Cadeby Pit Disaster of 1912

Background

Sinking of two shafts for Denaby Main Colliery began in 1863. Several coal measures were passed before the Barnsley seam was reached in 1867. Most of the houses and properties, built around 1868, were owned by the colliery, even the Denaby Main Hotel. The Denaby Main Colliery Company started the sinking of Cadeby Main Colliery in 1869. The company became the The Denaby and Cadeby Main Colliery Company. The disaster at Cadeby Colliery left 63 widows and 132 fatherless children. There were two underground explosions, the first blast killing 35 men, the second killed a further 53 men all who were attempting to reach those hurt in the first explosion.

At both collieries up to 5000 men were employed. The Cadeby mine was situated under the shadow of Conisborough Castle, where only 2 days before the accident, the King and Queen had tea, where probably some of the men who died joined in the greetings to their Majesties.

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