KILLINGWORTH, Killingworth, Northumberland, 31st. October, 1851.
There was an explosion at the colliery in which nine persons were killed. The seat of the blast was limited in the whole coal which was six and a half feet thick, lying at a considerable angle and 190 fathoms from the surface. There was an estimated 30,000 cubic feet of air per minute passing around the colliery which had an upcast shaft 12 feet in diameter. The ventilation came from two furnaces.
The workings were worked by safety lamps with naked lights being ordered to be left at a door. The leading headings were 20 yards apart and holed at intervals of 40 yards which meant that there were 60 yards of brattice to each holing.
It appeared that one of the men, contrary to orders, had taken gunpowder and candles into the workings. During the investigation, it became evident that the ventilation had been very much decreased due to the extreme wetness of the upcast shaft. Repairs were completed after the accident and the ventilation was much improved.
Nine died.
REFERENCES
The Newcastle Chronicle
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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