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In this section of the site we will provide text of the official reports of the Mines Inspectorate into disasters and major incidents that have occurred in the rest of the UK. This section will gradually grow as more reports are added over the coming months. If you have any of the reports we have not already made available and are willing to let us borrow the report to copy (and return!) then please let us know via email to the webmaster (see menu at left).

These reports are generally known as "Command Papers" as they are presented to Parliament by Command of His/Her Majesty. The specific Command Paper number is given in the left column of the following table - click on this and it will take you to the text of the report.

We have also provided an index to the names mentioned in the text of the reports, click here to access the index.

	Ref.		Incident Date				Colliery/Cause		Author
	Parl. Rpt.		24th	Jan	1849		Darley Main		Seymour Tremenheere and Warington W. Smyth
							Explosion of firedamp
	Ann. Rpt.		12th	Dec	1852		Lower Elsecar		Charles Morton
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light
	Ann. Rpt.		15th	Sep	1853		Lletty Shenkin		Herbert Mackworth
							Explosion of firedamp
	Ann. Rpt.		18th	Feb	1854		Ince Hall, Arley Pit		Joseph Dickinson
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light
	Ann. Rpt.		19th	Feb	1857		Lundhill		Charles Morton
							Explosion of firedamp
	Ann. Rpt.		31st	Jul	1857		Heys		Joseph Dickinson
							Explosion of firedamp
	Ann. Rpt.		6th	Apr	1859		Main		Thomas Evans
							Innundation, water from old workings
	Ann. Rpt.		16th	Jun	1859		Cam Hay		Henry Gordon Longridge
							Explosion of firedamp
	Ann. Rpt.		5th	Nov	1859		Far Green		Thomas Wynne
							Drawn over the pulley
	Ann. Rpt.		1st	Dec	1860		Risca, Black Vein Pit		Lionel Brough
							Explosion, firedamp, cause of ignition unknown
	Rpt.		19th	Feb	1862		Gethin		John Kenyon Blackwell
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light
	Ann. Rpt.		10th	Jan	1871		Rennishaw Park		Thomas Evans
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by blown-out shot
	Ann. Rpt.		18th	Feb	1873		Talk O' Th' Hill		Thomas Wynne
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by shot firing
	Ann. Rpt.		5th	Apr	1873		Cwmtillery		Lionel Brough
							Explosion of firedamp
	Ann. Rpt.		30th	May	1873		Brynn Hall		Thomas Bell
							Explosion of firedamp
	Ann. Rpt.		6th	Dec	1875		Swaithe Main		F. N. Wardell
	99		6th	Dec	1875		Swaithe Main		Wardell, Evans, Maule
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by shot firing
	Ann. Rpt.		5th	Jan	1876		Jammage Pits		Thomas Wynne
							Explosion
	Ann. Rpt.		6th	Apr	1876		Silverdale		Thomas Wynne
							Explosion of firedamp caused by gunpowder
	Ann. Rpt.		26th	Jun	1876		Birley		Thomas Evans
							Explosion of firedamp
	Ann. Rpt.		24th	Aug	1876		Tipton Moat		James P. Baker
							Shaft accident
	Ann. Rpt.		8th	Mar	1878		Barrwood		William Alexander
							Explosion of gas
	Ann. Rpt.		12th	Mar	1878		Unity Brook		Joseph Dickinson
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by safety lamp
	Ann. Rpt.		27th	Mar	1878		Apedale		Thomas Wynne
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by shot firing
	Ann. Rpt.		11th	Sep	1878		Abercarne, Prince Of Wales		Thomas Cadman
							Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, cause of ignition not established
	Ann. Rpt.		1st	May	1882		Baddesley Colliery		Thomas Evans
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by unprotected engine and boiler in return airway
	Ann. Rpt.		7th	Nov	1883		Moorfield pit, Altham Colliery		Joseph Dickinson
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by Davy lamp
	C-5787		18th	Jan	1889		Hyde		W. N. Atkinson
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by naked light
	Ann. Rpt.		5th	Sep	1889		Mauricewood		J. B. Atkinson
							Underground fire, cause unknown, death caused by suffocation from smoke flowing into intake air
	C 6902		4th	Aug	1892		Ravenslodge		Anthony H. Hawkins, Frank N. Wardell
							Flooding caused by defective tubbing in upcast shaft
	C 7091		11th	Apr	1893		Great Western		S. T. Evans, J. T. Robson
							Fire, ignition of inflammable substance caused by sparks from brake of hauling engine
	Cd 851		26th	Aug	1901		Donibristle Colliery, Fifeshire		J. B. Atkinson
							Inrush of soft peat or moss
	Ann. Rpt.		23rd	Feb	1904		Aldwarke Main		W. Walker
							Shaft accident
	Cd 5692		21st	Dec	1910		Hulton No. 3, Pretoria Pit		R. A. S. Redmayne
							Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by safety lamp
	Cd 7133		3rd	Aug	1913		Cadder, No. 15 Pit, Lanarkshire		Sir Henry Cunynghame, K.C.B.
							Underground fire, probably caused by accidental ignition of clothes, lamp-wick or timber by open lights or matches
	Cmd 810		12th	Jan	1918		Podmore Hall, Minnie Pit		W. Walker
							Explosion, firedamp and coal dust, ignition probably caused by defective safety lamp
	Cmd 2047		28th	Jul	1923		Maltby Main Colliery, Yorkshire		Sir Thomas Mottram
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion
	Cmd 2276		23rd	Feb	1924		Birley Colliery, East Pit, Beighton		Henry Walker
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by shot firing
	Cmd 2946		4th	Nov	1925		Pendleton Colliery		Henry Walker
							Floor upheaval caused by rock bump
	Cmd 2947		18th	Dec	1925		Birchenwood Colliery, Kidsgrove		F. H. Wynne
							Explosion, firedamp, caused by spontaneous combustion
	Cmd 3399		17th	Jan	1929		Maryhill Colliery, Kidsgrove		F. H. Wynne
							Inrush of water from old workings
	Cmd 3444		10th	Jul	1929		Milfraen Colliery, Blaenavon		J. Mcleod Carey
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by sparking at switch in coal cutter
	Cmd 3635		28th	Nov	1929		Wernbwll		F. H. Wynne
							Explosion, firedamp, propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by flame of open acetylene lamp
	Cmd 3698		26th	Feb	1930		Lyme Pit		F. H. Wynne
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by shot firing
	Cmd 4028		3rd	Sep	1931		Newdigate		Sir Henry Walker
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by arcing in the plug connector of the converyor motor
	Cmd 4150		25th	Jan	1932		Llwynypia		Sir Henry Walker
							Explosion, coal dust, ignition caused by match
	Cmd 4432		16th	May	1933		West Cannock		W. E. T. Hartley
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by electric spark from signal bell
	Cmd 5358		22nd	Sep	1934		Gresford Colliery		Henry Walker
							Explosion, firedamp, cause of ignition uncertain, possibly spontaneous combustion
	Cmd 5456		21st	Jan	1937		Markham Colliery		J. R. Felton
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by flash from defective coal-cutter
	Cmd 6227		21st	Mar	1940		Mossfield Colliery		F. H. Wynne
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion
	Cmd 6327		29th	Jul	1941		Crigglestone Colliery		H. J. Humphrys
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by shot firing
	Cmd 6328		2nd	Jun	1941		Llantrisant Colliery		J. Macleod Carey
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by fire at top of No. 2 shaft
	Cmd 6387		16th	Feb	1942		Barnsley Main Colliery		J. R. Felton
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by flash from coal cutter trailing cable
	Cmd 7221		10th	Jan	1947		Burngrange, Nos. 1 And 2 (Oil Shale) Mine		A. M. Bryan
							Explosion, firedamp and fire, ignition caused by flame of open acetylene cap lamp
	Cmd 7300		7th	May	1947		Barnsley Main Colliery		H. J. Humphrys
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by arc forming between core of trailing cable and moving nut on rocker arm of conveyor
	Cmd 7434		9th	Sep	1947		Ingham		A. M. Bryan
							Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by spark from flame safety lamp
	Cmd 8180		7th	Sep	1950		Knockshinnock Castle		Sir Andrew Bryan
							Inrush of liquid peat or moss from surface
	Cmd 8574		26th	Sep	1950		Creswell		Sir Andrew Bryan
							Fire caused by frictional heating of torn belting
	Cmd 9019		10th	Oct	1952		Bedwas		T. A. Jones
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by relighting of flame safety lamp
	Cmd 9553		13th	Jan	1954		Glyncorrwg		T. A. Jones
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by sparking at the wedge of the Schlorn bar
	Cmnd 287		6th	Sep	1955		Blaenhirwaun, 'Q' Face		T. A. Jones
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by sparks produced by friction between fan blades of compressed air turbine fan and pieces of stone
	Cmnd 205		12th	Sep	1955		Newcraighall Colliery		W. Widdas
							Haulage accident caused by worn rope
	Cmnd 327		21st	Feb	1957		Sutton		A. Winstanley
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by incendive flash from terminal box of a motor
	Cmnd 331		6th	Mar	1957		Chanters		G. Hoyle
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by electric arc from cover plate of busbar chamber of switch for the Pikrose haulage
	Cmnd 279		26th	Jun	1957		Barnburgh Main		C. W. Scott
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by flash from a damaged electric cable
	Cmnd 414		7th	Dec	1957		Golborne		G. Hoyle
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition probably caused by shot firing
	Cmnd 475		4th	Mar	1958		Brookhouse, No. 1 Downcast shaft		A. E. Crook
							Shaft accident, overwind, caused by excessive speed of winding engine due to faulty breaking
	Cmnd 843		22nd	Apr	1959		Walton		T. A. Rogers
							Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by electric arc from damaged trailing cable of coal cutting machine
	Cmnd 1022		18th	Sep	1959		Auchengeich		T. A. Rogers
							Underground fire caused by frictional heat generated between the rotating motor pulley and the balata transmission belt of the electrically driven booster fan
	Cmnd 935		26th	Sep	1959		St. Johns		H. J. Perrins
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spark at flange gap of plug and socket coupling of a drilling machine
	Cmnd 1000		10th	Oct	1959		Bickershaw Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, Plodder Seam		R. H. Clough
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by spontaneous combustion of heated material
	Cmnd 1272		28th	Jun	1960		Six Bells		T. A. Rogers
							Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition caused by frictional heat from a piece of falling quartzitic rock
	Cmnd 1260		25th	Jul	1960		Cardowan		H. R. Houston
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by reheating of carbonaceous material which had been on fire six months earlier
	Cmnd 1845		22nd	Mar	1962		Hapton Valley		H. S. Stephenson
							Explosion, firedamp propagated by coal dust, ignition probably caused by either shot firing or frictional heat
	Cmnd 1850		12th	Apr	1962		Tower		C. Leigh
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by severe short circuit to earth in an electric cable
	Cmnd 2813		17th	May	1965		Cambrian		H. S. Stephenson
							Explosion, firedamp, ignition caused by defective gate-end switch controlling the return end plough motor
	H C 553		21st	Oct	1966		Aberfan		Sir H. E. Davies
							Tip slide
	Cmnd 3657		9th	Sep	1967		Michael		H. S. Stephenson
							Underground fire, spontaneous combustion
	Cmnd 4804		6th	Apr	1971		Cynheidre-Pentremawr		J. S. Marshall
							Outburst of coal and firedamp
	Cmnd 5557		30th	Jul	1973		Markham		J. W. Calder
							Shaft accident, overwind, caused by failure of mechanical break of winding engine
	Report		12th	Jun	1975		Houghton Main		J. W. Calder
							Explosion of firedamp