The 1908 Disaster
On 4th March 1908 a terrible disaster occurred when fire broke out in Hamstead Colliery, Great Barr, Birminghan causing the deaths of twenty-five miners and John Welsby, a member of the rescue team.
The fire, caused by candles igniting in a wooden box, created poisonous fumes and blocked escape routes for the 31 miners underground. Rescue efforts were hampered by a lack of oxygen and the recent deaths of the colliery's manager and under-manager.
These pages tell the story based on the official inquiry report, newspaper reports, postcards and other information collected.