John A. | Wrexham Road, Broughton | 35 | Collier |
Cartwright | Albert Edward | Florence Street, Rhosddu | 24 | Collier |
Cartwright | Charles | Florence Street, Rhosddu | 24 | Collier |
Chadwick | Stephen | Kenyon Street, Wrexham | 21 | Collier |
Chesters | Edwin | Beales Cottages, Bradley | 67 | Fireman |
Clutton | Arthur | Lorne Street, Rhosddu | 29 | Collier |
Clutton | George Albert | March Terrace, New Rhosrobin | 20 | Collier |
Clutton | John T. | Council Houses, Pandy | 35 | Haulage |
Collins | John | Council Houses, Pandy | 62 | Shot Firer |
Cornwall | Thomas | Bennions Road, Wrexham | 30 | Collier |
Crump | William | Council Houses, Bradley | 36 | Collier |
Darlington | Thomas | Mountain Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 28 | Collier |
Davies | Arthur | Havelock Square, Wrexham | 24 | Collier |
Davies | Edward | Cyngorfa, Rhosllannerchrugog | 53 | Collier |
Davies | George William | Farndon Street, Wrexham | 26 | Collier |
Davies | Hugh T. | Holly Bush Terrace, Bradley | 26 | Collier |
Davies | James | Williams Cottages, Moss | 31 | Collier |
Davies | James | Boundary Terrace, Green, Brymbo | 37 | Collier |
Davies | James Edward | Farndon Street, Wrexham | 21 | Collier |
Davies | John | Meifod Place, Wrexham | 64 | Collier |
Davies | John | Fernleigh, Rhosrobin Road, Wrexham | 45 | Collier |
Davies | John E. | Bennions Road, Wrexham | 32 | Collier |
Davies | John R. | Fernleigh, Rhosrobin | 69 | Collier |
Davies | Matthias | Erw Las, Maesydre, Wrexham | Collier | |
Davies | Peter | Newtown, Gresford | 50 | Collier |
Davies | Peter | March Terrace, New Rhosrobin | 25 | Collier |
Davies | Peter | Glanllyn, Bradley | 21 | Collier |
Davies | Robert Thomas | Mountain View, Caego | 34 | Collier |
Davies | Samuel | Woodland View, New Rhosrobin | 35 | Collier |
Davies | Thomas | Erw Cottage, Caergwrle | 31 | Collier |
Davies | William | Acton Terrace, Rhosnesni, Wrexham | 33 | Collier |
Dodd | Thomas | Maeseinion, Rhosllannerchrugog | 39 | Collier |
Duckett | Fred | Beech Terrace, Ruabon | 29 | Collier |
Edge | John | Nelson Street, Hightown | 28 | Collier |
Edge | Samuel | South Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 30 | Collier |
Edwards | Albert | Nr Kings Head, Moss | 62 | Collier |
Edwards | Ernest | Green Road, Brymbo | 16 | Collier |
Edwards | E. Glyn | Woodland View, New Rhosrobin | 23 | Collier |
Edwards | Ernest Thomas | Queen Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 53 | Collier |
Edwards | Frank | Chestnut Ave, Acton, Wrexham | 23 | Collier |
Edwards | James Sam | Top Road, Moss | 87 | Collier |
Edwards | John Edward | Glanyrafon, Maesydre | 39 | Collier |
Edwards | John C. | Coronation Cottages, New Road, Southsea | Collier | |
Edwards | Thomas David | New Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 40 | Collier |
Edwards | William | Church Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 32 | Collier |
Edwardson | John | High Street, Gresford | 41 | Collier |
Ellis | George | Council Houses, Pandy | 43 | Collier |
Evans | Fred | Grange Road, Rhosddu | 50 | Collier |
Evans | John | Ness Cottage, Park Wall, Gwersyllt | 32 | Collier |
Evans | Norman | Grange Road, Rhosddu | 45 | Collier |
Evans | Ralph | Pentre Lane, Llay | 34 | Collier |
Fisher | Len | Maple Avenue, Acton | 44 | Collier |
Foulkes | Irwin | Bryn Gardden, Rhosllannerchrugog | 21 | Collier |
Gabriel | Richard George | Crispin Lane, Wrexham | 61 | Collier |
Gittins | Johm Henry | Abenbury Street, Wrexham | 42 | Collier |
Goodwin | John | Chapel Road, New Broughton | 51 | Collier |
Griffiths | Edward | Brandie Cottages, Ruabon | 21 | Collier |
Griffiths | Ellis | Cyngorfa, Rhosllannerchrugog | 50 | Collier |
Griffiths | Emmanuel | High Street, Penycae | 53 | Collier |
Griffiths | Charles | Gardd Estyn, Garden Village | 25 | Collier |
Griffiths | Frank | Oxford Street, Wrexham | 57 | Collier |
Griffiths | Walter | Victoria Road, Brynteg | 50 | Collier |
Hall | Walter | Church Road, Brynteg | 49 | Collier |
Hallam | T.W. | Railway Terrace, Gwersyllt | 32 | Collier |
Hamlington | Arthur | Yew Tree Cottage, Summerhill | 62 | Collier |
Hampson | Frank | Ruabon Road, Rhostyllen | 32 | Collier |
Harrison | Arthur | Moss Hill, Moss | 21 | Collier |
Harrison | Charles Edward | James Street, Wrexham | 15 | Collier |
Hewitt | Phillip | Poplar Avenue, Rhosllannerchrugog | 56 | Collier |
Higgins | William | Finney Street, Rhosddu | 27 | Collier |
Holt | Alfred | Pentre Lane, Llay | 31 | Collier |
Houlden | John Henry | Second Avenue, Llay | 21 | Collier |
Hughes | Cecil | Tanygraig, Minera | 23 | Collier |
Hughes | Daniel | First Avenue, Llay | 56 | Rescuer |
Hughes | Francis O. | Acton Terrace, Rhosnesni | 60 | Collier |
Hughes | Harry | Hill Crescent, Spring Lodge, Wrexham | 44 | Collier |
Hughes | John | Percy Road, Wrexham | 58 | Collier |
Hughes | Peter Joseph | Tanygraig, Minera | 27 | Collier |
Hughes | Robert John | Lorne Street, Rhosddu | 29 | Collier |
Hughes | Walter Ellis | Rosemary Crescent, Rhostyllen | 24 | Collier |
Hughes | William | Long Row, Brymbo | 43 | Collier |
Hughes | William | Jackson's Houses, New Rhosrobin | 54 | Rescuer |
Humphreys | Ben | Vernon Street, Rhosddu | 34 | Collier |
Humphreys | John | Edwards Road, Brynteg | 30 | Collier |
Husbands | Thomas | Manley Road, Wrexham | 40 | Collier |
Jarvis | Ernest | Ddol, Bersham | 41 | Collier |
Jenkins | William | Heol Offa, Tanyfron | 25 | Collier |
Johns | Percy | Ffordd Edgeworth, Maesydre | 27 | Collier |
Jones | Albert Edward | Nelson Street, Wrexham | 31 | Collier |
Jones | Azariah | Westminster Road, Moss | 37 | Collier |
Jones | Cyril | Main Road, Rhosrobin | 26 | Collier |
Jones | Daniel | Western Road, New Broughton | 33 | Collier |
Jones | David L. | Colliery Road, Rhosddu | 36 | Collier |
Jones | Edward | Woodland View, High Street, Gwersyllt | 64 | Collier |
Jones | Edward | Queen Street, Cefn Mawr | 56 | Collier |
Jones | Edward George | Ruabon Road, Wrexham | 23 | Collier |
Jones | Eric | Rosemary Crescent, Rhostyllen | 23 | Collier |
Jones | Ernest | Glan Garth, Maesydre | 36 | Collier |
Jones | Bill | Glan Garth, Maesydre | 14 | Collier |
Jones | Evan Hugh | Marion House, New Brighton, Minera | 55 | Collier |
Jones | Fred | Woodland View, New Rhosrobin | 30 | Collier |
Jones | Frederick H.C. | Bridge Street, Holt | 31 | Collier |
Jones | Francis | Council Houses, Berse | 27 | Collier |
Jones | George | Glan Garth, Maesydre | 47 | Collier |
Jones | George Humphrey | Russell Street, Cefn Mawr | 22 | Collier |
Jones | Gwilym | Glan Garth, Maesydre | 52 | Collier |
Jones | Henry | Gordon Terrace, Rhosddu | 59 | Collier |
Jones | Idris | Nant Road, Coedpoeth | 37 | Collier |
Jones | Iorwerth | Bryn Dolwar, Rhosrobin Road, Wrexham | 52 | Collier |
Jones | Jabez | Morgan Avenue, Rhosddu | 43 | Collier |
Jones | John Dan | Williams Cottages, Moss | 42 | Collier |
Jones | John Richard | Mostyn View, Coedpoeth | 33 | Collier |
Jones | John Robert | Pentre Lane, Llay | Collier | |
Jones | Llewellyn | Windsor Road, New Broughton | 49 | Collier |
Jones | Llewellyn | Yew Tree Bungalow, Gresford | 40 | Collier |
Jones | Llewellyn | Bersham Road, New Broughton | 38 | Collier |
Jones | Neville | Ffordd Maelor, Maesydre, Wrexham | 30 | Collier |
Jones | Richard Henry | Bryn Terrace, Ruabon | 21 | Collier |
Jones | Richard J. | White House Lodge, Brymbo | 34 | Collier |
Jones | Robert | Trefechan, Penycae | 57 | Deputy |
Jones | Robert | Hillock Lane, Gresford | 49 | Collier |
Jones | Thomas | Council Houses, Gresford | 55 | Collier |
Jones | Thomas E. | Poolmouth Road, Moss | Collier | |
Jones | Thomas John | Bryndedwydd, Marford Hill | 58 | Collier |
Jones | Thomas O. | Penllyn, Trevor, Llangollen | 59 | Collier |
Jones | William | Lorne Street, Rhosddu | 51 | Collier |
Jones | William | Lloyd Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 21 | Collier |
Kelsall | James | Florence Street, Wrexham | 30 | Collier |
Kelsall | John | Rose Cottage, Common Wood, Holt | 37 | Collier |
Lawrence | William | Nelson Street, Hightown, Wrexham | 43 | Collier |
Lee | John Lee | Heol Offa, Coedpoeth | 30 | Collier |
Lee | Thomas | Heol Offa, Coedpoeth | 16 | Collier |
Lewis | David | Merlin Street, Johnstown | 44 | Collier |
Lewis | David Thomas | Middle Road, Coedpoeth | 46 | Collier |
Lewis | Jack | Cefn y Bedd | 48 | Rescuer |
Lilly | Joel | Main Road, Rhosrobin | 41 | Collier |
Lloyd | Thomas | Colliery Road, Rhosddu | 55 | Collier |
Lloyd | William | Finney Street, Rhosddu | 59 | Collier |
Lloyd | William Sidney | Pentre Lane, Llay | Collier | |
Lucas | John | Council Houses, Gwersyllt | 59 | Collier |
Maggs | Colin | Talwrn House, Talwrn | 17 | Collier |
Mannion | Albert | Hill Crest, Spring Lodge, Wrexham | 29 | Collier |
Manuel | Thomas A. | Meadows Lane, Spring Lodge, Wrexham | 33 | Collier |
Martin | William Henry | Newtown, Gresford | 37 | Collier |
Matthews | William V. | Hill Street, Penycae | 18 | Collier |
Mathias | Samuel | Eagle's Place, Moss | 42 | Rescuer |
McKean | John | Cheshire View, Spring Lodge, Wrexham | 30 | Collier |
Meade | William | St. John's Road, Wrexham | 39 | Collier |
Mitchell | George | James Street, Wrexham | 23 | Collier |
Monks | Ernest | Glanrafon, Bwlchgwyn | 23 | Collier |
Morley | Edward | Council Houses, Bradley | 57 | Collier |
Morris | Alfred | High Street, Penycae | 20 | Collier |
Nichols | Harry | Ashfield Road, Crispin Lane, Wrexham | 32 | Collier |
Nichols | John | Beast Market, Wrexham | 29 | Collier |
Nichols | William Henry | Farndon Street, Wrexham | 25 | Collier |
Owens | Evan Henry | Cunliffe Walk, Garden Village, Wrexham | 54 | Collier |
Palmer | Alex | Kingstown, Maesydre | 20 | Collier |
Parry | Isaac | Western View, Wrexham Road, Brymbo | 40 | Collier |
Parry | Joseph | Western View, Wrexham Road, Brymbo | 65 | Collier |
Parry | John E. | Pisgah Hill, New Broughton | 31 | Collier |
Parry | John Richard | Manley Road, Wrexham | 21 | Collier |
Penny | Stephen | Stansty View, New Rhosrobin | 23 | Collier |
Penny | William H. | Council Houses, Pandy | 32 | Collier |
Perrin | Frank | Finney Street, Rhosddu | 23 | Collier |
Peters | Henry | Pentre Lane, Llay | 38 | Collier |
Phillips | George | Trevanna Way, Spring Lodge, Wrexham | 22 | Collier |
Phillips | Herbert | Haig Road, Hightown, Wrexham | 30 | Collier |
Phillips | John | Gardd Estyn, Garden Village, Wrexham | 40 | Collier |
Pickering | J. | Sycamore Terrace, Old Rhosrobin | 22 | Collier |
Powell | Charles | Dale Street, Wrexham | 57 | Railman |
Price | Ernest | Moss Hill, Moss | 27 | Collier |
Price | Samuel | Oakfield Terrace, Gresford | 37 | Collier |
Pridding | James | Oxford Street, Wrexham | 32 | Collier |
Prince | Mark | Manley Road, Wrexham | 59 | Collier |
Prince | William | Meadow Lea, Spring Lodge, Wrexham | 30 | Collier |
Pritchard | Isiah | Woodland View, New Rhosrobin | 54 | Collier |
Pugh | Ernest | Quarry Rd, Brynteg | 49 | Collier |
Pugh | Thomas | Vernon Street, Wrexham | 54 | Collier |
Ralphs | John | Market Street, Wrexham | 53 | Collier |
Rance | Thomas | High Street, Pentre Broughton | 21 | Collier |
Rees | Albert | Gatewen Road, New Broughton | 56 | Collier |
Reid | Lloyd | Bryn Gardden, Rhosllannerchrugog | 20 | Collier |
Roberts | Arthur A. | Wire Mill Cottage, Bradley | 63 | Collier |
Roberts | Edward | Bryn Estyn Cottage, Rhosnesni | 35 | Collier |
Roberts | Edward C. | Council Houses, Gresford | 42 | Collier |
Roberts | Ernest | Little Penybryn, Abenbury | 26 | Collier |
Roberts | Frank | Bury Street, Wrexham | 26 | Collier |
Roberts | George | Glanrafon, Maesydre, Wrexham | 28 | Repairer |
Roberts | H. | Patison Road, Coedpoeth | Collier | |
Roberts | Idris | Pumphouse, Highfield, Stansty | 16 | Collier |
Roberts | John David | Lorne Street, Rhosddu | 47 | Collier |
Roberts | John H. | Patison Row, Coedpoeth | 33 | Collier |
Roberts | Olwyn | Hill Street, Penycae | 24 | Collier |
Roberts | Percy | Bungalow, Llidiart Fanny, Coedpoeth | 26 | Collier |
Roberts | Robert | off Brook Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 33 | Collier |
Roberts | Robert John | Market Street, Wrexham | Collier | |
Roberts | Robert Thomas | Crispin Lane, Wrexham | 57 | Collier |
Roberts | Robert William | Forge Row, Southsea | 38 | Collier |
Roberts | Thomas James | Kendrick Place, Beast Market, Wrexham | 19 | Collier |
Roberts | William | Princes Street, Wrexham | 45 | Collier |
Roberts | William T. | Pentre Lane, Llay | 40 | Collier |
Robertson | William | Spring Road, Rhosddu | 41 | Collier |
Rogers | Edward Llewellyn | New Houses Lane, Llay | 20 | Collier |
Rogers | Grenville | Wheatsheaf Lane, Gwersyllt | 29 | Collier |
Ross | Harry | Nelson Street, Wrexham | 34 | Collier |
Rowlands | John | Holt Road, Wrexham | 36 | Collier |
Rowland | John David | Old Cross Foxes, Minera | 17 | Collier |
Salisbury | William | Victoria Road, Brynteg | 48 | Collier |
Shaw | George | Ashwood, Wrexham Road, Brynteg | 63 | Collier |
Shone | John | Gresford | 34 | Collier |
Shone | Richard | High Street, Gresford | 49 | Collier |
Slawson | Arthur | Crescent Road, Wrexham | 22 | Collier |
Smith | Leonard | Bennions Road, Huntroyde, Wrexham | 20 | Collier |
Stevens | Richard T. | Pisgah Hill, Pentre Broughton | 22 | Collier |
Strange | Albert | Nelson Street, Wrexham | 25 | Collier |
Statford | Stanley | Ninth Avenue, Llay | 39 | Collier |
Tarran | John | Liverpool Road, Buckley | 59 | Collier |
Taylor | William Henry | Church Street, Holt | 53 | Collier |
Thomas | Berwyn | Kent Road, Lodge, Brymbo | 26 | Collier |
Thomas | John Elias | Queen's Terrace, Gwersyllt | 29 | Collier |
Thomas | Robert | Pant Hill, Rhosllannerchrugog | 32 | Collier |
Thomas | Tec | Council Houses, Pandy | 26 | Collier |
Thornton | John | Coronation Cottages, New Broughton | 24 | Collier |
Tittle | Edward | Smithy Lane, Acton | 44 | Collier |
Trowe | Ernest | Huntroyde Avenue, Wrexham | 41 | Collier |
Valentine | Fred | Glan Dwr, Acrefair | 24 | Collier |
Vaughan | John Edward | Alford Street, Wrexham | 28 | Collier |
White | John | Chapel Cottages, Gresford | 38 | Collier |
Williams | George | Gardden Terrace, Summerhill | 31 | Collier |
Williams | Harold | Osborne Terrace, Claypit Lane, Gresford | 37 | Collier |
Williams | Hugh Llewellyn | Park Street, Rhosddu | 43 | Collier |
Williams | John | Cheetham's Lodging Houses, Wrexham | 62 | Collier |
Williams | John | Dale Street, Wrexham | 44 | Collier |
Williams | John | Council Houses, Brynteg | 66 | Collier |
Williams | John D. | Vulcan Cottage, New Road, Southsea | 29 | Collier |
Williams | John Thomas | Brynffynnon, Brymbo | 33 | Collier |
Williams | Morris | Pentre Lane, Llay | 24 | Electrician |
Williams | Reg | Old Rhosrobin | 29 | Electrician |
Williams | Thomas | Park View Stores, Bradley | 57 | Collier |
Williams | William A. | Gatewen Road, Pentre Broughton | 29 | Collier |
Wilson | John Walter | Victoria Terrace, Coedpoeth | 32 | Collier |
Witter | Henry | The Mount, Gresford | 56 | Collier |
Wynn | Edward | Bradley Road, Wrexham | 68 | Collier |
Winyard | J. | New Inn, Cefnybedd | 47 | Collier |
Yemm | Morgan James | Seventh Avenue, Llay | 28 | Collier |
Popular culture
The Gresford Disaster
(Lyrics: "Anonymous")....
- You've heard of the Gresford Disaster,
- Of the terrible price that was paid;
- Two hundred and sixty-four colliers were lost,
- And three men of the rescue brigade.
- It occurred in the month of September
- At three in the morning the pit
- Was racked by a violent explosion
- In the Dennis where gas lay so thick.
- Now the gas in the Dennis deep section
- Was packed there like snow in a drift,
- And many a man had to leave the coal-face
- Before he had worked out his shift.
- Now a fortnight before the explosion,
- To the shotfirer Tomlinson cried,
- "If you fire that shot we'll be all blown to hell!"
- And no one can say that he lied.
- Now the fireman's reports they are missing
- The records of forty-two days;
- The collier manager had them destroyed
- To cover his criminal ways.
- Down there in the dark they are lying.
- They died for nine shillings a day;
- They have worked out their shift and now they must lie
- In the darkness until Judgement Day.
- Now the Lord Mayor of London's collecting
- To help out the children and wives;
- The owners have sent some white lilies
- To pay for the poor colliers' lives.
- Farewell, all our dear wives and our children
- Farewell, all our comrades as well,
- Don't send your sons down the dark dreary mine
- They'll be doomed like the sinners in hell.
The song was issued as a broadsheet soon after the disaster. It has been recorded by The Hennessys, Ewan MacColl, Alex Campbell and the Albion Band amongst others.
The disaster is the subject of the song "The Colliers" on Seth Lakeman's 2006 album Freedom Fields.
The disaster is also commemorated in the hymn tune "Gresford", which is also known as "The Miners' Hymn", written by Robert Saint of Hebburn, himself also a miner.[9] This tune has been played regularly by many colliery brass bands over the years and is found on a number of recordings, and is also played at the annual Miners Picnics around the North of England, especially at the Durham Miners' Gala.
References
- ^ a b c d e Gresford Colliery Explosion, Hansard, House of Commons, 23 February 1937
- ^ a b c d Report by Sir Henry Walker, March 1937, in Colliery Engineering at Durham Mining Museum
- ^ a b "Gresford colliery". WelshCoalMines.co.uk. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ a b c Inquiry Failed to Heal the Wounds, Wrexham Chronicle, 30 September 2004
- ^ a b c d Williamson, S. Gresford: Anatomy of a Disaster, Liverpool University Press, 1999
- ^ a b Riley, Bill Gresford Disaster, Pitwork website at Durham Mining Museum
- ^ The life and times of Grandad Jack, Chester Evening Leader, 17-06-08[dead link]
- ^ "Purchasing Power of British Pounds from 1245 to Present". MeasuringWorth.com. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ "Pitmen's anthems still so popular". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-05-02.[dead link]
Sources
- Collieries of Denbighshire, G. G. Lerry 1968