78th Anniversary of The Gresford Disaster – Video
Today is the 78th anniversary of the Gresford mining disaster.
Readers may have seen our ‘Welcome To Wrexham’ video, in conjunction with Rich Knew from local company Knew Productions. Rich has kindly found time again from his video production company to recover historic video tapes from Wrexham’s past. Today we are able to show the following video for what we believe is the first time in over 25 years, offering a unique insight to the Gresford Disaster.
Richard, who has used his skills to recover these old videos and helped us to get them online, does want to stress that they are very old – some older than the author of this article! As such do not take these as examples of current work (Knew Productions have a fancy showreel here to compare!)
This video contains a rare interview with one of the survivors from that day. Although the quality can be poor at times it’s well worth 12 minutes of your time:
266 men died, and only 11 bodies were ever recovered. 255 men still lay beneath Wrexham to this day.
Prior to to the disaster there was controversy over the condition of the mine, and exploitation of the miners. Afterwards it was revealed that wage packets of the dead miners were docked quarter of a shift’s pay for failure to complete the shift. Gresford was thankfully the trigger for many mining reforms and improvements.
Wrexham Football club play Dartford today, however seventy eight years ago it was Tranmere. Many miners who were fans swapped shifts that day to make sure they could make the game with tragic consequences. The club also used to alter kick off times to accommodate miners coming from work.
The list of the dead illustrates what a truly local disaster this was, with many if not all roads still in use and still occupied nowadays:
Surname | Forename | Address | Age | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Amos | Max | Holydyke Road, Barton | 21 | Collier |
Andrews | Alfred | Benjamin Road, Wrexham | 43 | Collier |
Archibald | Joe | Finney Street, Rhosddu | 47 | Collier |
Archibald | Thomas | Council Houses, Pandy | 42 | Collier |
Byrne | Colin | Goxhill | 40 | Collier |
Bateman | Maldwyn | Lorne Street, Rhosddu | 15 | Collier |
Bather | Edward Wynn | Finney Street, Rhosddu | 36 | Collier |
Beddows | Edward | The Woodlands, High Street, Gwersyllt | 63 | Collier |
Bew | Arthur | Colliery Houses, Rhosddu | 45 | Collier |
Bett | Duncan | St Denys Close, Killingholme | 12 | Collier |
Bewley | Thomas | Park Street, Rhosddu | 58 | Collier |
Bowen | Alfred | Langdale Avenue, Rhostyllen | 53 | Collier |
Boycott | Henry | Offa Terrace, Wrexham | 38 | Packer |
Brain | Herbert | Pentrefelin, Wrexham | 31 | Collier |
Bramwell | George | Western Road, New Broughton | 30 | Collier |
Brannan | John | Ffordd Edgeworth, Maesydre, Wrexham | 32 | Collier |
Brown | George | Birkett Street, Rhostyllen | 59 | Surface worker |
Brown | William Arthur | Hightown Road, Wrexham | 22 | Haulage |
Bryan | John A.H. | Llewellyn Road, Coedpoeth | 20 | Collier |
Buckley | A. | Windy Hill, Summerhill | 21 | Collier |
Burns | Fred | Bennions Road, Huntroyde, Wrexham | 41 | Collier |
Capper | John A. | Wrexham Road, Broughton | 35 | Collier |
Cartwright | Albert Edward | Florence Street, Rhosddu | 24 | Collier |
Cartwright | Charles | Florence Street, Rhosddu | 24 | Collier |
Chadwick | Stephen | Kenyon Street, Wrexham | 21 | Collier |
Chesters | Edwin | Beales Cottages, Bradley | 67 | Fireman |
Clutton | Arthur | Lorne Street, Rhosddu | 29 | Collier |
Clutton | George Albert | March Terrace, New Rhosrobin | 20 | Collier |
Clutton | John T. | Council Houses, Pandy | 35 | Haulage |
Collins | John | Council Houses, Pandy | 62 | Shot Firer |
Cornwall | Thomas | Bennions Road, Wrexham | 30 | Collier |
Crump | William | Council Houses, Bradley | 36 | Collier |
Darlington | Thomas | Mountain Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 28 | Collier |
Davies | Arthur | Havelock Square, Wrexham | 24 | Collier |
Davies | Edward | Cyngorfa, Rhosllannerchrugog | 53 | Collier |
Davies | George William | Farndon Street, Wrexham | 26 | Collier |
Davies | Hugh T. | Holly Bush Terrace, Bradley | 26 | Collier |
Davies | James | Williams Cottages, Moss | 31 | Collier |
Davies | James | Boundary Terrace, Green, Brymbo | 37 | Collier |
Davies | James Edward | Farndon Street, Wrexham | 21 | Collier |
Davies | John | Meifod Place, Wrexham | 64 | Collier |
Davies | John | Fernleigh, Rhosrobin Road, Wrexham | 45 | Collier |
Davies | John E. | Bennions Road, Wrexham | 32 | Collier |
Davies | John R. | Fernleigh, Rhosrobin | 69 | Collier |
Davies | Matthias | Erw Las, Maesydre, Wrexham | Collier | |
Davies | Peter | Newtown, Gresford | 50 | Collier |
Davies | Peter | March Terrace, New Rhosrobin | 25 | Collier |
Davies | Peter | Glanllyn, Bradley | 21 | Collier |
Davies | Robert Thomas | Mountain View, Caego | 34 | Collier |
Davies | Samuel | Woodland View, New Rhosrobin | 35 | Collier |
Davies | Thomas | Erw Cottage, Caergwrle | 31 | Collier |
Davies | William | Acton Terrace, Rhosnesni, Wrexham | 33 | Collier |
Dodd | Thomas | Maeseinion, Rhosllannerchrugog | 39 | Collier |
Duckett | Fred | Beech Terrace, Ruabon | 29 | Collier |
Edge | John | Nelson Street, Hightown | 28 | Collier |
Edge | Samuel | South Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 30 | Collier |
Edwards | Albert | Nr Kings Head, Moss | 62 | Collier |
Edwards | Ernest | Green Road, Brymbo | 16 | Collier |
Edwards | E. Glyn | Woodland View, New Rhosrobin | 23 | Collier |
Edwards | Ernest Thomas | Queen Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 53 | Collier |
Edwards | Frank | Chestnut Ave, Acton, Wrexham | 23 | Collier |
Edwards | James Sam | Top Road, Moss | 87 | Collier |
Edwards | John Edward | Glanyrafon, Maesydre | 39 | Collier |
Edwards | John C. | Coronation Cottages, New Road, Southsea | Collier | |
Edwards | Thomas David | New Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 40 | Collier |
Edwards | William | Church Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 32 | Collier |
Edwardson | John | High Street, Gresford | 41 | Collier |
Ellis | George | Council Houses, Pandy | 43 | Collier |
Evans | Fred | Grange Road, Rhosddu | 50 | Collier |
Evans | John | Ness Cottage, Park Wall, Gwersyllt | 32 | Collier |
Evans | Norman | Grange Road, Rhosddu | 45 | Collier |
Evans | Ralph | Pentre Lane, Llay | 34 | Collier |
Fisher | Len | Maple Avenue, Acton | 44 | Collier |
Foulkes | Irwin | Bryn Gardden, Rhosllannerchrugog | 21 | Collier |
Gabriel | Richard George | Crispin Lane, Wrexham | 61 | Collier |
Gittins | Johm Henry | Abenbury Street, Wrexham | 42 | Collier |
Goodwin | John | Chapel Road, New Broughton | 51 | Collier |
Griffiths | Edward | Brandie Cottages, Ruabon | 21 | Collier |
Griffiths | Ellis | Cyngorfa, Rhosllannerchrugog | 50 | Collier |
Griffiths | Emmanuel | High Street, Penycae | 53 | Collier |
Griffiths | Charles | Gardd Estyn, Garden Village | 25 | Collier |
Griffiths | Frank | Oxford Street, Wrexham | 57 | Collier |
Griffiths | Walter | Victoria Road, Brynteg | 50 | Collier |
Hall | Walter | Church Road, Brynteg | 49 | Collier |
Hallam | T.W. | Railway Terrace, Gwersyllt | 32 | Collier |
Hamlington | Arthur | Yew Tree Cottage, Summerhill | 62 | Collier |
Hampson | Frank | Ruabon Road, Rhostyllen | 32 | Collier |
Harrison | Arthur | Moss Hill, Moss | 21 | Collier |
Harrison | Charles Edward | James Street, Wrexham | 15 | Collier |
Hewitt | Phillip | Poplar Avenue, Rhosllannerchrugog | 56 | Collier |
Higgins | William | Finney Street, Rhosddu | 27 | Collier |
Holt | Alfred | Pentre Lane, Llay | 31 | Collier |
Houlden | John Henry | Second Avenue, Llay | 21 | Collier |
Hughes | Cecil | Tanygraig, Minera | 23 | Collier |
Hughes | Daniel | First Avenue, Llay | 56 | Rescuer |
Hughes | Francis O. | Acton Terrace, Rhosnesni | 60 | Collier |
Hughes | Harry | Hill Crescent, Spring Lodge, Wrexham | 44 | Collier |
Hughes | John | Percy Road, Wrexham | 58 | Collier |
Hughes | Peter Joseph | Tanygraig, Minera | 27 | Collier |
Hughes | Robert John | Lorne Street, Rhosddu | 29 | Collier |
Hughes | Walter Ellis | Rosemary Crescent, Rhostyllen | 24 | Collier |
Hughes | William | Long Row, Brymbo | 43 | Collier |
Hughes | William | Jackson’s Houses, New Rhosrobin | 54 | Rescuer |
Humphreys | Ben | Vernon Street, Rhosddu | 34 | Collier |
Humphreys | John | Edwards Road, Brynteg | 30 | Collier |
Husbands | Thomas | Manley Road, Wrexham | 40 | Collier |
Jarvis | Ernest | Ddol, Bersham | 41 | Collier |
Jenkins | William | Heol Offa, Tanyfron | 25 | Collier |
Johns | Percy | Ffordd Edgeworth, Maesydre | 27 | Collier |
Jones | Albert Edward | Nelson Street, Wrexham | 31 | Collier |
Jones | Azariah | Westminster Road, Moss | 37 | Collier |
Jones | Cyril | Main Road, Rhosrobin | 26 | Collier |
Jones | Daniel | Western Road, New Broughton | 33 | Collier |
Jones | David L. | Colliery Road, Rhosddu | 36 | Collier |
Jones | Edward | Woodland View, High Street, Gwersyllt | 64 | Collier |
Jones | Edward | Queen Street, Cefn Mawr | 56 | Collier |
Jones | Edward George | Ruabon Road, Wrexham | 23 | Collier |
Jones | Eric | Rosemary Crescent, Rhostyllen | 23 | Collier |
Jones | Ernest | Glan Garth, Maesydre | 36 | Collier |
Jones | Bill | Glan Garth, Maesydre | 14 | Collier |
Jones | Evan Hugh | Marion House, New Brighton, Minera | 55 | Collier |
Jones | Fred | Woodland View, New Rhosrobin | 30 | Collier |
Jones | Frederick H.C. | Bridge Street, Holt | 31 | Collier |
Jones | Francis | Council Houses, Berse | 27 | Collier |
Jones | George | Glan Garth, Maesydre | 47 | Collier |
Jones | George Humphrey | Russell Street, Cefn Mawr | 22 | Collier |
Jones | Gwilym | Glan Garth, Maesydre | 52 | Collier |
Jones | Henry | Gordon Terrace, Rhosddu | 59 | Collier |
Jones | Idris | Nant Road, Coedpoeth | 37 | Collier |
Jones | Iorwerth | Bryn Dolwar, Rhosrobin Road, Wrexham | 52 | Collier |
Jones | Jabez | Morgan Avenue, Rhosddu | 43 | Collier |
Jones | John Dan | Williams Cottages, Moss | 42 | Collier |
Jones | John Richard | Mostyn View, Coedpoeth | 33 | Collier |
Jones | John Robert | Pentre Lane, Llay | Collier | |
Jones | Llewellyn | Windsor Road, New Broughton | 49 | Collier |
Jones | Llewellyn | Yew Tree Bungalow, Gresford | 40 | Collier |
Jones | Llewellyn | Bersham Road, New Broughton | 38 | Collier |
Jones | Neville | Ffordd Maelor, Maesydre, Wrexham | 30 | Collier |
Jones | Richard Henry | Bryn Terrace, Ruabon | 21 | Collier |
Jones | Richard J. | White House Lodge, Brymbo | 34 | Collier |
Jones | Robert | Trefechan, Penycae | 57 | Deputy |
Jones | Robert | Hillock Lane, Gresford | 49 | Collier |
Jones | Thomas | Council Houses, Gresford | 55 | Collier |
Jones | Thomas E. | Poolmouth Road, Moss | Collier | |
Jones | Thomas John | Bryndedwydd, Marford Hill | 58 | Collier |
Jones | Thomas O. | Penllyn, Trevor, Llangollen | 59 | Collier |
Jones | William | Lorne Street, Rhosddu | 51 | Collier |
Jones | William | Lloyd Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 21 | Collier |
Kelsall | James | Florence Street, Wrexham | 30 | Collier |
Kelsall | John | Rose Cottage, Common Wood, Holt | 37 | Collier |
Lawrence | William | Nelson Street, Hightown, Wrexham | 43 | Collier |
Lee | John Lee | Heol Offa, Coedpoeth | 30 | Collier |
Lee | Thomas | Heol Offa, Coedpoeth | 16 | Collier |
Lewis | David | Merlin Street, Johnstown | 44 | Collier |
Lewis | David Thomas | Middle Road, Coedpoeth | 46 | Collier |
Lewis | Jack | Cefn y Bedd | 48 | Rescuer |
Lilly | Joel | Main Road, Rhosrobin | 41 | Collier |
Lloyd | Thomas | Colliery Road, Rhosddu | 55 | Collier |
Lloyd | William | Finney Street, Rhosddu | 59 | Collier |
Lloyd | William Sidney | Pentre Lane, Llay | Collier | |
Lucas | John | Council Houses, Gwersyllt | 59 | Collier |
Maggs | Colin | Talwrn House, Talwrn | 17 | Collier |
Mannion | Albert | Hill Crest, Spring Lodge, Wrexham | 29 | Collier |
Manuel | Thomas A. | Meadows Lane, Spring Lodge, Wrexham | 33 | Collier |
Martin | William Henry | Newtown, Gresford | 37 | Collier |
Matthews | William V. | Hill Street, Penycae | 18 | Collier |
Mathias | Samuel | Eagle’s Place, Moss | 42 | Rescuer |
McKean | John | Cheshire View, Spring Lodge, Wrexham | 30 | Collier |
Meade | William | St. John’s Road, Wrexham | 39 | Collier |
Mitchell | George | James Street, Wrexham | 23 | Collier |
Monks | Ernest | Glanrafon, Bwlchgwyn | 23 | Collier |
Morley | Edward | Council Houses, Bradley | 57 | Collier |
Morris | Alfred | High Street, Penycae | 20 | Collier |
Nichols | Harry | Ashfield Road, Crispin Lane, Wrexham | 32 | Collier |
Nichols | John | Beast Market, Wrexham | 29 | Collier |
Nichols | William Henry | Farndon Street, Wrexham | 25 | Collier |
Owens | Evan Henry | Cunliffe Walk, Garden Village, Wrexham | 54 | Collier |
Palmer | Alex | Kingstown, Maesydre | 20 | Collier |
Parry | Isaac | Western View, Wrexham Road, Brymbo | 40 | Collier |
Parry | Joseph | Western View, Wrexham Road, Brymbo | 65 | Collier |
Parry | John E. | Pisgah Hill, New Broughton | 31 | Collier |
Parry | John Richard | Manley Road, Wrexham | 21 | Collier |
Penny | Stephen | Stansty View, New Rhosrobin | 23 | Collier |
Penny | William H. | Council Houses, Pandy | 32 | Collier |
Perrin | Frank | Finney Street, Rhosddu | 23 | Collier |
Peters | Henry | Pentre Lane, Llay | 38 | Collier |
Phillips | George | Trevanna Way, Spring Lodge, Wrexham | 22 | Collier |
Phillips | Herbert | Haig Road, Hightown, Wrexham | 30 | Collier |
Phillips | John | Gardd Estyn, Garden Village, Wrexham | 40 | Collier |
Pickering | J. | Sycamore Terrace, Old Rhosrobin | 22 | Collier |
Powell | Charles | Dale Street, Wrexham | 57 | Railman |
Price | Ernest | Moss Hill, Moss | 27 | Collier |
Price | Samuel | Oakfield Terrace, Gresford | 37 | Collier |
Pridding | James | Oxford Street, Wrexham | 32 | Collier |
Prince | Mark | Manley Road, Wrexham | 59 | Collier |
Prince | William | Meadow Lea, Spring Lodge, Wrexham | 30 | Collier |
Pritchard | Isiah | Woodland View, New Rhosrobin | 54 | Collier |
Pugh | Ernest | Quarry Rd, Brynteg | 49 | Collier |
Pugh | Thomas | Vernon Street, Wrexham | 54 | Collier |
Ralphs | John | Market Street, Wrexham | 53 | Collier |
Rance | Thomas | High Street, Pentre Broughton | 21 | Collier |
Rees | Albert | Gatewen Road, New Broughton | 56 | Collier |
Reid | Lloyd | Bryn Gardden, Rhosllannerchrugog | 20 | Collier |
Roberts | Arthur A. | Wire Mill Cottage, Bradley | 63 | Collier |
Roberts | Edward | Bryn Estyn Cottage, Rhosnesni | 35 | Collier |
Roberts | Edward C. | Council Houses, Gresford | 42 | Collier |
Roberts | Ernest | Little Penybryn, Abenbury | 26 | Collier |
Roberts | Frank | Bury Street, Wrexham | 26 | Collier |
Roberts | George | Glanrafon, Maesydre, Wrexham | 28 | Repairer |
Roberts | H. | Patison Road, Coedpoeth | Collier | |
Roberts | Idris | Pumphouse, Highfield, Stansty | 16 | Collier |
Roberts | John David | Lorne Street, Rhosddu | 47 | Collier |
Roberts | John H. | Patison Row, Coedpoeth | 33 | Collier |
Roberts | Olwyn | Hill Street, Penycae | 24 | Collier |
Roberts | Percy | Bungalow, Llidiart Fanny, Coedpoeth | 26 | Collier |
Roberts | Robert | off Brook Street, Rhosllannerchrugog | 33 | Collier |
Roberts | Robert John | Market Street, Wrexham | Collier | |
Roberts | Robert Thomas | Crispin Lane, Wrexham | 57 | Collier |
Roberts | Robert William | Forge Row, Southsea | 38 | Collier |
Roberts | Thomas James | Kendrick Place, Beast Market, Wrexham | 19 | Collier |
Roberts | William | Princes Street, Wrexham | 45 | Collier |
Roberts | William T. | Pentre Lane, Llay | 40 | Collier |
Robertson | William | Spring Road, Rhosddu | 41 | Collier |
Rogers | Edward Llewellyn | New Houses Lane, Llay | 20 | Collier |
Rogers | Grenville | Wheatsheaf Lane, Gwersyllt | 29 | Collier |
Ross | Harry | Nelson Street, Wrexham | 34 | Collier |
Rowlands | John | Holt Road, Wrexham | 36 | Collier |
Rowland | John David | Old Cross Foxes, Minera | 17 | Collier |
Salisbury | William | Victoria Road, Brynteg | 48 | Collier |
Shaw | George | Ashwood, Wrexham Road, Brynteg | 63 | Collier |
Shone | John | Gresford | 34 | Collier |
Shone | Richard | High Street, Gresford | 49 | Collier |
Slawson | Arthur | Crescent Road, Wrexham | 22 | Collier |
Smith | Leonard | Bennions Road, Huntroyde, Wrexham | 20 | Collier |
Stevens | Richard T. | Pisgah Hill, Pentre Broughton | 22 | Collier |
Strange | Albert | Nelson Street, Wrexham | 25 | Collier |
Statford | Stanley | Ninth Avenue, Llay | 39 | Collier |
Tarran | John | Liverpool Road, Buckley | 59 | Collier |
Taylor | William Henry | Church Street, Holt | 53 | Collier |
Thomas | Berwyn | Kent Road, Lodge, Brymbo | 26 | Collier |
Thomas | John Elias | Queen’s Terrace, Gwersyllt | 29 | Collier |
Thomas | Robert | Pant Hill, Rhosllannerchrugog | 32 | Collier |
Thomas | Tec | Council Houses, Pandy | 26 | Collier |
Thornton | John | Coronation Cottages, New Broughton | 24 | Collier |
Tittle | Edward | Smithy Lane, Acton | 44 | Collier |
Trowe | Ernest | Huntroyde Avenue, Wrexham | 41 | Collier |
Valentine | Fred | Glan Dwr, Acrefair | 24 | Collier |
Vaughan | John Edward | Alford Street, Wrexham | 28 | Collier |
White | John | Chapel Cottages, Gresford | 38 | Collier |
Williams | George | Gardden Terrace, Summerhill | 31 | Collier |
Williams | Harold | Osborne Terrace, Claypit Lane, Gresford | 37 | Collier |
Williams | Hugh Llewellyn | Park Street, Rhosddu | 43 | Collier |
Williams | John | Cheetham’s Lodging Houses, Wrexham | 62 | Collier |
Williams | John | Dale Street, Wrexham | 44 | Collier |
Williams | John | Council Houses, Brynteg | 66 | Collier |
Williams | John D. | Vulcan Cottage, New Road, Southsea | 29 | Collier |
Williams | John Thomas | Brynffynnon, Brymbo | 33 | Collier |
Williams | Morris | Pentre Lane, Llay | 24 | Electrician |
Williams | Reg | Old Rhosrobin | 29 | Electrician |
Williams | Thomas | Park View Stores, Bradley | 57 | Collier |
Williams | William A. | Gatewen Road, Pentre Broughton | 29 | Collier |
Wilson | John Walter | Victoria Terrace, Coedpoeth | 32 | Collier |
Witter | Henry | The Mount, Gresford | 56 | Collier |
Wynn | Edward | Bradley Road, Wrexham | 68 | Collier |
Winyard | J. | New Inn, Cefnybedd | 47 | Collier |
Yemm | Morgan James | Seventh Avenue, Llay | 28 | Collier |
Rescue attempts ended on the Sunday evening officially at 7:45pm.
The mine shaft was sealed, leaving the men to their fate.
The Gresford pit was closed officially on economic grounds on 10 November 1973.
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