	Snaefell (Metalliferous)	Index	Snaefell (Metalliferous)

Snaefell (Metalliferous)

Location:	Laxey 8 miles [13 km] N of Douglas
Map Ref:	SC407875, 54° 15' 30" N, 4° 26' 40" W
Opened:
Closed:	Sep 1908
Output:	1883 - Iron Ore.
	1887 - Lead Ore, Zinc Ore.
	1888 - Lead Ore, Zinc Ore.
	1889 - Lead Ore, Zinc Ore.
	1891 - Lead Ore, Zinc Ore.
	1892 - Lead Ore, Zinc Ore.
	1893 - Lead Ore, Zinc Ore.
	1894 - Lead Ore, Zinc Ore.
	1895 - Lead Ore, Zinc Ore.
	1896 - Lead Ore, Zinc Ore.
	1900 - Lead Ore, Zinc Ore.
	1902 - Lead Ore, Zinc Ore.
	1905 - Lead and zinc ores.
	1908 - Lead Ore, Zinc Ore.
	Detailed Mineral Statistics for Snaefell (Metalliferous)
Employment:	1883 - 6
	1884 - 25 (17 below, 8 surface)
	1887 - 64 (32 below, 32 surface)
	1888 - 96 (61 below, 35 surface)
	1889 - 95 (60 below, 35 surface)
	1890 - 90 (60 below, 30 surface)
	1891 - 108 (75 below, 33 surface)
	1892 - 117 (80 below, 37 surface)
	1893 - 138 (79 below, 59 surface)
	1894 - 71 (45 below, 26 surface)
	1895 - 39 (25 below, 14 surface)
	1896 - 46 (30 below, 16 surface)
	1900 - 97 (67 below, 30 surface)
	1902 - 78 (51 below, 27 surface)
	1905 - 58 (40 below, 18 surface)
	1908 - 61 (42 below, 19 surface) [Suspended]
	Catalogue of plans of abandoned mines for Snaefell (Metalliferous)
Notes:	1911 - Abandoned

Description

The mine is situated on the south-eastern flank of the mountain from which it takes its name, and at a distance of about three-quarters of a mile from the summit. A rough cart-road connects it with the village of Laxey, from which it is distant about four miles. The top of the shaft is 908 feet above the sea level.

The property belongs to the Crown, but the mine has been leased to the Snaefell Mining Company, Limited, which has been in possession for many years.

The deposit worked at the Snaefell Mine is a vein which has an approximatelt north and south strike, and an average dip to the east of about 15° from the vertical. Its width varies from 6 inches to 40 feet, and it consists of the following minerals, viz., galena, zinc blende, copper pyrites, some iron pyrites, pyrrhotine, pearl spar, and calc spar. The surrounding rocks (country) are generally composed of clay-slate, now known as the "Barrule Slate," and considered to be of Cambrian or Silurian age.

Official Report into the 1897 Disaster

Disasters (5 or more killed)

10th

May

1897

Underground fire, caused by naked light igniting timber, 20 lives lost (Show Names)

Names of those killed at this colliery

Please note that this collection of names is by no means complete!

						Callan, Sandy, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 24, Waggoner, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform [More information ...]
						Callow, William, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 29, Miner, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform [More information ...]
						Cannell, Robert, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 41, Waggoner, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found in a sitting position near "hanging wall" [More information ...]
						Christian, Frank, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 30, Waggoner, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform [More information ...]
						Christian, Walter, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 21, Labourer, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform [More information ...]
						Christian, William, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 26, Labourer, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform, he had fallen off the ladder [More information ...]
						Corkhill, James Henry, 26 May 1897, (accident: 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m.), aged 44, Miner, killed in the 1897 underground file (caused by naked light igniting timber), rescued alive [More information ...]
						Corkhill, John, 01 Oct 1895, aged 44, Miner, whilst he was getting down rock loosened by a blast in an overhand stope a huge piece which he thought was safe fell upon him and killed him on the spot
						Davies, William, 28 Apr 1888, aged 38, Miner, unexpected fall of the roof of a stope; the roof had been sounded and appeared to be perfectly firm, and a man was in the act of boring a hole in the very rock that fell, in order to bring down part of it by a blast
						Fayle, John, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 40, Waggoner, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform [More information ...]
						Kelly, Robert, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 20, Labourer, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying in the level, body recovered on the 7th June [More information ...]
						Kewin, John Robert, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 28, Labourer, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found sitting on the platform with his legs through the manhole [More information ...]
						Kewin, William, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 24, Labourer, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform [More information ...]
						Kewley, Edward, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 22, Labourer, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform [More information ...]
						Kewley, John, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 32, Kibble-filler, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform [More information ...]
						Kinrade, Edward, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 27, Labourer, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform [More information ...]
						Kinrade, Louis, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 24, Miner, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform close to "hanging wall" [More information ...]
						Lewney, Robert, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 24, Labourer, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform, he had fallen off ladder and bled a good deal [More information ...]
						Moughtin, Joseph, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 28, Miner, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found lying on platform, he had fallen off the ladder [More information ...]
						Oliver, John, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 57, Miner, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found in the manhole with his arm over one of the rungs of the ladder [More information ...]
						Oliver, John James, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 22, Labourer, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found in manhole with one foot on the ladder and the other on the platform [More information ...]
						Senogles, William, 10 May 1897, 6:00 a.m., aged 46, Miner, killed in the 1897 underground fire (caused by naked light igniting timber), found clinging to the ladder, with one foot on a rung, and the other on the platform [More information ...]
						Tate, John, 29 Sep 1866, aged 44, Mason

						23 names found

If you know of any fatalities missing from the above list then please contact us with the details and we will add them to our database.

For those names marked the text of the Mines Inspectors report into the incident is available online. Click on the icon to display the report.

Those names marked with , have a web page providing individual details of the accident, the page may also include a photograph of the deceased. Click on the symbol next to the name to see the web page.

Some of the names of mining fatalities on this web page have been kindly provided by The West Cumbria Mines Research and are marked with .

more information on some of the fatalities shown above

Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)

a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Snaefell (Metalliferous)

list of collieries/pits etc. near to Snaefell (Metalliferous)

Credits

Sources:

Official Report into the 1897 Snaefell Lead Mine Disaster (C.8880)
1888 Mines Inspectors Report (C 5779), North Wales, &c., and Isle of Man District (No. 9) by C. Le Neve Foster, H.M. Inspector of Mines Where to find this report
1890 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1894 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1896 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department, also available online at Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd
1900 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1902 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1905 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
1908 List of Mines - Government report from the Mines Department
Information supplied by West Cumbria Mines Research
Mineral Statistics for 1883 - Government report from the Mines Department (C 4058), published in 1884 — includes List of Mines and Mineral Works
Mineral Statistics for 1884 - Government report from the Mines Department (C 4430), published in 1885 — includes List of Mines and Openworks