# Warren Vale Colliery > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Warren_Vale_Colliery > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Warren_Vale_Colliery.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Vale_Colliery > Source revision: 966718276 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Former coal mine in South Yorkshire, England **Warren Vale Colliery** was a coal mine, also known as Piccadilly Colliery, situated alongside Warren Vale Road, between [Rawmarsh](/source/Rawmarsh) and [Swinton](/source/Swinton%2C_South_Yorkshire), [South Yorkshire](/source/South_Yorkshire), England, in the valley of the Collier Brook, which runs east, for about two miles towards [Kilnhurst](/source/Kilnhurst). Sinking of the colliery commenced in the late 1840s with production commencing towards the end of 1850. The colliery was owned by Earl Fizwilliam,[1] and was worked by Wakefield–based agents J. & J. Charlesworth & Company. Coal was worked from two seams, the 5 ft. seam was worked at a depth of 90 yards, the 9 ft. seam being found at 127 yards. These seams were connected by a shaft. The colliery was rail connected to another Charlesworth operation, [Kilnhurst Colliery](/source/Kilnhurst_Colliery) and so to the main line railway (The [Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway](/source/Manchester%2C_Sheffield_and_Lincolnshire_Railway), Sheffield to Doncaster line). Some small buildings are still standing on the site (2007) and the track of the railway towards Kilnhurst is now a footpath. Following closure part of the site became the works of Bessacarr Caravans. ## Early accident The colliery had been operating for less than a year when, in December 1851 an accident took place. The Underground Steward went to inspect the workings just prior to the start of the day shift (around 6 a.m.) and was followed shortly afterwards by the miners. About an hour later an explosion took place which *"astounded not only those at the pit but the whole neighbourhood"*. Two corves (small tubs of coal), one filled with 16 cwts.(approx. 1650 kg) of coal and one empty, were propelled skyward out of the shaft and became entangled in the headgear. Another report pointed out that "Some idea may be formed of the effect of the explosion, when it is stated that a man standing at a door of a cottage, upwards of a mile distant, was completely blackened!"[1] By 9.30 a.m. repairs had been effected to the headgear to enable access to the mine and 14 injured men and boys were lifted out. By mid-afternoon a further 24 men and boys were brought out alive with the first of those killed. The cause of the explosion, which took place in the northern end of the 9 ft. seam, was cited as a [roof fall](/source/Cave-in) which blocked the air flow and caused a buildup of foul air which was forced into areas where the miners were working with candles to give light. In total 51 persons were killed, 24 of these being 16 years or below. In some cases these were fathers and sons, working together. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death and commented in his summing up of the lack of inspectors for coal mines, there being only 4 of these in the country, and suggested that the Government should increase this number as soon as possible for the benefit and safety of the workers involved in the industry. ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Annals_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Annals_1-1) Annals of Yorkshire (1852) by Henry Schroeder - pg 140 - Official handbook of Rawmarsh Urban District Council - Reports of Accident contained in "The Times". ## External links - [Warren Vale Colliery Disaster](http://www.rotherhamweb.co.uk/h/extracts/warrenv.htm), RotherhamWeb 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°28′26″N 1°19′56″W / 53.47389°N 1.33222°W / 53.47389; -1.33222](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Warren_Vale_Colliery¶ms=53_28_26_N_1_19_56_W_type:landmark_region:GB) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Warren Vale Colliery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Vale_Colliery) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Vale_Colliery?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.