| West Stanley Pit Disaster | |
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West Stanley Pit Disaster
West Stanley Pit Disaster shown within County Durham |
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| OS grid reference | NZ203530 |
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| List of places: UK • England • County Durham | |
The West Stanley Pit Disaster, also known as the Burns Pit Disaster, was a coal mining disaster that took place in Stanley, Co. Durham, England, on 16 February 1909. More than 160 miners died in the explosion.[1][2]
Ex-manager of Newcastle United F.C. Kevin Keegan's grandfather was in the Stanley pit disaster and was one of the few who got out alive.[3] A pit-wheel memorial was erected at Chester Road in Stanley.[4]
A memorial service was held in 2009 to mark the centenary of the disaster.[5]