# Cadeby Main pit disaster > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cadeby_Main_pit_disaster > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cadeby_Main_pit_disaster.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadeby_Main_pit_disaster > Source revision: 1328712211 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1912 coal mining accident in England The **Cadeby Main Pit Disaster** was a coal [mining accident](/source/Mining_accident) on 9 July 1912 which occurred at [Cadeby Main Colliery](/source/Cadeby_Main_Colliery) in [Cadeby](/source/Cadeby%2C_South_Yorkshire), [West Riding of Yorkshire](/source/West_Riding_of_Yorkshire), England, killing 91 men. Early in the morning of 9 July an explosion in the south-west part of the Cadeby Main pit killed 35 men, with three more dying later due to their injuries. Later in the same day, after a rescue party was sent below ground, another explosion occurred, killing 53 men of the rescue party. ## Disaster Opened in 1893, the Cadeby Main pit was owned by the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company, 5,000 men worked in Cadeby and at the related Denaby pit.[1] The King and Queen had been visiting mining villages in the area, so the number of men below ground was lower than usual following celebrations the day before.[1] Only about 200 men were in the pit when an explosion occurred at about 02:00, in the direct area of the explosion 35 men were killed.[1] News of the disaster soon spread around [Conisbrough](/source/Conisbrough) and district and women and children rushed to the pit head.[1] Men who were not at work also turned up to help with the rescue but nothing could be done at first due to the fear of [afterdamp](/source/Afterdamp).[1] Soon volunteers entered the pit to search for bodies, and these rescue teams were hampered by heavy falls of coal and stone. By 08:00 only six bodies had been brought to the surface.[1] Further explosions occurred while the rescue team were at work, killing some of the rescuers.[1] A total of 53 men were killed in the later explosions, including William H. Pickering, the Chief Government Inspector of Mines for Yorkshire and the North Midlands (and husband of tennis player [Alice Pickering](/source/Alice_Pickering)),[2] and Charles Bury, the manager of the colliery, who died the following week from his injuries.[3] ## Aftermath The King and Queen, who were visiting mining villages in the area, went to the pit the following day to ascertain the situation and give support to the families.[1] This fact was mentioned in the 1977 film *[The Price of Coal](/source/The_Price_of_Coal)*, during a discussion by the managers of the colliery.[4] Two colliery deputies were awarded the [Edward Medal](/source/Edward_Medal) first class, as well as three second class medals, for gallantry during the disaster.[5] Memorials to remember the 91 victims were unveiled at cemeteries in Conisbrough and Denaby on 9 July 2012, the 100th anniversary of the disaster. ## Report The [Chief Inspector of Mines](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chief_Inspector_of_Mines&action=edit&redlink=1) issued a report in May 1913 detailing the accident. He concluded that "a fire which had started some years before had never really been put out" and "had caused a small explosion in the same area" in January 1912.[6] The "circumstances on the day encouraged the larger explosion".[6] The inspector did criticise the rescue effort, and although many men were trained in rescue work, other "unauthorised men" had also entered the mine to help, which increased the death toll from the second explosion.[6] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Times39947_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Times39947_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Times39947_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Times39947_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Times39947_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Times39947_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Times39947_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Times39947_1-7) "Pit Disaster in Yorkshire". News. *The Times*. No. 39947. London. 10 July 1912. p. 8. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Ryan, Mark (16 January 2017). ["Alice Simpson Pickering - An Early Lawn Tennis Player"](https://www.tennisforum.com/threads/alice-simpson-pickering-an-early-english-lawn-tennis-player.1189610/). *Tennis Forum*. Retrieved 11 September 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Times39952_3-0)** "The Cadeby Disaster - Death of the Manager of the Pit". News in Brief. *The Times*. No. 39952. London. 16 July 1912. p. 8. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["BFI Screenonline: Price Of Coal, The (1977)"](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/557217/index.html). *www.screenonline.org.uk*. Retrieved 12 June 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Times40223_5-0)** "Awards of the Edward Medal". Official Appointments and Notices. *The Times*. No. 40223. London. 28 May 1913. p. 11. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Times40212_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Times40212_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Times40212_6-2) "Cadeby Main Disaster". News. *The Times*. No. 40212. London. 15 May 1913. p. 8. v t e Coal mining in Yorkshire Coal mines in North Yorkshire Selby complex2 (Gascoigne Wood, North Selby, Riccall, Stillingfleet, Whitemoor Wistow) Tan Hill Coal mines in South Yorkshire1 Aldwarke1 Askern Barnburgh Barrow Bentley Brodsworth Brookhouse Bullcroft1 Birley Cortonwood Dalton Dinnington Elsecar Fence Harry Crofts1 Hatfield Hickleton High Hazels Huskar Kilnhurst Kiveton Park Maltby Manvers Markham Main New Stubbin North Staveley Nunnery1 Orgreave Rossington Rother Vale Rotherham1 Roundwood1 Silverwood Smithies Thorne1 Thurcroft Tinsley Park Treeton Waleswood Warren House Warren Vale Wath Wharncliffe Woodmoor Yorkshire Main Coal mines in West Yorkshire Caphouse Flockton Frickley Garforth Collieries (Isabella Pit, Sisters Pit, Trench Pit) Kellingley Killingbeck Middleton Shuttle Eye Prince of Wales Upton Waterloo Main Wheldale Woolley Incidents Allerton Bywater Colliery Explosion Cadeby Main pit disaster Lofthouse Colliery disaster Lundhill Colliery explosion Oaks explosion Peckfield Colliery disaster Coalfields and seams Coal seams of the South Yorkshire Coalfield Ingleton Coalfield South Yorkshire Coalfield Industrial relations UK miners' strike (1969) UK miners' strike (1972) UK miners' strike (1984–85) Battle of Orgreave South Yorkshire Miners' Association West Yorkshire Miners' Association Yorkshire Miners' Association Other articles Geology of Yorkshire List of collieries in Yorkshire (1984–2015) Monckton Coke Works National Coal Mining Museum for England British MPs sponsored by mining unions Notes 1 Pre 1974, most coal mines in South Yorkshire were actually in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Those annotated with a number 1, were closed before 1974. 2 The Selby Coalfield straddled the border of North and West Yorkshire [53°29′24″N 1°13′40″W / 53.49°N 1.2278°W / 53.49; -1.2278](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Cadeby_Main_pit_disaster¶ms=53.49_N_1.2278_W_type:landmark) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cadeby Main pit disaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadeby_Main_pit_disaster) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadeby_Main_pit_disaster?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.