Colliery disaster that left 34 dead marked for first time in 140 years

The men and boys, including one victim who was aged just 14, died in a sudden explosion at Morley Main Colliery on October 7, 1872.

Yesterday’s service was held at the coalface at the National Coal Mining Museum at Overton, near Wakefield.

It was the first ever event to commemorate Morley’s worst mining disaster.

Most of the victims were overcome by gas while others were trapped by the bodies of 11 horses and ponies that were also victims of the disaster.

Members of Morley Community Church were stunned to discover there has never been a memorial stone, plaque or event to publicly mark the disaster and the church organised the commemoration.

Pensioners from Morley Elderly Action’s craft group are supporting the project by creating a memorial tapestry showing the winding gear of Morley Main Colliery around which all the names and ages of all the victims have been carefully stitched into the canvas.

Morley MP Ed Balls said: “A lot of young men died in the disaster, but there were also fathers. One of the victims was a George Preston, who was 45 and a father of three – the same as me, so that really struck a chord.

“Whole families were devastated by this tragedy and it is fitting that this terrible event in history is marked 140 years on.”