In 1882, 74 men and boys lost their lives in an explosion at a coal mine. Almost everyone in the small town of Trimdon Grange near Durham lost a father, brother, husband, or grandfather.

Source 1 comes from a popular magazine called Illustrated London News (1882). Source 2, a song, was written by Tommy Armstrong, who was from the region. All the people and events mentioned in the song are real.

See teacher's notes for tasks and activities.

Source 2:

Trimdon Grange Explosion

Let us not think of to-morrow,

Lest we disappointed be;

All our joys may turn to sorrow,

As we all may daily see.

To-day we may be strong and healthy,

But how soon there comes a change,

As we may learn from the explosion,

That has been at Trimdon Grange.

Source 1: A Colliery Explosion: Volunteers to the Rescue

Men and boys left home that morning,

For to earn their daily bread,

Little thought before that evening

That they’d be numbered with the dead;

Let us think of Mrs. Burnett,

Once had sons but now has none,

By the Trimdon Grange explosion,

Joseph, George and James are gone.

What will never be forgot;

Weeping widows, helpless children,

May be found in many a cot,

Homes that once were blest with comfort,

Guided by a father’s care,

Now are solemn, sad and gloomy,

Since the father is not there.

From their homes each day would run

For to meet their father’s coming,

As each hard day’s work was done.

Now they ask if father’s left them,

Then the mother hangs her head;

With a weeping widow’s feelings,

Tells the child that ‘father’s dead’.

Help to raise each drooping head;

Be a Father to the orphans,

Never let them cry for bread.

Death will pay us all a visit,

They have only gone before;

We may meet the Trimdon victims

Where explosions are no more.

For more Snapshots to help you improve your reading, writing and spelling see:

Rob Roy

The Streets of London

There are also some more Snapshots about Trimdon Grange. Try:

What Was It Like to Live in Trimdon Grange in the Late 19th Century?

Disaster at Trimdon Grange: What Happened?