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Woodhorn Disaster: Coroner's Report
After the disaster the coroner held an inquest. He questioned all the people involved in the accident as well as some
mining experts. His verdict was that the deaths were caused by an explosion of firedamp, or coal dust, ignited by a
naked flame.
To
read passages from the coroner's report, including the verdict, you can enlarge the image opposite. Once the pop-up window has appeared you can see the next page by clicking close to the right edge and go back by clicking close to the left edge.
Coroners are officials whose job is to investigate the cause of sudden or mysterious deaths. They have been
investigating mining accidents for hundreds of years. Compare the Woodhorn coroner's report with
a medieval example written by the coroner from Stockton-on-Tees in 1328.
You can read more about coroners on the Home Office
website by following the link provided above, which will open a new window.
Learn more about the 1916 Disaster and Mine Safety, or
browse the archive.
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