COMPLETED - George French - Gwane Colliery Explosion, Dudley 1857
Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2025 11:46 pm
3:36 GWANE COLLIERY EXPLOSION - DUDLEY - 1857 GWANE. Dudley, Worcestershire. 10th. September, 1857. The colliery was owned by William Mills and Son, near Rowley Regis Hills and the Inspector commented: That it was around this vast basaltic mass that some of the most serious explosion of late years have taken place. The colliery had two shafts, seven feet in diameter. The downcast was 155 yards deep but at 135 yards it went through a thick coal seam and air was taken from the shaft to ventilate these. The remainder of the air went down the shaft and passed into an old ironstone mine called the "Whitestone". The air to the coal mine was split to the deep side workings and the crop. In the latter, it passed through a gate road seven or eight feet square which contracted to a small passage and then on to large chambers, through the workings and to the upcast shaft. Lionel Brough, Her Majesty's Inspector, had made several visits to the pit before the explosion and closely examined every part of the mine. He had brought to the notice of the owners that the main defect in the pit was a road that would not carry enough air to the far end of the workings and it was here that the explosion took place. The Inspector said: I sought an interview with Mr. William Mills, and explained to him the extingency of an entirely new gate-road, or of enlarging the existing narrow one into more ample dimensions. He promised me that it should be done forthwith, but unfortunately it was never performed. Nine men lost their lives, six killed instantly and three badly injured. Two of these did not live long but the third died some weeks later. The explosion which was caused by a fall of roof interrupting the ventilation and a build-up of gas followed. The gas was ignited by lax discipline in the mine. Those who lost their lives were: J. Griffiths aged 46 years, G. French aged 31 years,
The wife being confined with the fifth child on Monday last they had diff speech in those days- wonder what they meant ?