A Cumbrian history enthusiast is appealing to relatives of a mining disaster to come forward and share their stories for an anniversary commemoration.

David Farrell, who has participated in and organised various memorial events, gained an interest in the Whinny Hill colliery explosion affecting the mine in his hometown Cleator Moor.

The disaster’s 175th anniversary is this year, and as such he believes it is the right time to do something special to remember the names of the many men and teenagers who died.

The colliery was owned by the Haematite Mining Company, and on October 28, 1848, thirty men and boys were killed in a freak explosion.

At the inquest into the deaths, there was evidence given that the colliery was in a very dangerous state, with the accident happening after a workman took the top off his lamp to light his pipe.

Mr Farrell got into researching the disaster when he was researching his town’s history, and discovered his current residence was once occupied by two of the victims – brothers John and James Milby, who died at the age of 18 and 26 respectively, the latter of which left two children.

He said a memorial plaque with the victims’ names will be placed near where the mine was, and a service including a performance of Gresford, also known as the Miner’s Hymn which was written in 1936 to commemorate a similar disaster that happened at the titular colliery in Wrexham in 1934.

“It would be amazing if we could get surviving relatives of that event, if people know the names of the men that died it may spark some recognition,” he said.

Plans are to hold the commemoration at the pit site on October 28 this year, with anyone who has familial ties to the victims asked to call Mr Farrell on 07967123983.

For more information about the disaster, and to see the list of the victims names, click here.