The National Archives is displaying records related to the Gresford Colliery disaster in Wrexham Library to mark the 91st anniversary on 22 September 2025.
Two hundred and sixty-six men and boys died after an underground explosion and devastating fire.
Most of the casualties of the disaster in 1934 lived in Wrexham and the surrounding villages. Many of their families still mark the anniversary at an annual commemorative service.
Emmajane Avery, Director of Public Engagement at The National Archives, said: “These documents, permanently preserved at The National Archives, bear witness to the events surrounding this unimaginable disaster and the tragic loss of so many lives. Partnering with colleagues in archives in North Wales to bring this material to the community in Wrexham is a great privilege.”
In the display will be a notebook containing falsified air measurements ordered by mine manager William Bonsall. In his evidence to police, which will also be on show, assistant surveyor William Cuffin, whose job it was to take air measurements, said: “I recorded a number of air measurements… under date 7th July, 1934 and 25th August 1934. The measurements recorded under those dates were not taken in the pit and are false.” He explained how he had been asked to make up the false readings by the mine manager in the days immediately after the explosion.
Also on show will be petitions in which thousands of local people pleaded with the authorities for the return of their loved ones, which was made more difficult at the time by a series of after-explosions and concerns about risks to rescuers.
Gresford: Voices from the Archives is a collaboration with North-East Wales Archives and Wrexham Archives and is free. The document display is a two-day event on Monday 22 September and the morning of Tuesday 23 September. A day of free family activities will take place at the Mines Rescue Station on Sunday 21 September.
Booking:
Gresford: Voices from the Archives document display on 22 Sept from 10am-6pm and on 23 Sept from 10am-1pm Gresford: Voices from the Archives Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite.
Free family activities at The Mines Rescue Station, Wrexham on 21 Sept Community Day – Gresford: Voices from the Archives Tickets, Sun 21 Sep 2025 at 11:00 | Eventbrite
