Haematite and High Explosives: Mining in Victorian Moor Row

In the haematite mines of Moor Row, the extraction of iron ore required the use of explosives to penetrate the surrounding hard rock. The work was divided between those who prepared the ground, those who extracted the ore, and the officials responsible for safety.

Operational Roles

Overman / Fireman: These were under-officials in the mine, qualified to use explosives and responsible for safety, including checking for gas with a Davy lamp. While iron ore mines were less gassy than coal mines, these checks were mandatory before blasting to detect firedamp or blackdamp.

Crutter / Ripper: Miners who drove new tunnels (cruts) through rock, often needing blasting. Rippers followed to blast the roof or sides to enlarge the roadways for haulage.

Hewer: The actual miner who loosened the iron ore from the seam, but might not be the one setting the shots. Once the shot was fired, the hewer used picks and bars to break the ore and load it into bogies.

Setting a charge in a Moor Row haematite mine was a delicate, multi-stage process that required both physical strength and a keen understanding of geology.

Who Set the Charges?

In the late 19th century, the responsibility shifted due to tightening legislation.

  • Pre-1872: Individual miners often bought their own gunpowder and set their own shots. This led to high accident rates due to poor technique or "cutting corners" to save money.
  • Post-General Rules (Late 1800s): The task became the domain of the Chargeman or Shot Firer. Usually a senior miner or an Overman, this person had to be "competent" and, eventually, certified. In a "gang" of miners, one specific man was designated the Chargeman; he held the keys to the explosive canister (the "powder tin").

The Process: Setting the Shot The process of "winning" the ore followed a specific sequence of manual tasks.

1. Boring the Hole

Before an explosive could be placed, a hole had to be drilled into the "face" (the rock wall).

  • Hand Drilling: Two miners worked together. One held the jumper (a long iron bar with a chisel tip), rotating it slightly after every blow, while the second miner struck it with a heavy sledgehammer.
  • The Depth: Holes were typically bored to a depth of 2 to 4 feet. In the hard limestone surrounding Moor Row's haematite, this was back-breaking work that could take hours.

2. Charging the Hole

Once the hole was cleaned of dust using a scraper (a long copper rod with a spoon-like end), the explosive was inserted.

  • The Explosive: For iron ore, Black Powder was often used in paper cartridges. For harder "dead ground" (rock without ore), Nitro-glycerine compounds like Dynamite were used.
  • The Fuse: A length of safety fuse was inserted into the final cartridge (the primer).

3. Stemming (The Most Dangerous Part)

To ensure the blast blew into the rock rather than just shooting out of the hole like a cannon, the hole had to be "stemmed."

Miners used inert material - usually clay, damp rounded dirt, or pounded shale - to plug the hole on top of the explosive.

  • The Tool: A Stemming Bar was used to ram the clay tight. As seen in the case of William Tremayne (below), using a metal bar was lethal. 

By the 1890s, safety regulations strictly mandated wooden rammers to prevent sparks from flint or friction.

4. Firing

After the Overman shouted a warning (usually "Fire!" or "Below!"), the fuse was lit. 

In Moor Row, the fuse was often lit using a "spall" (a small piece of candle or a glowing touch-paper).

The miners would then retreat to a "refuge hole" or around a corner in the tunnel, counting the explosions to ensure every charge had successfully detonated.

Key Safety Equipment in Moor Row

  • Copper Scrapers: Copper was used because it is "non-sparking," unlike steel or iron.
  • The Powder Tin: A lockable tin used to carry cartridges from the surface magazine to the working face.
  • The Pricker: A thin copper needle used to create a channel through the stemming for the fuse, ensuring the spark reached the heart of the charge.

Explosives and Blasting Hazards

Gunpowder (Black Powder): Used for blasting the ore. Its heaving action helped break the haematite into large lumps. Dynamite / Gelignite were powerful explosives used by crutters to blast through hard limestone.

Hanging Fire: A common cause of death for shot firers was returning to a charge too early. If a fuse smouldered internally, it could detonate as the miner approached.

  • While the fuse "smouldered internally," the danger often came from a "hangfire" where the chemical reaction in the gunpowder itself was delayed, or the fuse had been pinched by the stemming material, slowing the spark.

Accidents

John Scurr (1881) - Montreal Mine

  • ​The Inquest: Held at the Grapes Inn, (2 Dalzell Street) Moor Row.
  • The Findings: Scurr was a "Chargeman" (the man responsible for the explosives in his gang). He had lit a shot and retreated, but when it failed to fire within the expected time, he returned to the face. The charge was "hanging fire" and exploded as he reached it.
  • Verdict: Accidental death, but with a warning from the Inspector regarding the "suicidal" practice of returning to a missed shot before the statutory 30 minutes had passed.

​William Tremayne (1894) - Montreal Mine

  • ​The Inquest: Held locally in Moor Row.
  • The Findings: Tremayne, an experienced Cornish miner, was killed during "stemming." He was using a rod to pack clay into a hole already charged with gunpowder. The friction or a spark from a small piece of flint caused the premature blast.
  • Verdict: Accidental death. This case led to stricter enforcement of using wooden rammers instead of iron or copper-tipped rods to avoid sparks.

Roof Falls

Blasting often destabilised the roof. The Fireman’s failure to properly sound the roof after a shot put Hewers at risk.

Joseph Rodgers (1906) — Montreal Mine

  • ​The Inquest: Held in Cleator Moor.
  • The Findings: Rodgers was killed by a roof fall of haematite and limestone. The inquest focused on the Overman's inspection. It was found that a blast had been fired earlier that shift, which had loosened a "sop" (a pocket of ore) in the roof that wasn't detected by the subsequent "sounding" of the rock.
  • Verdict: Accidental death.

​Henry Barker (1888) — Moor Row District

  • ​The Inquest: Held in Cleator Moor.
  • The Findings: Barker was killed by side-rock falling in a tunnel. The inquest revealed that a Crutter (tunnel driver) in an adjacent working had fired a heavy charge of gelignite. The vibration from this shot fractured the wall where Barker was working.
  • Verdict: Accidental death, noting a lack of communication between the two working parties.
Roof Fall Illustration
Roof Fall Illustration
Location: Moor Row CA24, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Comments are welcome. Spam will not be tolerated. Strictly no advertising.

ARCHIVE HIGHLIGHTS

About Moor Row

Image
Hello, and welcome. This Internet site is about the village of Moor Row in West Cumbria. The history of Moor Row is one intrinsically linked to the industrial boom that transformed West Cumbria. While the area's roots stretch back to before 1762, when the homesteads of Low Moor Row and High Moor Row dotted the landscape between Summerhill Mansion and Woodend with Cleator, the true genesis of the modern village lies in iron ore and the mighty railway.  From Homestead to Hub The early landscape was characterised by family landholdings, such as the estate of the Wildridge family at Low Moor Row, located on what would become Church Street. The marriage of Elizabeth Wildridge to the local gardener, Dalzell, and his subsequent inheritance of the estates, is a pivotal local event. This link is preserved today, not just through family lore but in the village's street names, a testament to the enduring influence of the early landowners. The Railway Catalyst The mid-19th century witnes...
Read more

Red Gold, Iron Arteries, and the Slag-Bound Grid: A Socio-Industrial Analysis of Moor Row in the Victorian Era

Image
The nineteenth-century transformation of Moor Row, situated on the coastal plain of West Cumbria between the port of Whitehaven and the market town of Egremont, offers a stark and instructive case study of the British Industrial Revolution. Prior to the mid-1850s, the area was characterised by a highly dispersed, agrarian landscape of small homesteads and enclosed fields. However, the dual catalysts of high-grade haematite discovery and the rapid expansion of the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway (WC&ER) precipitated a sudden socio-industrial transformation. This rapid urbanisation brought immense wealth and regional influence to a select group of industrial capitalists and traditional landowners, while simultaneously subjecting a rapidly growing, migrant working-class population to severe poverty, hazardous labour conditions, and systemic infrastructural neglect. Agrarian Foundations and the Spatial Revolution (1625–1850) For over two centuries preceding the Victorian...
Read more

Tufted Treasures: The Ultimate Guide to Moor Row’s Red Squirrels

Image
If you have ever been out for an early morning stroll around West Cumbria, you will know that catching a glimpse of a flash of russet fur in the tree canopy is a moment of pure magic. The native British Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) has been calling our islands home since the retreat of the last Ice Age. However, over the last century, these charismatic rodents have faced a catastrophic decline. With the total UK population now hovering somewhere between 120,000 and 200,000 individuals, more than three-quarters are restricted to Scotland. That leaves Northern England, and specifically our beautiful county of Cumbria, as one of the final, critical strongholds for the species in England. Right at the heart of this ecological battleground is the village of Moor Row. Moor Row’s Red Squirrel Hotspots: Where to Look Moor Row’s rich industrial history left behind a brilliant mosaic of agricultural fields, post-industrial woodlands, and disused railway lines. This unique landscape matrix pro...
Read more

Pit Wheels to Peak: An 8-Mile Circular through West Cumbria’s Industrial Heart

Image
​This 8-mile circular walk begins at Moor Row’s Dalzell Street bridge, following the historic "Iron Line" railway path. The route highlights West Cumbria’s industrial heritage, passing the engineered "Big Ship" of the River Keekle and the 12th-century St Leonard's Church in Cleator. ​ The primary challenge is the steady ascent of Dent Fell via Black How Wood. The summit offers a stunning 360-degree vista spanning the Lake District peaks, the Scottish hills, and the Irish Sea. Returning via gentle forestry tracks and the "Hen Beck," the walk concludes by traversing the subterranean legacy of the Montreal mines. Distance : Approximately 8 miles.  Time : Allow 3.5 to 4.5 hours. Difficulty : Moderate. Start/Finish : Dalzell Street Bridge. Dent Fell Illustration The Walk There is a particular kind of quiet that settles over the old railway lines of West Cumbria. Once the thundering arteries of the local iron ore industry, these paths now offer a peaceful co...
Read more

Liquid History: The Victorian Water Infrastructure of Moor Row

Image
The village of Moor Row, situated on the coastal plain of West Cumbria between the industrial port of Whitehaven and the ancient market town of Egremont, serves as a poignant microcosm of the Victorian industrial revolution. Originally a collection of agrarian homesteads, its rapid transformation into a vital railway junction and iron ore mining centre necessitated a sophisticated, albeit localised, approach to water procurement. The provision of drinking water in this region was never a simple matter of convenience; it was a complex negotiation between the local geology, the pervasive influence of subterranean mining, and the demographic pressures of a burgeoning migrant workforce. By examining nineteenth-century cartography, geological surveys, and historical records, this analysis pinpoints the locations of the village's original drinking water wells, exploring their coordinates, their physical mechanisms, and their eventual obsolescence in the face of industrial contamination a...
Read more

The Genesis of Industry: Summerhill Mansion and the Dalzell Legacy in Moor Row

Image
The story of Summerhill Mansion in Moor Row begins long before the deafening roar of the Whitehaven Cleator and Egremont Railway and the deep excavations of the iron mines. Archival research confirms the property's existence prior to 1762, placing it firmly in the agrarian era of West Cumberland. ​The Mansion was not merely a large house; it was the original, definitive geographical boundary and an anchor for the earliest settlement, which included the Low Moor Row homestead. It was the ancestral seat of the Wildridge family and represented the fixed, respectable wealth of the rural landscape. It is the story of how a single country estate, located on what became Church Street , became the essential financial and geographical launchpad for the entire industrial expansion of this West Cumbrian village. Once established at Summerhill Mansion, the Dalzell family leveraged their land to become industrial pioneers. As the 19th-century iron ore boom exploded, Moor Row rapidly expan...
Read more

Village Life: Welcome to Moor Row

Image
If you’re looking for a place where life moves at its own unique pace, the buses are more of a mythical concept than a reliable timetable, and the local wildlife has zero respect for boundaries, then welcome to Moor Row. ​Living in our little corner of West Cumbria is a brilliant, sometimes loud, but always warm experience. In fact, the secret has been out for a while now - the village was once listed as one of the top places to live in the UK. But if you want to know what actually makes it so special on a day-to-day basis, here is a proper look at what it’s really like to call Moor Row home. The Heart (and the Banter) of the Village Let’s get the basics out of the way: we don’t have a corner shop, and you won’t be catching a bus on a whim. But what we lack in retail, we more than make up for in community spirit. The School : This isn't just a place for learning; it’s the absolute heartbeat of Moor Row. They organise fantastic events for the kids and adults alike, keeping everyone ...
Read more

A Breath of Fresh Air: The Moor Row Blossom Trail

Image
If you have stepped outside in West Cumbria over the last week, you will know exactly what I am talking about. We have been treated to some truly glorious weather lately. After what feels like a lifetime of grey clouds, the sun has finally decided to hang around, and it is doing wonders for the local scenery. If you are looking for the best spot to soak it all up, head straight for the cycle path at Moor Row. A Sensory Treat on the Tracks Walking or cycling along the old "Tracks of the Ironmasters" is always a bit of a treat, but right now, it is spectacular. The apple trees lining the path are in full, heavy bloom. It is a sea of soft whites and delicate pinks that makes the whole stretch feel like something out of a postcard. The best part, however, isn't actually the view. It is the smell. As you approach the Moor Row section, the air becomes thick with that unmistakable, sweet scent of apple blossom. Because the weather has been so warm and still, the fragrance is jus...
Read more

Tracing Your Moor Row Ancestors: Free Family History Resources

Image
A frequent question hitting the inbox centres on family trees and tracking down long-lost relatives who once lived or worked in Moor Row. While this website does not provide a dedicated genealogy service, there are massive amounts of local historical data scattered across these pages. Before diving into external archives, the best first step is right here. Use the website search tool to look up a specific surname. You might find your ancestors mentioned in old school logs, mining records, local news snippets, or community historical features already published on the site. Search for a surname or historical topic: Search Where to Look Next: Free Online Databases If you have exhausted the search here and want to build out your family tree, you do not need to instantly reach for a paid subscription service. Several excellent, volunteer-led resources offer local data completely free of charge: Cumbria BMD: This is a brilliant collaborative project between l...
Read more

Drink, Danger, and Discipline: Methodism and the Battle for Moor Row

Image
When the mid-nineteenth century boom turned Moor Row from a quiet hamlet into an industrial nerve centre, it didn't just change the landscape; it stained it red. The rich haematite ore – "red gold" – bled into the soil, the streams, and the skin of the men who mined it. Dominating the village was the Montreal Mine, a sprawling complex that would become one of the largest haematite operations in Britain. It brought immense wealth to the Stirling family who owned it, but for the men descending the shafts, it offered a daily gamble. In this high-stakes environment, alcohol became the fault line between two warring cultures: the fatalistic camaraderie of the pub and the rigid, survivalist discipline of the chapel. The Beast Beneath: The Unique Dangers of Haematite To understand the fear that drove men to drink – or to prayer – one must understand the specific nature of West Cumbrian mining. It was distinct from the coal fields. The "Run-In": Unlike coa...
Read more