Stanley commemorates the 116th anniversary of the West Stanley Colliery explosion, honoring the 168 miners who perished.
West Stanley Colliery exploded that day. People called it Burns Pit too. Panic began, and crowds rushed to the pit. Thousands gathered there quickly.
Rescuers searched for six days. They recovered 166 bodies after the blast. Only two missing men remained. Workers found two skeletons later, in 1933. It happened during new work in the Busty seam inside the mine. Miners identified these as the two men.
Funerals drew huge crowds to Stanley. About 200,000 people came on the first day, February 21. The town could barely hold them all.
Stanley held a memorial event recently. It marked 116 years since the disaster. People gathered at the pit site, which is off Chester Road.
Stanley Town Council organized the event. Townspeople braved cold weather. They honored the 168 who died in 1909.
Craghead Colliery Band performed music. Beamish Choir sang at the ceremony too. Attendees observed a minute of silence and laid wreaths down.
St Andrew’s Church bells rang 168 times during the memorial. Each chime marked the death of a miner.
Stanley’s Mayor, Carole Hampson, spoke briefly and remembered the sad events of 1909.
She thanked everyone who attended the memorial. Hampson believes the tragedy remains important, and the town remembers this disaster.
Steve Terrance spoke for Durham Miners’ Association. He stated all 168 were association members.
Beamish Museum also held a service in the Colliery Village chapel. It took place Saturday afternoon, and community members read all 168 names aloud.