Alan Jones recalls the dangers that even small pieces of coal or debris can cause as they crashed down the pit-shaft at Gresford.

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• > When bits of coal fell down Gresford shaft

Keith Tattoo (Evans) recalls his memories of being buried underground.

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• > Accidents - Being buried underground

Keith Tattoo (Evans) describes the awful sensation of descending the shaft for the first time.

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• > Going down Gresford for the 1st time

With no means of obtaining food underground men took sandwiches and other ready food, as Keith (Tattoo) Evans explains.

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• > Jam butties down the pit

Man-riding is the term used to describe a method transport below ground. Men were allowed to travel on the conveyor system that brought the coal from the coal face, a practice that was not with out danger as Keith Tattoo (Evans) recalls.

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• > Man riding underground at Hafod Pit

Men were not the only living things below ground. At Hafod Pit mice were everywhere as Keith Tattoo (Eavns) recalls.

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• > Mice at Hafod

Ken Aspinall recalls how he used to clean the floors of the home of Henry Dyke Dennis pit-owner and describes Dyke Dennis’s attitude towards him. (c1939)

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• > Henry Dennis pit owner cleaning his floors at home c1939

During World War Two Home Guard units were created at almost every coalmine, Ken Aspinall recalls his experiences of shooting and how he was reduced to the ranks by an auctioneer.

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• > Home Guard Hafod Pit - memories

Ken Aspinall recalls the dangers and risks of working on the top of a cage in an open shaft at the Hafod Colliery.

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• > Working in the shaft on top of the cage Hafod c1939

Malcolm Williams recalls hearing crickets down Llay Main.

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• > Crickets down LLay Main Colliery

Malcolm Williams describes his horror when a fire-ball roared up the coal-face at Llay Main.

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• > Fireball on coalface at Llay main

Malcolm Williams describes his feelings about training at Gresford Colliery next to the area where the 1934 disaster took place.

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• > Gresford - training next to the disaster area

Malcolm Williams recalls his time underground at Llay surveying tunnels and workings and describes some of the unusual methods they employed.

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• > Working as a surveyors lengthman

After the 1911 coal mines act every Rescue Station had by law to keep canaries. The birds were readily susceptible to the presence of dangerous gases and lack of oxygen in the mines, and saved many lives. They simply fell off their perch in their tiny cage in the presence of gas. The birds were lovingly cared for and usually recovered quickly after being brought back to the surface.

Please Read Before Playing

The fatality occurred within recent memory and although the name of the victim has not been included it is possible that it may cause distress amongst those who knew him. We have edited the recording in such a way as to present an historical account of events and would wish it to stand in memory of all those who tragically died in the Mines of north-east Wales.

Raymond Goodwin describes the dangers of working in a two-foot coal-seam. Imagine lying on your side working a coal-seam not quite as high as the underside of a kitchen table.

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• > Bersham, Crank a two foot seam

Pit ponies were used at Bersham until quite late. Raymond Goodwin recalls how if the ponies were ill-treated how they got their revenge.

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• > Bersham, How pit ponies got their revenge

Ray Goodwin recalls the Bersham Pit Ponies.

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• > Bersham, Kelly and Punch pit ponies kicking etc

Raymond Goodwin recalls how the cage became stuck in the shaft at Bersham during a thunder storm.

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• > Bersham, When the cage got stuck in the shaft

Raymond Goodwin recalls the smell of the mine on his first descent.

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• > First trip down the pit

In the street where Raymond Goodwin was brought up he recalls seeing the women looking out for their husbands who never came home from work.

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• > Gresford disaster, Recalls wives looking for husbands coming home

One of the Mine Rescue Team who went below ground later taught mining at the Technical College in Wrexham. Raymond Goodwin recounts the tutor’s observations on the conditions underground at Gresford.

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• > Gresford Disaster, Rescuers comments

Raymond Goodwin recalls wearing clogs underground and describes how he repaired holes in his trousers with Copydex and suiting samples.

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• > Patches and clogs

Tom Conde recalls how ice accumulated on the cage ropes and other shaft equipment and the dangers it posed.

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• > Ice in the shaft at Bersham