History Society Report

Audlem History Society September 2025 talk review

The first talk of our new season was given by Vic Tyler-Jones last Thursday evening on the subject of the Gresford Colliery Disaster of 22nd September, 1934.

The disaster unfolded in the early hours of that morning 91 years ago, and the ensuing chaos in the rescue attempts over the following hours and days was vividly retold by Vic, who is a Wrexham local historian, specialising in writing about the coal mining industry in N. Wales.

The statistics were shocking. Only 6 men escaped out of 268 miners who were working their shift in this particular section of the mine. It appears that there was an explosion followed by fire, and the confusion and lack of co-ordination in the rescue attempt caused even more casualties from the rescue brigades.

During the subsequent enquiry held in March, 1935 (and this was a general enquiry, not a public one which would have had further consequences), there were many disagreements between the eminent people involved. But what did emerge was that the owners cut corners for profit, the breathing apparatus was not maintained properly, and the ventilation records were falsified.

The colliery management were not properly held to account, and were ultimately fined just £140 for inadequate record-keeping!

The bodies of those killed that day lie underground still, despite their families’ attempts to bring them to the surface. But the ultimate cruelty lay in the treatment of the miners’ families after this tragedy. The widows and children had to vacate their houses as their men no longer worked at the pit, and some miners’ wages were docked as they didn’t “finish” their shift that day!

Vic kept his large audience both entranced and horrified at the unfolding of the tragedy. In conclusion he mentioned that Wrexham Football Club have the number 34 on the back of their shirts in remembrance, and told us about the Llay Miners’ Heritage Centre that he helped establish concerning this disaster.

Brenda Smethurst.